infograph: Hong Kong's pivotal role in China-Japan Trade

HK accounts for 10% of the overall trade between the two countries.

According to HKDTC Research, Hong Kong has been a pivotal re-export hub for China-Japan trade. In 2011, Hong Kong, it said, handled US$39 billion of China-Japan re-exports, accounting for some 10% of the overall trade between the two countries.

HJDTC notes that China-Japan re-exports contributed 9% of the US$419 billion total value re-exports handled by Hong Kong in 2011, but any disruption in China-Japan trade ties would not be confined to this trade.

"The spillover impact on regional supply chains, which are particularly skewed to the production of electronics/telecom products, would also be high. Should this materialise, it would deal a more serious blow to Hong Kong’s overall external trade, as re-exports of origin other than from Japan or the Chinese mainland would be affected, it said.