The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) on Thursday predicted real GDP growth of 2.3 percent in 2025, along with a headline inflation rate of 2.0 percent. Chairwoman Agnes Chan said this was a cautiously optimistic prediction, and expressed confidence in central government and SAR government measures. The HKGCC said that in a survey it carried out last month, more than 60 percent of 219 companies questioned reported increased or stable business turnover this year. About 18 percent said they had a positive outlook for the local economy in the next 12 months, while 45 percent held a negative view. Economist Doris Fung said that many unpredictable factors can be behind the firms' worries, such as uncertain growth rates in Europe and the potential for a trade war following Donald Trump's re-election as US president. "But we are also confident in the Hong Kong business community, they are more prepared this time with the new US government," she said. The survey also found that about half of the companies do not plan to either hire or cut staff, and about 40 percent plan to increase salaries. About 60 percent of the respondents said they don't expect to change their capital investment plans over the next year, the HKGCC said.
