Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that in the first quarter of 2008, 732 new companies were incorporated, down by 8.2% year-on-year, while the total registered capital surged by 117.6% to MOP169 million. The majority of these new companies were operating in Wholesale and Retail (212), Business Services (147) and Construction (131), accounting for 29.0%, 20.1% and 17.9% respectively of the total. The registered capital of the new incorporations in Wholesale and Retail took up 38.9% of the total, at MOP66 million. Meanwhile, number of dissolution of companies totalled 105, involving MOP422 million in registered capital. Most of the dissolved companies (30) were operating in Wholesale and Retail, representing 28.6% of the total. The registered capital of the companies in dissolution in Recreational, cultural and other activities accounted for 83.1% of the total, at MOP350 million. In the first quarter of 2008, 530 were incorporated with the registered capital of MOP50,000 or less (72.4% of the total), whereas the respective capital (MOP15 million) made up merely 9.1% of the total registered capital. Meanwhile, there were 12 new companies incorporated with the registered capital of MOP1,000,000 or more and the total registered capital amounted to MOP120 million (70.7% of the total). In addition, 87.7% of the new incorporations were limited companies. The majority of the capital of the new companies came from Macao (MOP97 million), Hong Kong (MOP60 million) and Mainland China (MOP7 million). Moreover, Guangdong Province (MOP4 million) topped the list of the capital coming from the Pan-Pearl River Delta provinces. Analysed by the place of residence of the shareholders, 418 new companies incorporated in the first quarter of 2008 were established solely by Macao shareholders and 109 were solely by shareholders from Hong Kong. There were 44 new companies incorporated jointly by shareholders from Macao and Mainland China, and 33 were joint ventures between Macao and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, there were 33 new companies incorporated jointly by shareholders from countries/regions other than Macao.
