(1888PressRelease)
November 23, 2007 - Hong Kong's economic growth was sustained in the third quarter, new figures reveal.
The Asian country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 6.2 per cent compared with the year-ago period, according to acting government economist Helen Chan.
This marks the 16th consecutive quarter that GDP growth has surpassed the average trend growth in the territory.
Predicted economic growth for the full year now stands at 6 per cent, Ms Chan said.
Principal drivers of growth were merchandise exports, which were up 6.5 per cent, and private consumption, which was up 9.7 per cent, Ms Chan added.
Kevin Lau, Standard, economist at Standard Chartered Bank, told the Bloomberg news agency: "Our forecast was for the figure to come in at between 5 per cent and 5.5 per cent and we were surprised that growth was much stronger than what we expected.
"I don't see any fundamental change or deterioration in the positive factors which underpinned growth in the third quarter," he added.
"Growth in the fourth quarter will therefore likely be as strong as what we've seen in the past quarter."
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