SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 1984
BUSINESS, FINANCE SERVICES SURVEYED
****
THERE WERE 2 263 FINANCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING DURING THE WHOLE OR PART OF 1982, OR SIX PER CENT LESS THAN THE 1980 FIGURE.
BUT THE IR TOTAL RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME IN THAT YEAR INCREASED BY 25 PER CENT TO $12 142 MILLION OVER THE 1980 FIGURE.
THESE ARE AMONG SOME OF THE SUMMARY STATISTICS COMPILED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IN A 1982 SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATIONS, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY THAT THE SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN BETWEEN MAY 1983 AND JANUARY 1984.
THE 1982 SURVEY WAS THE FIRST ANNUAL FOLLOW-UP SURVEY SINCE THE 1980 BENCHMARK CENSUS, AND WAS CONDUCTED TO ASCERTAIN THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIVE SERVICES SECTORS, AND TO UPDATE ESTIMATES OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
DATA COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDED TYPE OF OWNERSHIP. NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES, OPERATING EXPENSES, BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME, AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THE 2 263 FINANCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING DURING 1982, INCLUDED BILL DISCOUNTING COMPANIES, CREDIT INSTITUTIONS, FINANCE LEASING, LOAN AND MORTGAGE COMPANIES, PAWNSHOPS INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANIES, SECURITY, COMMODITY-AND GOLD BULLION BROKERS AND DEALERS, MONEY CHANGERS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE BROKERS AND DEALERS, BUT EXCLUDED BANKS AND DEPOSIT- TAKING COMPANIES.
THEY EMPLOYED A WORKFORCE OF 18 587 PERSONS (AN INCREASE OF 6 PER CENT OVER THE 1980 FIGURE).
THE IR TOTAL BUSINESS RECEIPTS AND OTHER INCOME INCREASED BY 25 PER CENT TO $12 142 MILLION,
ON THE OTHER HAND, $1 185 MILLION WAS SPENT ON COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES AND $4 190 MILLION ON OPERATING EXPENSES, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 63 PER CENT AND 83 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER 1980.
THE FIRMS VALUE ADDED AMOUNTED TO $2 693 MILLION (AN INCREASE OF 54 PER CENT).
IN THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, 3 120 ESTABLISHMENTS COMPRISING LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND DATA PROCESSING FIRMS; BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING, ADVERTISING, DESIGNING, SECRETARIAL AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES; AND MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL COMPANIES, WERE IN OPERATION DURING 1982 (AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT OVER 1980).
THE SECTOR'S TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED ALSO INCREASED BY 28 PER CENT TO 35 520 PERSONS.
/COMPENSATION OF