BEIJING — The Chinese mainland's trade with Hong Kong totaled $19.81 billion in the first month of this year, down 18.8 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The value accounted for 6.3 percent of the mainland's total overseas trade in January, the ministry's figures show.

The mainland's exports to Hong Kong hit $19.24 billion, a decrease of 15.4 percent year-on-year, while the mainland's imports from the region saw a sharp decrease of 65.5 percent to $570 million.

Hong Kong is the mainland's sixth-largest trade partner and third-largest export market, according to the ministry.

The mainland approved 885 Hong Kong-invested projects in January this year, with the actual use of Hong Kong capital reaching $8.42 billion, up nearly 30 percent from the same period of last year.