March 10, 2023
HONG KONG – Overall business sentiment among small and medium-sized enterprises further improved in February as local economic activities revived and normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland fully resumed, government data showed on Thursday.
“Views on the business situation in one month’s time were also more optimistic than earlier,” a government spokesman said, adding that the overall employment situation continued to improve.
The Census and Statistics Department released the results of its monthly survey on business situation of SMEs for the month of February.
The current diffusion index on business receipts among SMEs went up from 48.2 in January to 49.0 in February, and is expected to further rise to 51.5 in March.
Analyzed by sector, the current diffusion index on business receipts for many surveyed sectors rose by varying degrees in February as compared with previous month, particularly for the real estate and logistics, according to a government press release.
The current diffusion index on new orders for import and export trades rose from 48.8 in January to 49.7 in February, whereas the outlook in one month’s time was 50.9, it added.
Pointing out that the return of economic activities to normalcy and rebound in the number of visitor arrivals should bode well for business sentiment, the spokesman said tightening financial conditions and weaker global economic growth will continue to bring uncertainties.