XN000022-1995-08-21 — Page 12

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Value of manufacturers' orders-on-hand in June 1995

The value of manufacturers' orders-on-hand for local production in June 1995 increased by 8% over a year earlier, according to the provisional results of a monthly survey released today (Monday) by the Census and Statistics Department.

Comparing June 1995 with June 1994, significant increases in the value of outstanding orders were recorded in the electronic products industry (+22%), the electrical products industry (+22%) and the printing & publishing industry (+18%). A moderate increase in the value of orders was also recorded in the wearing apparel industry (+4%).

On the other hand, a significant decrease in the value of orders was registered in the fabricated metal products industry (-19%). Decreases in the value of orders were also recorded in the plastic products industry (-13%) and the textiles industry (- 7%).

Compared with May 1995, and bearing in mind that this comparison may be affected by seasonal factors, the value of manufacturers' orders-on-hand in June 1995 decreased by 3%.

The Monthly Survey of Orders-on-hand covers a sample of some 300 manufacturing firms engaging 50 or more workers.

Manufacturers' orders-on-hand refer to orders and parts of orders received earlier by manufacturers for local production which remain unfilled as at the end of the reference month. Orders received by traders not engaged in production are included if such orders are further placed to manufacturers for production locally. However, orders placed to manufacturing firms for production in China and other places outside Hong Kong are not included in this series of orders-on-hand statistics.

A spokesman of the department pointed out that caution should be exercised in interpreting the manufacturers' orders-on-hand figures in a single month. Instead, the trend movement of the series as displayed over a wider span of time points should be looked at.

The survey report for June 1995, at $6 a copy, is now available for sale at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, ground floor, Queensway, and at the Census and Statistics Department Publications Unit, 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai.