Hong Kong's average wage rate of last December grew 9.4 percent in nominal terms over a year earlier, the city's Census and Statistics Department said on Monday.

About 72 percent of companies reported increases in average wage tares in December compared with a year ago. Twenty-five percent recorded decreases, while the remaining 3 percent reported virtually no change.

After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index A, the overall average wage rate rose 3.9 percent in real terms.

The index of payroll per person engaged rose 9.1 percent in nominal terms in the fourth quarter of 2011 over a year earlier.

After discounting the changes in consumer prices, the average payroll per person engaged rose 3.2 percent in real terms in the fourth quarter over a year earlier.

The rate rise was the result of tight labour market conditions and the implementation of statutory minimum wage. Employees in the lower segment saw higher increases.