Key statistics on operating characteristics of information and communications, financing and insurance, professional and business services sectors in 2021
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (November 30) the results of the 2021 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 2021, 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 increased by 6.6% over 2020 to $670.0 billion in 2021. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 3.7% compared with 2020 to $71.8 million in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 12.6% year-on-year to $324.2 billion in 2021. Gross surplus, which is equal to total receipts less operating expenses, compensation of employees and (where applicable) value of purchases of goods for sale, increased from $340.7 billion in 2020 to $345.8 billion in 2021, accounting for 51.6% of total receipts in 2021. Industry value added, which provides a measure of the contribution of this industry to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 15.9% compared with 2020 to $133.2 billion in 2021. In 2021, the financing (except banking) industry comprised about 9 300 establishments and engaged about 102 500 persons, or an average of 11.0 persons per establishment.
      
     In the insurance industry, total receipts amounted to $646.9 billion in 2021, representing a decrease of 9.0% compared with 2020. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 8.9% compared with 2020 to $232.8 million in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased by 3.7% year-on-year to $65.6 billion in 2021. In 2021, the insurance industry comprised about 2 800 establishments and engaged about 90 200 persons, or an average of 32.5 persons per establishment.
      
     In the banking industry, total receipts amounted to $430.2 billion in 2021, representing a decrease of 3.8% compared with 2020. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 0.9% compared with 2020 to $1.9 billion in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 4.7% year-on-year to $238.4 billion in 2021. In 2021, the banking industry comprised 225 establishments and engaged about 100 600 persons, or an average of 447.0 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 Census and Statistics Department 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 7.4% compared with 2020 to $233.0 billion in 2021. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 5.9% compared with 2020 to $20.7 million in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 5.9% year-on-year to $160.2 billion in 2021. Gross surplus increased from $54.1 billion in 2020 to $54.7 billion in 2021, accounting for 23.5% of total receipts in 2021. Industry value added increased by 3.9% compared with 2020 to $95.6 billion in 2021. In 2021, the information and communications sector comprised about 11 300 establishments and engaged about 108 400 persons, or an average of 9.6 persons per establishment.
      
     In the professional, scientific and technical activities sector, total receipts amounted to $160.8 billion in 2021, representing an increase of 3.3% compared with 2020. On a per establishment basis, total receipts increased by 1.8% compared with 2020 to $5.8 million in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together increased by 3.9% year-on-year to $128.4 billion in 2021. Gross surplus decreased from $30.7 billion in 2020 to $30.6 billion in 2021, and accounted for 19.0% of total receipts in 2021.  Industry value added increased by 7.8% compared with 2020 to $87.3 billion in 2021. In 2021, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector comprised about 27 900 establishments and engaged about 153 500 persons, or an average of 5.5 persons per establishment.
      
     In the administrative and support service activities sector, total receipts amounted to $86.6 billion in 2021, representing a decrease of 17.5% compared with 2020. On a per establishment basis, total receipts decreased by 16.0% compared with 2020 to $7.3 million in 2021. Total operating expenses and compensation of employees together decreased by 17.2% year-on-year to $81.1 billion in 2021. Gross surplus decreased from $6.6 billion in 2020 to $5.0 billion in 2021, accounting for 5.8% of total receipts in 2021. Industry value added increased by 8.2% compared with 2020 to $50.2 billion in 2021. In 2021, the administrative and support service activities sector comprised about 11 900 establishments and engaged about 231 300 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 2021". Users can download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080013&scode=570) as from end-December 2022.
      
     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, November 30, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30

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