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Analysed by end-use, residential building projects (including commercial and residential composite buildings), accounted for the greatest portion of the gross value of construction work performed at construction sites. The gross value of construction work performed for these projects was $6.5 billion, representing an increase of 37% over the third quarter of 1995.

Transport projects, which covered airport construction projects, represented the second largest category of construction site work. The gross value of construction work performed for these projects was $6.5 billion, 5.3% higher than in the third quarter of 1995.

Commercial building projects constituted the third largest category of construction site work. The gross value of construction work performed for these projects totalled $2.9 billion, representing a remarkable increase of 76% over the third quarter of 1995.

Compared with the second quarter of 1996, the gross value of construction work, in nominal terms, performed by main contractors in the third quarter of 1996 increased by 4.6%.

The gross values of construction work at constant (1990) market prices are derived by deflating the nominal values with appropriate price indices to the price level of 1990.

Owing to the widespread sub-contracting practices in the construction industry, a construction establishment can be a main contractor for one contract and a sub- contractor for another contract at the same time.

The gross value of construction work performed by main contractors covers only those projects in which the construction establishment takes the role of a main contractor, but not projects in which it takes only the role of a sub-contractor. However, sub-contractors' contribution to projects should have been included in the gross value of construction work performed by main contractors for whom they worked.

More detailed statistics on construction output are given in the Report on the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output, 3rd Quarter 1996. The report is now on sale at $15 per copy at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, ground floor, or at the Census and Statistics Department Publications Unit, Wanchai Tower, 19th floor, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Regular subscription may also be arranged.

Enquiries about the survey may be directed to the Building, Construction and Real Estate Statistics Section of the Census and Statistics Department on 2805 6426.

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