US urged not to undermine trade cooperation with HK
Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau, on Saturday called on the US to make a "wise decision", and avoid undermining the trading cooperation with the SAR. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Yau criticised the US House Foreign Affairs Committee for passing the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Certification Act. He said the Hong Kong ETOs in the US are meant to promote mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, and cultural exchanges between the two locations.  "If the US were to irrationally attack our ETOs, it could potentially result in the most unfavourable outcome, where no one stands to benefit. The trade surplus between the US and Hong Kong has amounted to some 280 billion US dollars over the past ten years. Any unwarranted actions taken by the US against our ETOs would cause adverse effects on American trade within Hong Kong." Yau said.  The commerce and economic development minister also said the city's exports have rebounded from a 17-month decline, but he cautioned that persistent external challenges, such as rising inflation, high interest rates, and escalating geopolitical tensions may exert pressure on trades. Separately, Yau described the trend of residents heading north on weekends as a normal phenomenon due to increased integration between the city and the mainland. He said while government initiatives like "Night Vibes Hong Kong" can contribute to boosting consumption, the efforts of civil organizations, industries, and residents are also important.