Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for August 2024
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (September 10) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for August 2024.
The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased from 41.8 in July 2024 in the contractionary zone to 41.3 in August 2024, whereas the one-month's ahead (i.e. September 2024) outlook DI on business receipts was 45.4. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for some surveyed sectors dropped in August 2024 as compared with previous month, particularly for the logistics (from 40.3 to 35.9) and import and export trades (from 45.1 to 42.3). On the other hand, the current DIs on business receipts for the restaurants, retail trade, and business services increased in August 2024 as compared with previous month.
The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades decreased from 44.8 in July 2024 to 43.4 in August 2024, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month's time (i.e. September 2024) was 46.4.
Commentary
A Government spokesman said that overall business sentiment among SMEs weakened slightly in August, while the situation for different sectors varied. Yet, the overall expectations on the business situation in one month’s time remained stable. The overall employment situation saw some improvement.
The spokesman added that while business sentiment would continue to be affected by various uncertainties in the external environment, the Central Government's various measures benefitting Hong Kong and continued growth of the local economy should provide support. 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.
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 around 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 browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
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).
Source: AI-generated images
Illegal worker jailed
A Pakistani illegal worker, holding a recognisance form, was jailed by Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (September 16).
During a joint operation conducted by the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed "Powerplayer" on July 16, investigators raided a hawker pitch on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok District. A Paskitani man, aged 30, was arrested while assembling the hawker pitch. Upon identity checking, he produced a recognisance form issued by the ImmD for inspection, which prohibits him from taking employment.Further investigation revealed that he was a non-refoulement claimant.
The illegal worker was charged at Shatin Magistrates' Courts yesterday with taking employment while being a person in respect of whom a removal order or deportation order was in force. After trial, he was sentenced to 22 months and two weeks' imprisonment.
The ImmD spokesman warned that, as stipulated in section 38AA of the Immigration Ordinance, an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayeror a person who was refused permission to land is prohibited from taking any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establishing or joining in any business. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to three years' imprisonment.
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order,an overstayeror a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences.The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability.The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law and employ illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct aninitial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation, with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter, temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
Source: AI-generated images
