Hong Kong's unemployment rate during the period of November 2001 to January 2002 reached 6.7 percent, the Census and Statistics Department announced Thursday.

It is 0.6 percent up from the period of October to December 2001 and the number of unemployed persons increased from 209,800 to 219,000 during the same period.

The unemployment rate rose extensively across many economic sectors, including foundation and superstructure construction, the wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, transport, communications, real estate and business services, the department said.

A government spokesman said the unemployment rate seemed likely to stay high in the near term as the labor market slackened distinctly further.

( February 22, 2002)