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HONG KONG, Oct 18 (AFP): Hong Kong's jobless rate dropped to a four-year low at 5.5 per cent for the three months to September as employment saw record growth on the back of a continued run up in the economy, the government said Tuesday.
Total employment increased by around 4,300 to 3.4 million. The unemployment rate for the three months to August was 5.7 per cent.
"Looking ahead, labour demand is likely to continue to grow along with the sustained pick-up in Hong Kong's overall economic activity. This will have a positive effect on the employment situation in the coming months," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong's unemployment rate peaked at 8.7 per cent in May-July 2003 and has since trended down as an influx of mainland tourists and a rebound in private consumption has boosted the economy after the outbreak of SARS that year.
The spokesman said further opening up of travel restrictions from China is expected to boost inbound tourism and the local job market.
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