The value of total receipts for the restaurants sector was $15 billion in the first quarter in 2006, up 8.8% on the same quarter in 2005. Over the same period, the value of total purchases of restaurants grew 5.5%, to $5 billion.

Releasing the figures today, the Census & Statistics Department said total restaurant receipts rose 7.8% in volume in Q1 as compared to a year earlier after discounting the effect of price changes.

Analysed by type of restaurant, total receipts of non-Chinese restaurants rose 14% in value or 13.7% in volume in Q1 2006 as compared to a year earlier.

Fast-food shops' total receipts grew 9.8% in value or 8.3% in volume, while total receipts of Chinese restaurants rose 6.9% in value or 5.6% in volume.

Total receipts of miscellaneous eating and drinking places increased by 5.6% in value or 3.9% in volume in Q1 2006 as compared to a year earlier.

As for bars, total receipts grew 0.3% in value or 3.6% in volume.