HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors in the fourth quarter of 2011 increased 23.8 percent in nominal terms over a year earlier to HK$36.6 billion ($4.72 billion), the city's statistics department said Tuesday.

After discounting the effect of price changes, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors increased 14.6 percent in real terms.

The gross value of construction works performed at private sector sites rose 35.8 percent in nominal terms, while that at public sector sites climbed 33.1 percent, and that at locations other than construction sites added 10.5 percent.

In 2011, the total gross value of construction works performed by main contractors rose 15.4 percent in nominal terms compared with 2010, to HK$128.4 billion.

Residential building projects accounted for the largest share in the total gross value of construction works performed at construction sites in 2011. The gross value of construction works performed amounted to 26.2 billion HK dollars, up 16.1 percent in nominal terms compared with 2010.

Transport projects constituted the second largest group of construction site works. The gross value of construction works performed in respect of these projects totaled HK$19.3 billion in 2011, up 77.4 percent in nominal terms compared with 2010.