Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements to facilitate worshippers visiting Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin during the Che Kung Festival period. Police reminded members of the publ… read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 9) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for January 2021.
　　
The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs went up from 35.6 in December 2020 in the contractionary zone to 38.1 in January 2021, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. February 2021) outlook DI on business receipts was 41.9. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for most of the surveyed sectors rose in January 2021 as compared with previous month. Though contracting to a lesser extent, the current DIs on business receipts for some sectors were far below the 50-mark in January 2021, particularly for the restaurants (from 14.3 to 24.0), retail trade (from 32.0 to 35.8) and wholesale trade (from 32.4 to 37.1).
The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades increased from 41.5 in December 2020 to 42.4 in January 2021, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. February 2021) was 44.2.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that business sentiment among SMEs remained subdued in January 2021 despite some relative improvement, with the sub-indices across all sectors staying below the boom-bust divide. In particular, the sub-indices for restaurants and retail trade remained deep in the contractionary zone, reflecting the severe disruptions to consumption-related activities caused by the fourth wave of local epidemic.
The spokesman added that putting the epidemic under control at the soonest possible with the concerted effort of the whole community is of pivotal importance to the revival of business confidence and hence the attainment of a full-fledged economic recovery. The Government will monitor the developments 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 effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 is 100.5 (down 0.2 against yesterday’s index). read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) announced today (February 9) that most BTS donor centres will be open during the Chinese New Year holidays. The BTS appeals to the public to donate blood for patients in need during the Chinese New Year holidays. The increase in demand for blood transfusions since the commencement of the winter surge has caused blood stocks to run very low in public hospitals.
Amid the pressure of the epidemic, as well as the suspension of mobile blood donation services at corporate settings and schools, the amount of blood collection has been consistently low since the beginning of January. The collection is not sufficient to meet the daily blood demand from local hospitals. Public hospitals require a large amount of blood products for clinical transfusion. Sufficient blood supply is crucial at the Accident and Emergency Departments and in critical situations such as organ transplants and emergency operations, as well as to meet blood demand from thalassaemia and blood cancer patients.
The BTS follows stringent measures to safeguard blood safety and infection control. To prevent crowds from gathering and long waiting times at the donor centres, donors are advised to make appointments by calling the BTS’ donor centres or via the “HK Blood” mobile app. Members of the public can download the “HK Blood” mobile app via the following link to locate the nearest donor centres across the city and make blood donation appointments: www5.ha.org.hk/rcbts/hkblood-intro?lang=en.
As a token of thanks, all successful blood donors during the period from February 12 to 15 will receive a CNY Goodie Bag, while stocks last.
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
Exchange Fund Bills tender results:
| Tender date | : | February 9, 2021 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | Q2106 |
| Issue date | : | February 10, 2021 |
| Maturity date | : | May 12, 2021 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$106,367.5 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$40,801 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 0.06 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 0.07 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 61 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 0.08 PCT |
| **************************** | ||
| Tender date | : | February 9, 2021 |
| Paper on offer | : | EF Bills |
| Issue number | : | H2135 |
| Issue date | : | February 10, 2021 |
| Maturity date | : | August 11, 2021 |
| Amount applied | : | HK$46,561 MN |
| Amount allotted | : | HK$10,000 MN |
| Average yield accepted | : | 0.05 PCT |
| Highest yield accepted | : | 0.05 PCT |
| Pro rata ratio* | : | About 87 PCT |
| Average tender yield | : | 0.08 PCT |