Press Release

 

 

Financial results for the eight months ended November 30, 1999

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The Government announced today (Thursday) its financial results for the eight months ended November 30, 1999.

Expenditure for the period April to November 1999 amounted to $144,988.1 million and revenue to $106,134.1 million, resulting in a deficit of $38,854 million.

The fiscal reserves stood at $395,448.4 million at November 30, a decrease of $38,854 million compared with the balance of $434,302.4 million at March 31, 1999, the end of the previous financial year.

There was a surplus of $11,201 million in November. A government spokesman said the improvement was due to Profits Tax receipts during the month. The position should further improve with the bulk of the revenue from Profits Tax and Salaries Tax to be collected in the remaining months of the financial year.

More detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT

                                                Year to date

                         Month Ended          Apr 1, 1999 to 

                         Nov 30, 1999         Nov 30, 1999

                         ---------             ---------

                         HK$ million          HK$ million 

Revenue                 27,640.7             106,134.1

Expenditure           (16,439.3)           (144,988.1)

                         ---------            ----------

Surplus/(Deficit)     11,201.4             (38,854.0)

                         ---------            ----------

Financing



  Domestic

    Banking Sector   (11,711.7)             37,257.5

    (Note 1)

    Non-Bank Sector       510.3               1,596.5

  External                    -                      -

                         ---------             --------

Total                  (11,201.4)                  38,854.0

Government Debt as at November 30, 1999 (Note 2): NIL

Debts Guaranteed by Government as at November 30, 1999 (Note 3):

HK$2,475.7 million

Notes :

1.Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident

banks.

2.The Government is debt free.

3.Guarantees provided under the Special Finance Scheme for

Small and Medium Enterprises.

TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES

                                                Year to date

                         Month Ended          Apr 1, 1999 to 

                         Nov 30, 1999         Nov 30, 1999

                         ---------             ---------

                         HK$ million         HK$ million 

Fiscal Reserves at    384,247.0           434,302.4

start of period

Add : Consolidated    11,201.4            (38,854.0)

Surplus/(Deficit)     ---------           ----------



Fiscal Reserves at    395,448.4           395,448.4 

end of period          =========           =========

End/Thursday, December 30, 1999

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