Hong Kong's gross domestic product rose 1.7 percent in real terms in the third quarter on the same period last year, compared with 4.2 percent growth in the second quarter by using chain volume measures, the Census Statistics Department of Hong Kong said Friday.

    Net output in all the service activities taken together rose 2.3 percent in real terms, after growth of 4.2 percent in the previous quarter, says the department.

    Net output in the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels sector grew 4.8 percent.

    The moderation of growth was mainly attributable to the decelerated growth in external trade and slackened consumer spending towards the end of the quarter.

    Due to continued shrinkage in trading in stocks and quieter fund raising activities, net output in the financing, insurance, real estate and business services sector only recorded a growth of 0.4 percent.