Hong Kong's jobless rate fell 0. 1 percentage points from June-August level to 4.1 percent in July- September, the lowest for more than nine years, the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong announced here on Tuesday.

The underemployment rate also fell 0.1 percent, from 2.3 percent to 2.2 percent, over the same period.

The number of unemployed people dropped markedly. After discounting the seasonal factor, the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 4.1 percent, back to its lowest level for more than nine years.

Falls in the unemployment rate were mainly observed in the decoration and maintenance, real estate, wholesale trade and restaurants sectors. As to the underemployment rate, decreases were mainly seen in the construction, wholesale trade and hotels sectors.

Total employment fell by about 1,200, from 3,503,400 in June- August, to 3,502,200 in July-September. Over the same period, the labor force decreased by around 11,400 - from 3,669,700 to 3,658, 300.

The number of unemployed people fell around 10,300, from 166, 400 in June-August, to 156,100 in July-September, while the number of underemployed fell by around 3,300, from 83,800 to 80,500.

The total labor force registered a notable decrease in July- September, due to the return of some summer workers to schools upon the start of the new academic year. Yet total employment declined only moderately and stayed above the 3.5 million mark.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007)