The unemployment rate rose across many of the major economic sectors, with larger increases occurring in the decoration and maintenance, real estate, restaurants, hotels and communications sectors.

Financial Secretary Anthony Leung said the reason why the unemployment rate has increased slightly by 0.1 percent is because the total labor force has reduced by 4,000 although the number of unemployed persons reduced by 100.

Leung expected there would be further pressure on the unemployment rate as traditionally there may be people who get laid-off around the Lunar New Year period.

"We will work very hard along the blueprint announced by the Chief Executive on revival of the economy. We believe that with the measures that we are taking, with the improvement in the economy, there will be improvement in the employment situation," he said.

The unemployment rate in Hong Kong peaked at 7.8 percent in early 2002, but in the last six months of 2002 it declined gradually down to 7.2 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2003)