Fake invoice evidence mounts as HK trade gap widens

The gap between the Chinese mainland's reported exports to Hong Kong and the city's imports from the mainland widened in September to the highest level this year, suggesting that fake export-invoicing is again skewing trade data.

The mainland recorded $1.56 of exports to Hong Kong last month for every $1 in imports Hong Kong registered, leading to a $13.5 billion difference, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Hong Kong's imports from the mainland climbed 5.5 percent year-on-year to $24.1 billion, figures showed; the mainland's exports to Hong Kong surged 34 percent to $37.6 billion, according to mainland data released on Oct 13.