XN000022-1988-05-12 — Page 9

8

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1988

CATEGORIES "BANKS", "REAL

IN THE "OTHER SERVICES" SECTOR, FIRMS IN DIFFERENT INCLUDING THE "TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION", ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES" AND "MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES" CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS.

EXPECT SATISFACTORY

BUSINESS

SECOND

THEY GENERALLY

THE BUSINESS IN "TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND QUARTER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIRMS IN THE

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION" SECTOR WHICH EXPECT A SLIGHT DETERIORATION IN

OUTLOOK.

ABOUT 1,000 FIRMS

FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE

AND WERE THE SURVEY EXPECTATIONS, THE SURVEY

ASKED

ALSO

FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES,

BUSINESS COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATED

BUSINESS EXPERIENCES ABOUT THEIR

BUSINESS COVERED

IN

AND

PROBLEMS FACED BY

FIRMS.

AS REGARDS PROBLEMS FACED BY THE SHORTAGE OF LABOUR GENERALLY REMAINED

MANUFACTURING

SECTOR,

A VERY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN PROBLEM HAD APPARENTLY

MOST INDUSTRIES IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE BECOME MORE EXTENSIVE THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.

IN

ADDITION, FIRMS

ALSO FACED VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS,

PRICES AND HIGH INCLUDING SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR, HIGH MATERIAL LABOUR TURNOVER. THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN SIGNIFICANT THE SECOND QUARTER.

IN

SECTOR, SHORTAGE OF LABOUR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

GENERALLY,

AND SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR, HIGH WAGE RATES, HIGH LABOUR TURNOVER

WERE REPORTED BY A PRICE COMPETITION FROM LOCAL FIRMS IN HONG KONG

AND SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF FIRMS AS PROBLEMS IN THE FIRST QUARTER ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN SIGNIFICANT IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

IN

ADDITION, HIGH

MATERIAL

PRICES

ALSO

EMERGED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE FIRST QUARTER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE AND IS EXPECTED TO BE

AS SECTOR,

SECOND

A

QUARTER ALSO.

OF STAFF

AND

STAFF HIGH

TURNOVER BY FIRMS IN THE "WHOLESALE,

"I "HOTELS' "TRANSPORT, BUSINESSES DURING THE

THE PROBLEMS OF SHORTAGE INCREASED IN SIGNIFICANCE AS REPORTED RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES", "RESTAURANTS" + STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION" AND "BANKS" QUARTER. SUCH PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

·

FIRST

IN ADDITION, "HOTELS" AND "BANKS" BUSINESSES WERE ALSO AFFECTED SIGNIFICANTLY BY THE PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED STAFF.

ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT,

ARE INTENDED RESULTS, OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, ONE SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HONG KONG.

THE

THE SURVEY ΤΟ PROVIDE CURRENT

/IN THE