In 2007, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 2.7% in nominal terms compared with 2006 to HK$92.7 billion, according to the provisional results of the Quarterly Survey of Construction Output released by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). After discounting price changes, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 0.4% in real terms between 2006 and 2007.

     Analysed by type of construction works, the gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites totalled HK$28.8 billion in 2007, up by 15.7% in nominal terms as compared with 2006. In real terms, it increased by 11.5%. The increase was mainly associated with the progressive stepping up of works at some large commercial building sites.

     The gross value of construction works performed at public sector sites amounted to HK$14.4 billion in 2007, down by 15.9% in nominal terms as compared with 2006.  In real terms, it decreased by 16.4%. The decrease was mainly due to completion of works on some large transport projects.

     On the other hand, the gross value of construction works performed by contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to HK$49.5 billion in 2007, up by 2.7% in nominal terms over 2006. In real terms, there was a 0.4% increase. Construction works at locations other than construction sites include minor new construction activities and renovation works at erected buildings and structures; and electrical and mechanical fitting works at locations other than construction sites.

     Analysed by end-use group, residential building projects accounted for the largest share in the gross value of construction works performed at construction sites in 2007. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects amounted to HK$15.8 billion, up by 1.7% in nominal terms as compared with 2006. Commercial building projects constituted the second largest group of construction site works. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects totalled HK$10.9 billion in 2007, up by 58.5% in nominal terms as compared with 2006.

     Comparing the fourth quarter of 2007 with the fourth quarter of 2006, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 5.2% in nominal terms.  In real terms, the increase was 2.5%.

     Within this total, the gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites increased by 17.4% in nominal terms in the fourth quarter of 2007 from a year earlier, while that for public sector sites decreased by 24.1%. As for construction works performed by contractors at locations other than construction sites, the gross value increased by 9.4% over the same period.

     In real terms, the gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites increased by 10.2% in the fourth quarter of 2007 from a year earlier, while that for public sector sites, decreased by 26.5%. On the other hand, the gross value of construction works performed by contractors at locations other than construction sites increased by 9.2% over the same period.
     On a seasonally adjusted basis, the gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased by 5.9% in nominal terms or 5.0% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the third quarter of 2007.