XN000022-1994-10-17 — Page 9

ALREADY,

- 8

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1994

ECONOMIC

THE

REGIONAL GROUPINGS SUCH AS THE ASIA PACIFIC FORUM CO-OPERATION

AND THE EUROPEAN

ARE UNION

PURSUING HARMONISATION OF MEMBERS' CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS AS A MEANS ELIMINATING TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE.

WIDER

OF

OF

"ILAC HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS PROCESS, BY PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING OF THE BENEFITS OF MUTUALLY RECOGNITION

DISCUSS THE ACCREDITATION SCHEMES, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A FORUM TO PRACTICAL PROBLEMS WHICH MUST BE SURMOUNTED.

YEARS,

MR

"HONG KONG HAS BEEN A KEEN PARTICIPANT OF ILAC FOR MANY AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THE YEARS AHEAD," CHAU SAID.

BUSINESS RECEIPTS FOR SERVICE INDUSTRIES FOR SECOND QUARTER OF 1994

* *

BUSINESS RECEIPTS IN FINANCIAL SERVICES (OTHER THAN BANKING) ROSE BY 27% IN VALUE TERMS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR OVER A YEAR EARLIER, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

IN

COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, RECEIPTS FROM BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES HOWEVER FELL BY 33% IN VALUE TERMS. THIS WAS IN LINE WITH THE SLOWDOWN IN TRANSACTIONS IN THE LOCAL STOCK MARKET SINCE FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

BUSINESS RECEIPTS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY REGISTERED A STRONG GROWTH OF 22% IN VALUE TERMS OVER THE SAME QUARTER LAST

YEAR. THIS WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO A LARGE INCREASE IN LIFE INSURANCE

BUSINESS.

BUSINESS RECEIPTS IN THE COMMUNICATION INDUSTRY ALSO ROSE BY 17% OVER THE SAME PERIOD, MAINLY OWING TO A CONTINUED INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MOBILE TELEPHONE USERS.

NOTABLE INCREASES IN BUSINESS RECEIPTS WERE ALSO REGISTERED

IN THE FOLLOWING SERVICE INDUSTRIES: HOTELS (+14%); BUSINESS SERVICES (+14%); STORAGE (+13%); IMPORT/EXPORT (+11%); RETAIL (+11%); AND WHOLESALE (+8%),

MODERATE INCREASES IN BUSINESS RECEIPTS WERE RECORDED IN THE BANKING SERVICE (+4%) AND THE TRANSPORT SECTOR (+4%).

STATISTICS ON BANKING ARE OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY; AND THOSE ON RETAIL AND RESTAURANT BUSINESS ARE OBTAINED FROM TWO EXISTING SURVEYS REGULARLY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE REPORT "QUARTERLY BUSINESS RECEIPTS INDICES FOR SERVICE INDUSTRIES, SECOND QUARTER 1994" IS NOW ON SALE AT $6 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

IT CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED FROM THE PUBLICATIONS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WANCHAL TOWER, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED ΤΟ THE BUSINESS SERVICES STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL 802 1244.

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