The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (December 9) the results of the 2019 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 insurance industry recorded the largest total receipts (comprising business receipts and other income) in 2019, followed by the financing (except banking) 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 insurance industry, total receipts amounted to $629.6 billion in 2019, representing an increase of 12.5% compared with 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 9.1% compared with 2018 to $227.7 million in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.9% year-on-year to $77.6 billion in 2019. In 2019, the insurance industry comprised about 2 800 establishments and engaged about 91 700 persons, or an average of 33.2 persons per establishment.

     In the financing (except banking) industry, total receipts decreased by 4.3% over 2018 to $606.9 billion in 2019. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 8.3% compared with 2018 to $68.0 million in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 10.9% year-on-year to $273.1 billion in 2019. 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 $387.8 billion in 2018 to $333.9 billion in 2019, accounting for 55.0% of total receipts in 2019. Industry value added, which provides a measure of the contribution of this industry to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 2.4% compared with 2018 to $103.4 billion in 2019. In 2019, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 8 900 establishments and engaged about 100 000 persons, or an average of 11.2 persons per establishment.

     In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $487.7 billion in 2019, representing an increase of 3.3% compared with 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 6.1% compared with 2018 to $2.2 billion in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 3.7% year-on-year to $224.3 billion in 2019. In 2019, the banking industry comprised 225 establishments and engaged about 102 700 persons, or an average of 456.4 persons per establishment.

     Owing to the special features of business operations for the banking industry and the insurance industry, gross surplus and industry value added statistics are not compiled for these industries. Statistics on value added of these two industries compiled under the framework of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are released by the C&SD separately. Similarly, within the financing (except banking) industry, industry value added is not compiled for investment and holding companies. Hence, the figure of industry value added for this industry does not cover investment and holding companies.

     In the information and communications sector, total receipts increased by 5.0% compared with 2018 to $222.1 billion in 2019. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 2.6% compared with 2018 to $20.0 million in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 7.1% year-on-year to $151.3 billion in 2019. Gross surplus increased from $49.5 billion in 2018 to $51.5 billion in 2019, accounting for 23.2% of total receipts in 2019. Industry value added increased by 3.4% compared with 2018 to $92.1 billion in 2019. In 2019, the information and communications sector comprised about 11 100 establishments and engaged about 109 000 persons, or an average of 9.8 persons per establishment.

     In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $160.8 billion in 2019, representing a decrease of 0.5% compared with 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 1.8% compared with 2018 to $5.8 million in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 0.5% year-on-year to $130.9 billion in 2019. Gross surplus decreased from $29.9 billion in 2018 to $28.5 billion in 2019, and accounted for 17.7% of total receipts in 2019. Industry value added decreased by 1.0% compared with 2018 to $86.1 billion in 2019. In 2019, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 27 500 establishments and engaged about 150 800 persons, or an average of 5.5 persons per establishment.

     In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $145.1 billion in 2019, representing a decrease of 3.0% compared with 2018. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 3.2% compared with 2018 to $11.8 million in 2019. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased by 3.9% year-on-year to $132.2 billion in 2019. Gross surplus increased from $11.4 billion in 2018 to $12.3 billion in 2019, accounting for 8.5% of total receipts in 2019. Industry value added increased by 0.7% compared with 2018 to $57.2 billion in 2019. In 2019, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 12 200 establishments and engaged about 240 300 persons, or an average of 19.6 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 2019". 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 2020.

     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).

Ends/Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:30

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