Hong Kong's private sector activity contracted for the first time in four months in August, according to a survey by S&P Global published Thursday.
The latest seasonally adjusted S&P Global Hong Kong SAR Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 49.5 in August from 51.0 the previous month.
A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the sector, while a figure below signals a contraction.
Output and new orders both contracted in August, as business activity and sales were weighed down by higher prices and weaker demand conditions, S&P said.