Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce
Click here to login e-Club  Click here to visit our Chinese frontpage

From the Chairman

Inside Legco

From the CEO

Cover Story
Hong Kong:
The Trilingual City?

Language Learning: An Investment in Your Future

Bigger is Better

O'Rear's View 
Fading Hope for Fiscal Responsibility

China Economic Update
China Tax Reforms Underway

Business
Trends

PRD Patriot's Paradox

Goods & Services Tax Made Simple

Goodway Electrical onto a Good Thing

Chamber Programmes
Hong Kong's Silver Lining

First Zero Tariff Shipment Under CEPA by HKGCC Member

Hong Kong Service Suppliers Q&A

Chamber Visits MTR's Nerve Centre

Chamber Programmes

Building a Career in the PRD

2003 Hong Kong Award for Services: Innovation

Chamber in Action


ARCHIVES
2010 Issues
2009 Issues
2008 Issues
2007 Issues
2006 Issues
2005 Issues
2004 Issues
2003 Issues
2002 Issues
2001 Issues
2000 Issues
1999 Issues

Search for

 
Advanced Search

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN TODAY!
TRENDS                                                                 February 2004 Issue

theBulletin.gif (2057 bytes)


Grade A Office Vacancy Rate Falls to 12.5 Percent

trends.jpg (8808 bytes)Continued demand for prime office space in Central helped push the vacancy rate down from 16.2 percent in September 2003 to 14.7 percent in December. Overall, the vacancy rate for grade A offices fell to 12.5 percent in December, compared to 13.2 percent three months earlier, says real estate consultancy Knight Frank. Fringe Central office prices averaged HK$3,616 per square foot in December, representing a jump of almost 16 percent. Increases were also witnessed in Wanchai and Tsimshatsui. More >>

Office Market Indicators

District Net   

Effective Rent Change Over

(HK$psf/month)

 Quarter Year
Core Central                                              18.92 -0.4% -28.5%
Fringe Central                                            16.44 -0.6% -17.2%
Wanchai/Causeway Bay                                                        14.54 -1.9% -17.2%
North Point                                                10.79 0.0% -14.8%
Quarry Bay                                                12.10 3.2% -18.5%
Tsimshatsui                                                 14.96 0.5% -8.1%
Source: Knight Frank HK


Hong Kong Economy Back On Track?

The Better Hong Kong Foundation's economic outlook for Hong Kong in 2004 puts GDP growth for the year at 6.7 percent on the heels of an estimated 3.3 percent growth in 2003. Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, forecasts export growth for the full year of 2003 to be around 11.4 percent, and 10.4 percent for 2004. The Foundation predicts unemployment in 2004 to average 7 percent. Barring any slowdown in the economy, he predicts that deflation will disappear in the third quarter. More >>


Top Technology Trends For 2004

Growth for Linux and offshore outsourcing are predicted to be the top two IT trends in 2004, according to Forrester Research. It also sees in its crystal ball that IT will play a bigger role in measuring corporate performance, and that the telecom industry will finally start to recover. Technology adoption will accelerate in health plans, care providers, and life science firms; change the way travel companies solve business problems; and grow in consumer packed goods companies. In addition, broadband growth and device proliferation will create clear winners and losers in the consumer devices market. More >>


Consumer Confidence Perks Up

trends2s.jpg (4461 bytes)Hong Kong consumers are among the most optimistic in Asia, with consumer sentiment being high on all five economic factors -- employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life -- MasterCard's Consumer Confidence Survey shows. Hong Kong's MasterIndex score of 81.1 is its second highest on record, more than three times higher than 23.2 six months ago and the gloomy 21.3 score a year ago. The territory's latest score in this bi-annual survey is slightly higher than Australia's 80.9 score, but slightly lower than China's 83.7. Thais are apparently the most optimistic lot in Asia, with a score of 95.1. More >>

Click here to contact the Editor...
Send Your Feedback


  Women Executives Club Presents: - Sustainable Eating - Let's Eat and Live Smart...

  China Breakfast Roundtable: 2010 NPC & CPPCC Annual Sessions Review

  "Corporate Architects" Series... Proudly presented by the HKGCC Women Executives Club, RBS Coutts and the Financial Times: Luncheon with Ms Christine Loh, CEO and Co-Founder, Civic Exchange

  Cultural Extravaganza cum Cocktail Reception Featuring Consulates General of the Americas Region in Hong Kong: Canada, Colombia, Mexico and the United States of America

  HKGCC China Committee Working Mission to Beijing and Tianjin
More >>

past events
2010/03/18
Winning the Talent War -- The 8 Essentials

Kerry Larkan, a leading Australian author, keynote speaker, commentato... details>>
2010/03/17
EU Trade Policy after the Lisbon Treaty

Helena Konig, Trade Directorate-General, European Commission, spoke at... details>>
2010/03/12
Luncheon with the Financial Secretary John Tsang

HKSAR Financial Secretary John Tsang elaborated on his latest Budget a... details>>
2010/03/02
Can Asia-Pacific Economies Save the Doha Round?

Five years after WTO members convened in Hong Kong, the Doha Round is ... details>>
2010/02/11
Chocolate to Melt Your Heart

Ten lucky members had the opportunity on February 11 to make their own... details>>
more >>
About HKGCC | Member Services | Join Us | Contact Us | Advertising | Jobs
The Chamber's Privacy Policy Statement
Copyright © 1998-2010 The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.