HONG KONG - Hong Kong's total port cargo throughput in the first quarter increased 3 percent from a year ago, to 64.5 million tons, the city's statistic department said here Thursday.

Inward port cargo recorded virtually no change at 35.9 million tons, while outward port cargo went up 7 percent to 28.6 million tons.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, total port cargo throughput decreased 1 percent. Inward port cargo decreased 2 percent, while outward port cargo recorded virtually no change.

Within port cargo, seaborne cargo increased 4 percent over a year earlier to 44.9 million tons, while river cargo also rose 1 percent to 19.7 million tons.

Within inward port cargo, imports fell 9 percent to 16.6 million tons, while inward transhipment went up 10 percent to 19. 3 million tons.