Hong Kong's financial delinquency ratio fell to a historic low of 0.55 percent at the end of September, the Monetary Authority said Wednesday.

The level of rescheduled receivables retained in the card portfolio was stable, amounting to 73 million HK dollars (9.4 million US dollars) or 0.14 percent of total receivables, the same as that recorded at the end of the last quarter.

Together, the delinquent and rescheduled ratio fell to 0.68 percent, from 0.77 percent at the end of June, according to the Authority.

Total receivables rose 1 percent in the third quarter, following a transfer of 126 million HK dollars (16.2 million US dollars) receivables or 0.2 percent of average receivables outside the credit card portfolio during the quarter as a result of debt rescheduling.

The total number of credit card accounts rose for the fifth consecutive quarter by 2.1 percent, said the Authority.

It said that the amount charged off in the third quarter continued its declining trend, to 610 million HK dollars (78.2 million US dollars) or 1.13 percent of average receivables from 720 million HK dollars (92.3 million US dollars) or 1.34 percent in the previous quarter.

Assuming the rate of charge-off is maintained for the next three quarters, the Authority said the annualized ratio would be 4.51 percent compared with 5.37 percent in the previous quarter, the lowest level since the second quarter of 2001.

The rollover amount, which reflects the amount of borrowing customers using their credit cards, fell to 25 billion HK dollars (3.2 billion US dollars).