Hong Kong businessmen look forward to an upbeat third quarter

More survey respondents in the real estate, financing and insurance sectors expect their employment situation to improve.

A quarter of respondents to a Census & Statistics Department survey expect their business situation to improve in the third quarter, while 7% forecast it to worsen.

The proportion of respondents with a favourable business outlook was similar to the 27% recorded in the second quarter.

Significantly more respondents in the sectors of financing and insurance, and information and communications, expect their business situation to improve.

Respondents in all surveyed sectors expect an increase in volume of business or output. Significantly more respondents in the sectors of information and communications, construction, and financing and insurance expect their volume of business or output to increase, than those expecting a fall, according to a government report.

Respondents in all the surveyed sectors expect employment to increase. The real estate, and financing and insurance sectors have significantly more respondents expecting their employment situation to increase, against those expecting it to decrease.

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