Briefs | HK retail sales up 15.7pct in first two months

The value of total retail sales in Hong Kong rose by 15.7 percent in the first two months over the same period last year, statistics released yesterday showed. As the Lunar New Year fell on Feb. 16 this year but on Jan. 28 last year, it is more appropriate to analyze the retail sales figures for January and February taken together in making a year-on-year comparison, according to Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department. A government spokesman said retail sales strengthened visibly in the first two months, thanks to favorable job and income conditions and a pick-up in visitor arrivals. Looking ahead, the outlook for retail sales should remain positive in the near term, the spokesman said.

3 killed in north China factory explosion

Three people died and three others were injured when an explosion hit a workshop of an aluminum company yesterday in north China’s Shanxi Province.    The blast happened in the early morning at Yunhai aluminum company in Yongji City. Three people died at the scene and three others were injured, said the local government. The injured are being treated in hospital and are all in a stable condition. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The company was registered in 2010 and mainly produces aluminum alloy products.

Nanjing Massacre survivors on exhibition

An exhibition of family photos of survivors of the Nanjing Massacre opened yesterday in Nanjing. At the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, visitors can see the family photos of 30 survivors. The photos were taken in 2017 by local photographers for Xinhua News Agency. Zhang Jianjun, curator of the memorial hall, told Xinhua that the exhibition would show to the world that the Chinese people never forget history, but at the same time, they have walked out of the shadow of the past to embrace a new life. The exhibition will last until July 5.