HK SMEs Optimistic About HK's Business Operating EnvironmentLocal small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) remain optimistic about Hong Kong business operating environment, according to a survey.The survey on "Business Operating Environment Index for SMEs" is conducted quarterly by the SME Center of the Best Management Practices Institute (BMPI) of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in Sept. 2000. The index covers the areas of market opportunity, financial and investment situation, operating costs, human resources and risk assessment for SMEs. According to Vicent Li, general manager of HKPC, a total of 517 SMEs were interviewed for the survey, of which 215 came from the services sector and 302 from the manufacturing sector. "Local SMEs, in general, are optimistic about Hong Kong business operating environment in the coming quater with index scoring 3.9 percent. It also reflects a three percent increase compared to the last survey conducted in July 2000," Li said. "A decrease of seven percent in the risk assessment index was noted. The decrease could be attributed to the recent fluctuation oil prices, " added Li. Li said that market opportunity index recorded a further decrease of three percent, an indication that SMEs were cautiously optimistic towards the market situation. Human resources index also recorded a decrease of about four percent. A dramatic increase of 16 percent in the operating cost was recorded while the financial and investment index recorded a significant increase of 11 percent. "The survey also noted that 50 percent of SMEs would not consider changing their business development strategies in spite of the recent ebbing of technology wave," said Li. |
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