More SMEs worry over getting credit

Thirty-six percent of small and medium-sized enterprises in Hong Kong see difficulties in gaining approval for credit lines, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority found.

That was reported in the authority's Survey on SME Credit Conditions for the second quarter after 31 percent perceived tougher times in the first quarter.

Yet SME perceptions of banks' credit approval stances in the second quarter saw 64 percent of respondents believing the mood was similar compared to six months ago.

The first quarter saw 69 percent of respondents believe conditions were better.

On respondents with existing credit lines, 95 percent said banks' stances were easier or unchanged. Eighty-three percent thought that way in the previous quarter.

Five percent reported a tightening of bank stances on existing credit lines, while 17 percent did so in the previous quarter.