The first quarter's total gross value of main contractors' construction works dropped 0.5% in nominal terms on a year earlier, to HK$24 billion, the Census & Statistics Department says. After discounting price changes, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors dropped 8% in real terms.

     The gross value of construction works performed at private-sector sites totalled HK$8 billion in the first quarter, down 4.1% in nominal terms and 14.7% in real terms. The fall was mainly due to completion of works at some commercial building sites.

The gross value of construction works performed at public sector sites rose 7.3% in nominal terms from a year earlier, to HK$4.1 billion. The figure dropped 3.3% in real terms.

     The gross value of construction works performed by contractors at locations other than construction sites amounted to HK$11.8 billion, down 0.4% in nominal terms over a year earlier. In real terms, there was a 4.5% drop.

     Residential building projects accounted for the largest share in the gross value of construction works performed at construction sites in the first quarter. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects amounted to HK$5.2 billion, up 13.5% in nominal terms from a year earlier.

     Commercial building projects constituted the second largest category of construction site works. The gross value of construction works performed for these projects totalled HK$2.1 billion, down 30% in nominal terms.