Overall sentiment among small and medium-sized businesses in Hong Kong improved in March compared with February, according to data from the city's census and statistics department released Thursday.

The current diffusion index on business receipts among SMEs rose to 43.5 in March from 42.1 in February, the department said.

The index for the business sector increased to 48.4 from 45.1 while that of the logistics sector rose to 39 from 36.3.

For April, the department expects the index to jump to 46.5.

Tariffs by the US are also seen to put pressure on business sentiment, but the Hong Kong government has been supporting local enterprises through various means, a government spokesman said.