HONG KONG / BEIJING - Inflation will probably peak at the end of this month and a hard landing for the economy will be avoided, a senior economist said on Thursday, amid a manufacturing slowdown and persistent inflation concerns.

Several positive factors support this forecast, Fan Gang, a former adviser to the central bank's monetary policy committee, said in Hong Kong.

Tighter monetary policies over the past eight months have mopped up a large chunk of surplus liquidity while oil and commodity prices have stabilized, Fan said.