Hong Kong's government on Monday announced a 1.2 percent decline in gross domestic product for 2019, marking the first negative growth in a decade.

It was the worst growth figure since the global financial crisis triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in 2009.

A major factor is undoubtedly the months of protests sparked by the government's attempt in June to pass a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China, with the retail and travel sectors being hardest hit.

Another likely factor was the trade war between the United States and China.

Last October, Hong Kong entered a technical recession following economic contractions in two consecutive quarters.

==Kyodo

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