Land Registry statistics for October
************************************

     The Land Registry today (November 3) released its statistics for October.

Land Registration
-----------------

* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in October was 11,112 (-23% compared with September but +83.5% compared with October 2008)

* The 12-month moving average for October was 10,074 (this was 4.4% above the 12-month moving average for September but 12.3% below that for October 2008)

* The total consideration of sale & purchase agreements in October was $45.5 billion (-32.2% compared with September but +140% compared with October 2008)

* Among the sale & purchase agreements, 9,300 were for residential units (-24.3% compared with September but +97.1% compared with October 2008)

* The total consideration for these sale & purchase agreements was $36.3 billion (-35.3% compared with September but +123.2% compared with October 2008)

     Sales of residential units refer to the sale and purchase agreements with payment of stamp duty.  These statistics do not include sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme except those after payment of premium.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales are also released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land Search
-----------

* The number of searches of land registers made by members of the public in October was 462,122 (-1.3% compared with September but +21.7% compared with October 2008)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and the IRIS Online Services.

Ends/Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:00

NNNN