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Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu Yuet-mee and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, in the Legislative Council today (June 2):
Question:
Regarding the active sale and purchase activities in the luxury real estate market, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the information on the sales and purchases of residential building units in 2008, 2009 and from January to March in 2010 (set out in Annex Table 1); and
(b) the amounts of stamp duty levied by the Government on the agreements for sales and purchases of residential building units which cost $10 million or above in the past two financial years (set out in Annex Table 2)?
Reply:
President,
(a) In 2008, there were altogether 95,931 Agreements for Sale and Purchase (ASPs) of residential flats registered with the Land Registry (LR) and 3,056 of them (about 3.2% of the total) were transactions valued above $10 million and up to $20 million. Another 1,602 (about 1.7% of the total) were transactions valued above $20 million.
In 2009, there were altogether 115,092 ASPs of residential flats registered with LR and 4,457 of them (about 3.9% of the total) were transactions valued above $10 million and up to $20 million. Another 2,244 (about 2% of the total) were transactions valued above $20 million.
From January to March 2010, there were altogether 33,249 ASPs of residential flats registered with LR. 1,218 of them (about 3.7% of the total) were transactions valued above $10 million and up to $20 million. Another 558 (about 1.7% of the total) were transactions valued above $20 million.
Breakdown on the number of registered transactions of private residential properties valued above $10 million in terms of the range of considerations, and the aggregate amount involved is listed in Annex Table 3.
(b) In 2008-09, $7,510 million stamp duty was levied on private residential property transactions. In 2009-10, $12,917 million stamp duty was levied on private residential property transactions.
Breakdown of the stamp duty levied on private residential properties valued above $10 million in the financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 is listed in Annex Table 4.
Ends/Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:44
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