Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises showed slight development momentum in the fourth quarter of 2023. According to the latest released “Standard Chartered Hong Kong SME Leading Business Index,” the index rose slightly to 47.6, reflecting the cautious optimism of Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises towards the current market environment. Among the sub-indices, especially the profitability performance and business conditions, showed positive growth signs. However, the uncertainty of the global economy remains the main challenge faced by businesses.
This survey also shows that Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises remain steady in terms of investment, with the majority of businesses planning to maintain or increase their investments, especially in e-commerce and digital technology training. Additionally, there is some relief in the expected pressure on raw material costs and employee salaries for Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises, which may help alleviate the rise in business costs.
Standard Chartered Bank’s experts believe that although the index is still below the neutral level, this reflects the resilience of Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises in the face of external challenges. In addition, the government has proposed a series of measures in the latest policy address, such as establishing a dedicated task force for the development of e-commerce and organizing the Hong Kong Shopping Festival. These initiatives are expected to further support the development of Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises.
特别值得关注的是，香港中小企业在2024年的部署与发展方向中，重点放在恢复或增加本地客源和开拓海外市场。政府推进的北部都会区发展计划和香港旅游业发展蓝图2.0将有助于提升消费和促进经济复苏。
同时，生产力局进一步加强对中小企的支持，特别是在数字应用方面，如推出「中小企升级实践教室」，提供相关策略和营销咨询服务，帮助中小企业提升竞争力。
总结来看，香港中小企业在2023年第四季度展现出稳健的发展趋势，并对未来持续保持乐观态度。政府和相关机构的支持将是推动这些企业持续成长的重要因素。
