Exports and stock market gains boosted the economy The economy of Hong Kong has emerged from recession, posting growth of 3.3% in the three months from April to June. The seasonally adjusted figures were better than had been expected and the government has raised its forecast for growth in the whole year. It followed the emergence from recession of Singapore, which grew an annualised 20.7% in the second quarter. Hong Kong's growth was negative for four consecutive quarters, starting in the second quarter of 2008. The growth of 3.3% compares with a revised contraction of 4.3% for the first three months of 2009. ANALYSIS By Vaudine England, BBC News, Hong Kong Two things have made global financial meltdown obvious in Hong Kong: daily protests by people who bought what they thought were safe bonds but turned out to be worthless when Lehman Brothers collapsed, and the seemingly permanent sales in the malls. The larger-than-usual number of ships moored in waters south of Hong Kong, or travelling light in and out of southern China's factory zones, has been another clue, as has the growing numbers of homeless and unemployed, some of them returning from jobs on the mainland. But for the majority still in jobs, and without negative equity given the continued buoyancy of Hong Kong's property market, there has not been an obvious recessionary feeling. A recent survey suggested Hong Kongers were spending - and saving - as much as usual. Hong Kong has always had an optimistic feeling about it. The government was previously expecting the economy to contract by between 5.5% and 6.5% in the whole of 2009, and is now predicting a contraction of between 3.5% and 4.5%. Economic growth is measured by gross domestic product (GDP). "The GDP data was much better than we expected, partly because the exports were better and partly because of a pick-up in private consumption," said Paul Tang, chief economist at Bank of East Asia. "Private consumption is being driven up by stock market gains and by the property sector, which started doing well." Although there has been growth compared with the previous three months, the economy is still running below last year's levels, with a year-on-year contraction of 3.8%. Private consumption in the second quarter rose 4% compared with the previous three months. It was boosted by the stock market, which has rebounded 80% since early March, as well as property prices, which have risen 20% this year.
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According to official records, Hong Kong's economy has left a year-long recession, recording a growth of 3.3% in the second quarter ended in June. The figures, which were seasonally adjusted, were higher than forecast by economists.

As a result, the government has increased its growth predictions for 2009. Previous estimates suggested the economy would contract by 5.5% to 6.5%. Now, the contraction is only predicted to be between 3.5% and 4.5%.

"The GDP data was much better than we expected, partly because the exports were better and partly because of a pick-up in private consumption," Bank of East Asia's chief economist, Paul Tang, noted. "Private consumption is being driven up by stock market gains and by the property sector, which started doing well." 

However, government economist Helen Chan warned that "while we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, ... the outlook remain highly uncertain because the situations in the United States and Europe are still very weak."