Hong Kong businessmen optimistic on second quarter

Yet the prevalence of optimistic business expectations among respondents remained unchanged as the proportion of respondents with a favourable business outlook rose up 26%.

Twenty-seven per cent of survey respondents expect their business situation to improve in the year's second quarter compared with the previous quarter, while 11% expect it to worsen.

These were the findings of the Census & Statistics Department's latest Quarterly Business Tendency Survey released on Tuesday. Respondents in all surveyed sectors had a favourable business outlook for the second quarter, particularly those in the information and communications, and financing and insurance sectors.

While the proportion of respondents with a favourable business outlook rose from 26% in the previous survey, the prevalence of optimistic business expectations among respondents remained broadly unchanged.

Respondents in all surveyed sectors expect an increase in business volume in this quarter over the last on balance, especially those in the financing and insurance, and information and communications sectors.

Respondents in all the surveyed sectors expect employment to increase in this quarter over last on balance. The financing and insurance; information and communications; construction; and retail sectors have significantly more respondents expecting employment to increase.

Respondents in all the surveyed sectors expect their selling price or service charge to rise in the second quarter, and those in the accommodation and food services, as well as the retail sectors have significantly more favourable expectations.