Jobless Rate Falls Further To 3.5pc

Hong Kong's unemployment rate has dipped to 3.5 percent, falling for the eighth straight month.

Official data released on Thursday showed that the jobless rate for the period between October and December inched down 0.2 percentage point from the September-to-November figure.

Underemployment also fell by 0.1 percentage point, to 1.5 percent.

The government said the improvement in the labour market was more notable in the construction, retail, transportation and education sectors, adding that jobless rates in the consumption and tourism-related sectors fell to 4.7 percent.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the labour market should continue to improve in the near term.

"With most social distancing measures removed by the government and normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland gradually resumed, domestic economic activities are likely to show a more visible revival, lending further support to the labour market,” he said.

“However, the tightened financial conditions may partly offset the positive effects," he added.