2011-01-22 11:06

HONG KONG - Twenty-six percent of survey respondents expect their business situation to improve in the first quarter this year compared with the last quarter, while nine percent expect it to worsen, said the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong government on Friday.

Respondents in almost all surveyed sectors had a favorable business outlook for the first quarter, particularly those in the retail, financing and insurance sectors, according to the latest Quarterly Business Tendency Survey released on Friday.

While the proportion of respondents with positive expectations fell to 26 percent from 28 percent in the previous survey, the prevalence of optimistic business expectations remained broadly unchanged, the department said.

In the information and communications sector, however, the proportion of respondents with a favorable business outlook was broadly the same as that with an unfavorable outlook.

Respondents in all surveyed sectors also expected a rise in business volume in this quarter over the last, especially those in the retail, and financing and insurance sectors.

Respondents in all the surveyed sectors expect their employment to increase this quarter over the last. The financing and insurance, retail, and information and communications sectors have significantly more respondents expecting their employment to increase, as against those expecting it to decrease.