Eight pre-sale consents issued in 2009 fourth quarter
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     The Lands Department today (January 7) announced that it had issued eight pre-sale consents to sell units in uncompleted developments in the fourth quarter of 2009, of which five consents were for the sale of residential units and three for the sale of commercial developments.

     The five pre-sale consents for residential developments involve a total of 3,885 uncompleted units located in various districts of Hong Kong. Four developments in Wan Chai, Sha Tin, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long respectively, comprising a total of 2,469 units, are estimated to be completed from March to November 2010. The development in Tseung Kwan O, involving 1,416 units, is estimated to be completed in May 2011.

     As at the end of December 2009, 16 applications for pre-sale consent for uncompleted residential units and two applications for pre-sale consent for uncompleted commercial developments are being processed.

     The 16 applications for pre-sale consent for uncompleted residential units being processed involve a total of 6,631 units. Among them, seven developments involving 2,660 units are estimated to be completed in 2010, and six developments involving 3,778 units are estimated to be completed in 2011. For the remaining three developments involving a total of 193 units, the estimated completion dates are to be updated by the developers.

     People can obtain up-to-date information on pre-sale consents for uncompleted residential developments issued for the last six months and cases pending approval as at the end of December by calling Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office's hotline (2147 5475) or on the Lands Department website (www.landsd.gov.hk).

     Intending purchasers are advised to carefully study details of the development and the sale procedures, through information available from public advertisement, sales brochure and price lists released by the developer before making a deposit for a purchase. The sales brochure for a development (normally including a Chinese version) also contains the main points of the Deed of Mutual Covenant, including the definition of common areas, terms of appointment of manager, the basis of calculating management fees, amounts of any deposits and other relevant details, as well as any special features of the Government land grant, which intending purchasers are recommended to read carefully.

     Intending purchasers should also note that developers may hold sales of units by private sale direct with purchasers, for which, under the Consent Scheme, price lists are not required to be produced.

Ends/Thursday, January 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:00

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