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The value of total receipts for the restaurants sector was $12.5 billion in the first quarter of 2003. This represented a decrease of 9% compared with the first quarter of 2002. Over the same period, the value of total purchases of restaurants also decreased, by 9% to $4.3 billion.
2. After discounting the effect of price changes, total restaurant receipts fell by 7% in volume in the first quarter of 2003 as compared to a year earlier.
3. These are the provisional figures on restaurant receipts and purchases released today (May 16) by the Census and Statistics Department.
4. Business receipts for the restaurants sector in the first quarter of 2003 could have been affected partly by the spread of atypical pneumonia since mid-March.
5. Restaurant receipts in volume terms are derived from the corresponding receipts in value terms by adjusting for price changes. The relevant components of the Composite Consumer Price Index are used for this adjustment purpose.
6. Analysed by type of restaurant, total receipts of Chinese restaurants decreased by 14% in value or 12% in volume in the first quarter of 2003 as compared to a year earlier.
7. Meanwhile, total receipts of fast food shops fell by 6% in value or 5% in volume. Total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants fell by 1% in value but increased by 1% in volume.
8. On the other hand, total receipts of bars increased by 4% in value but remained virtually unchanged in volume.
9. As to miscellaneous eating and drinking places, total receipts increased by 3% in value or 5% in volume.
10. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, the volume of total restaurant receipts decreased by 4% in the first quarter of 2003.
11. Table 1 (text version) presents the revised figures for the total receipts and total purchases of the restaurants sector for the fourth quarter of 2002 and the provisional figures for the first quarter of 2003. The value and volume indices of the restaurant receipts in the fourth quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2003 for all restaurants and by type of restaurant are also given, with the average of quarterly indices from October 1999 to September 2000 taken as 100.
12. Table 2 (text version) shows the movements of total restaurant receipts volume in terms of the year-on-year rate of change based on the original series, as well as the quarter-to-quarter rate of change based on the seasonally adjusted series.
13. The Report containing the analysis of the first quarter of 2003 results is now on sale at $5.0 per copy. It can be purchased in person from :
(i) Government Publications Centre, Ground Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong (Tel.: 2537 1910); or
(ii) Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department, 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong (Tel.: 2582 3025).
14. Internet users may purchase the publication online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (Address: http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) with payment made instantly. Softcopies of the publication purchased are available for immediate downloading while hardcopies purchased will be delivered by mail. The Statistical Bookstore is hosted on the ESD portal (Address: http://www.esd.gov.hk) together with other public services.
15. A mail order form for ordering hardcopies of publications is available in most publications of the Census and Statistics Department. It may be completed and sent back together with a cheque or bank draft covering all necessary cost and postage. The order form is also available for downloading from the website of the Department (Address:http://www.info.gov.hk/censtatd/eng/service_desk/forms_index. html).
16. Regular subscription can be arranged with the Publications Sales Section of the Information Services Department (Tel.: 2842 8844 or 2842 8845).
17. Enquiries about the survey results may be directed to the Distribution and Services Statistics Section (1)A of the Census and Statistics Department (Tel. No. : 2123 1040).
End/Friday, May 16, 2003
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