HONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1986
HE ADDED THAT THE DTC SECTOR HAD BEEN CONSOLIDATING
OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, WITH A NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS REVOKED, MANY AT THE REQUEST OF THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED.
IN CONCLUSION, MR JACOBS SAID THAT THE BANKING AND OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY WERE BETTER AND MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN TEN OR EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO.
HE SAID GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO KEEP THE MARKET AND THE ECONOMY OPEN: TO PROVIDE A STABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, AND TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO STABILISE IT WHEN UNUSUAL EVENTS SO DEMAND HAD SERVED HONG KONG WELL IN THE PAST.
+I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN FUTURE, AND THAT HONG KONG'S ROLE AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, HE SAID.
AUGUST ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT
*****
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE 200 LARGEST FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE REMAINED STABLE IN AUGUST 1986 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS WAS REPORTED BY THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY. HOWEVER, SEVERAL OTHER INDUSTRIES SURVEYED RECORDED DECLINES IN THEIR ORDERS POSITIONS.
COMPARING AUGUST WITH JULY, THERE WAS A GENERAL DECREASE IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, PARTICULARLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS. FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, AS SUMMER WORKERS BEGAN TO LEAVE THE FACTORIES. EXCEPTIONS WERE THE TEXTILES AND FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRIES WHICH REPORTED NO CHANGE IN EMPLOYMENT.
OVER THIS PERIOD, INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED. ONLY THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY RECORDED A DECLINE IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS SUBSEQUENT TO THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES IN THE PRECEDING MONTH.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE SERVICES SECTORS, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT REMAINED STABLE IN AUGUST COMPARED WITH JULY. PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS ALSO REMAINED STABLE IN OVERALL TERMS FOR THESE TWO SECTORS. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES RECORDED A DECLINE IN PAYROLL AND IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS, AFTER A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE PRECEDING MONTH DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES IN THAT MONTH.
THE PERCENTAGE