The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 29) the results of the 2018 Annual Survey of Economic Activities – Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors.
Amongst the industry sectors covered by the survey, the financing (except banking) industry recorded the largest total receipts (comprising business receipts and other income) in 2018, followed by the insurance industry and the banking industry. The other industry sectors in descending order in terms of total receipts were information and communications; professional, scientific and technical activities; and administrative and support service activities.
In the financing (except banking) industry, total receipts amounted to $633.9 billion in 2018, representing a decrease of 4.8% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 9.1% compared with 2017 to $74.2 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.3% year-on-year to $246.1 billion in 2018. Gross surplus, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, compensation of employees and (where applicable) value of purchases of goods for sale, decreased from $430.0 billion in 2017 to $387.8 billion in 2018, accounting for 61.2% of total receipts in 2018. Value added, which provides a measure of the contribution of this industry to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 6.5% compared with 2017 to $100.9 billion in 2018. In 2018, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 8 500 establishments and engaged about 89 100 persons, or an average of 10.4 persons per establishment.
In the insurance industry, total receipts decreased by 5.6% over 2017 to $559.5 billion in 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 6.0% compared with 2017 to $208.7 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 9.4% year-on-year to $74.0 billion in 2018. In 2018, the insurance industry comprised about 2 700 establishments and engaged about 88 400 persons, or an average of 33.0 persons per establishment.
In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $472.1 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 10.9% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 14.8% compared with 2017 to $2.0 billion in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.5% year-on-year to $216.2 billion in 2018. In 2018, the banking industry comprised 231 establishments and engaged about 107 500 persons, or an average of 465.2 persons per establishment.
In compiling gross surplus and value added of the banking industry and the insurance industry, other data sources are required to supplement the data collected through this survey and these statistics are to be compiled under the framework of GDP. Statistics on value added of these two industries are released by the C&SD separately.
In the information and communications sector, total receipts increased by 5.5% compared with 2017 to $211.5 billion in 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 3.0% compared with 2017 to $19.5 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.5% year-on-year to $141.3 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $47.0 billion in 2017 to $49.5 billion in 2018, accounting for 23.4% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 4.2% compared with 2017 to $89.0 billion in 2018. In 2018, the information and communications sector comprised about 10 800 establishments and engaged about 108 100 persons, or an average of 10.0 persons per establishment.
In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $161.6 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 7.6% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 5.3% compared with 2017 to $6.0 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 7.7% year-on-year to $130.3 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased from $27.9 billion in 2017 to $29.9 billion in 2018, and accounted for 18.5% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 7.0% compared with 2017 to $86.9 billion in 2018. In 2018, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 27 100 establishments and engaged about 148 600 persons, or an average of 5.5 persons per establishment.
In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $149.5 billion in 2018, representing a slight decrease of 0.5% compared with 2017. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 3.1% compared with 2017 to $12.2 million in 2018. Operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased marginally by 0.6% year-on-year to $137.5 billion in 2018. Gross surplus increased slightly from $11.3 billion in 2017 to $11.4 billion in 2018, accounting for 7.6% of total receipts in 2018. Value added increased by 5.4% compared with 2017 to $56.8 billion in 2018. In 2018, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 12 200 establishments and engaged about 236 800 persons, or an average of 19.4 persons per establishment.
Selected statistics for the sectors mentioned above are shown in the attached table. More detailed statistics will be given in the report "Key Statistics on Business Performance and Operating Characteristics of the Information and Communications, Financing and Insurance, Professional and Business Services Sectors in 2018". Users can download this report (in PDF format) free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp350.jsp?productCode=B1080013) as from end-December 2019.
For enquiries about the key statistics on business performance and operating characteristics of the information and communications, financing and insurance, professional and business services sectors, please contact the Business Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7268 or email: business-services@censtatd.gov.hk).
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