Hong Kong's overall consumer prices fell 1.6 percent in August compared with the same period last year.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the composite consumer price index for the period from June to August was -0.7 percent.

These changes were affected by the government one-off relief measures, in particular the electricity charge subsidy and the payment of two months public housing rentals from August.

After netting out the relief measures' effects, the year-on- year rate of change in the composite consumer price index in August was -0.3 percent, the same as that in July.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change for the period from June to August was -0.1 percent, the same as that for the period from May to July.

Consumer price inflation remained slightly negative in August, as both import prices and local business costs softened amid the weak global economic conditions.

The upward pressure on consumer prices should remain subdued in the coming months, the department said.