Unemployment figures

A sharp decline in unemployment in the transport and manufacturing sectors has resulted in the lowest quarterly jobless rate for two years.

Between July and September, the provisional unemployment rate edged down to 2.2 per cent - the lowest since the beginning of 1995.

However, leading unionist Lee Cheuk-yan said the way the rate was calculated was outdated. He said it failed to take account of potential workers, such as housewives, who were constantly being rejected by firms.