The volume of business and output in all sectors is expected to surge in the first quarter, according to the Census & Statistics Department's quarterly business tendency survey.

The restaurants and hotels, transport and related services, communications, real estate, business services, and banks, financing and insurance sectors all expect their business situation to improve.

Significantly more respondents in the wholesale and retail, communications, and banks, financing and insurance sectors anticipate a brighter outlook.

Respondents in all surveyed sectors - in particular the wholesale and retail, import and export trade, real estate, and banks, financing and insurance - expect employment to increase.