The Hong Kong economy grew 7.2 percent in real terms in the third quarter over a year earlier, the Hong Kong government said here Tuesday.

According to the government, the GDP growth rate for the third quarter was down from 12.1 percent in the second quarter which waspartly inflated by an exceptionally low base of comparison caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) last year.

Analyzed by constituent sector and on a year-on-year comparison,net output in all service sectors taken together rose 7.5 percent in real terms, down from the 12.6 percent growth in the second quarter which was again inflated by a low base of comparison caused by SARS last year.

Net output in the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels surged 12.6 percent in real terms, the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.

This was mainly attributable to the continued robust performance of Hong Kong's external trade, as import demand stayedgenerally strong across many regions, and as Chinese mainland economy sustained strong growth momentum, the government said.

An increase in net output of retail trade and restaurants and hotels, attributable to the continued growth in inbound tourism and local consumer spending, also contributed.

Source: Xinhua