Hong Kong's composite Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April rose 4.7 percent from a year ago, easing from March's increase of 4.9 percent, the city's statistics department said here Tuesday.

A spokesman said with receding domestic and external price pressures amid a more difficult economic environment, and with a slowing local economy, inflation should ease further.

Netting out the effects of the city's government's one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in April's CPI remained at 5.6 percent, matching March, mainly due to eased increases in food prices and private housing rents.

However, eased increase in these prices was offset by faster rise in charges for package tours, the department added.

Food prices in April rose 8.8 percent from a year ago, followed by housing 7.2 percent, meals bought away from home 5.8 percent, transport 3.7 percent, miscellaneous services 3.4 percent and clothing and footwear 3.3 percent.

Electricity, gas and water prices dropped 18.2 percent in April, while the prices for durable goods fell 0.5 percent.