The second shipment of about 300 000 doses of the Comirnaty vaccine of an earlier batch (the first shipment arrived on April 2), manufactured by BioNTech, filled and finished at another plant (Baxter) in Germany, arrived in Hon… read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (April 13) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for March 2021.
The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased slightly from 44.4 in February 2021 in the contractionary zone to 44.0 in March 2021, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. April 2021) outlook DI on business receipts was 47.8. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for the other surveyed sectors dropped by varying degrees in March 2021 as compared with previous month, except for the restaurants (from 45.5 to 57.4); wholesale trade (from 45.6 to 50.0); and import and export trades (from 43.9 to 44.6).
The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades increased from 45.7 in February 2021 to 46.4 in March 2021, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. April 2021) was 49.2.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that business sentiment among SMEs stayed cautious in overall terms in March. The sub-indices in many sectors decreased, but that for restaurants rose notably and returned to the expansionary zone thanks to the relaxation of social distancing measures since mid-February.
The spokesman added that business sentiment in Hong Kong may see a broader based improvement down the road if the local epidemic situation continues to recede and the global economy sustains its revival. The large-scale counter-cyclical measures unveiled by the 2021-22 Budget will also help cushion the pressure facing the economy. The Government will monitor the situation closely.
Further information
The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
It should be noted that the results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected in the last week of the reference month.
More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp300.jsp?productCode=B1080015).
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients confirmed to be carriers of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) in a medical ward, the spokesperson f… read more
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (April 13) that the Enhancement of the Tsuen Wan Waterfront (Phase I) project has been completed and will be gradually opened in the coming two weeks. The 700-metre pedestrian walkway adjacent to Hoi On Road has been revitalised to become a leisure harbourfront space.
The project is one of the 13 works projects under the $6.5 billion dedicated funding for harbourfront enhancement. With the theme of “The Retreat”, the project is also the first among the 13 projects to introduce a fence-free design. Planters previously separating the water’s edge and the walkway have been removed, while a low kerb design has been introduced to the 370m section with a sloping sea wall. Such a design will not only bring visitors closer to the water, but also provide ample seating and greater lines of sight for appreciating the stunning scenery of the Rambler Channel and Tsing Yi Island.
A spokesman for the DEVB said, “Water’s edge areas with fence-free design are very common in similar harbourfront settings around the world for the purpose of bringing people closer to a water body. Apart from this trial in Tsuen Wan and the West Kowloon Art Park, we are also constructing and going to try out another fence-free design, i.e. harbour steps, in the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct in Wan Chai as well as the harbourfront of Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter. These harbour steps are expected to be completed between late this year and early next year. A water-friendly fence-free design will also be adopted in many sections of the promenades of the Kai Tak Runway Precinct to be completed progressively starting in 2023.”
The Tsuen Wan waterfront enhancement project was initiated by the local community. The community was also engaged throughout the development process. At the planning stage, the DEVB took part in the Tsuen Wan Promenade Placemaking Project co-organised by the Working Group on Management of Facilities in the Coastal Area of the Coastal Affairs Committee of the Tsuen Wan District Council (TWDC) and the Hong Kong Public Space Initiative in January 2017. Multiple exchanges and site visits were also arranged for members of the Harbourfront Commission and the TWDC. The DEVB subsequently invited two young planners from the Hong Kong Institute of Planners to provide assistance and offer suggestions during the place-making exercise. They in turn optimised the design concept for this section of the Tsuen Wan harbourfront by exemplifying district characteristics and responding to the advocacy of “making every section special” by the DEVB and the Harbourfront Commission in harbourfront development. Specifically, the newly installed balustrades with timber handrails, featured seating and arbours were designed taking into account the history of the textile industry in Tsuen Wan. In response to local views, paving and lighting have been beautified, while weeds along the sea wall have also been removed. Additional activity space has been created by removing the planters and opening the lawn area.
The Harbour Office under the DEVB has also, under the “limited edition” concept, introduced place-making initiatives to this harbourfront to enhance visitors’ experiences. As a debut event, local creative group Postgal Workshop has built the “Din Dong Happy Village by the Harbour” featuring the cartoon character Din Dong. To foster greater interaction with the installations, the design team has specifically installed railing tables along the harbourfront balustrades and moveable chess tables along the low kerb. Visitors may hence put aside their belongings and cups and enjoy the harbour view in even more relaxing ways. Moreover, in order to create a more inclusive harbourfront, the design team has collaborated for the first time with Beyond Vision Projects, a non-governmental organisation, to translate different graphic designs into tactile graphics so that, by simply navigating with their fingertips, the visually impaired may feel the vibrancy of the Tsuen Wan harbourfront and the charm of local comic artworks.
“We have commissioned the University of Hong Kong to conduct a study on enhancing the biodiversity of the sea wall at the Tsuen Wan harbourfront. By investigating the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing both imported and locally designed eco-shoreline modules there, the study could help establish a scientific basis and gain experience for eco-shoreline implementation in busy harbour areas such as Victoria Harbour,” the spokesman said.
With a total area of about 14.7 hectares, the harbourfront between Riviera Gardens and Bayview Garden is zoned “Open Space” in the relevant Outline Zoning Plan. The whole 2.5 kilometre-long harbourfront is currently fully connected for public use. Apart from the Enhancement of the Tsuen Wan Waterfront (Phase I) project, the Cycle Track between Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun – Advance Works project by the Civil Engineering and Development Department is also close to completion. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Drainage Services Department are also actively planning for the Improvement of Tsuen Wan Riviera Park and Tsuen Wan Park project and the dry weather flow interceptor works that would further improve the water quality of the coastal area of Tsuen Wan. Through the dedicated funding for harbourfront enhancement, the Harbour Office will also continue its planning for the Tsuen Wan Waterfront Enhancement (Phase 2) project with a view to further improving the environment of the harbourfront between Hoi On Road and Hoi Hing Road.
The spokesman added that the departments will continue to improve the harbourfront environment with reference to the experience and feedback of users, thereby creating an attractive, vibrant, accessible and sustainable Victoria Harbour for the public to enjoy.
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 is 102 (same as yesterday’s index). read more