【明報專訊】THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL has announced its Export Index of the third quarter of this year. It is the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2012 and down nearly 20% on the previous quarter. This shows Hong Kong's exports not only have kept worsening but also tend to worsen even more badly. Now the global economy is volatile, interest rates are about to go up in the US, and the Chinese economy is slowing down. Hong Kong will inevitably be affected. It is again clear when Hong Kong's economy is about to have a downswing that it lacks room for manoeuvre for lack of new industries and new growth areas. This is a long-standing problem. It is hoped that more will come to realise its gravity and make good use of Hong Kong's peculiar strengths to give new impetus to its economic development.