****************************************
The Land Registry today (September 2) released its statistics for August.
Land Registration
-----------------
* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in August was 16,946 (+13.8% compared with July and +27.9% compared with August 2009)
* The 12-month moving average for August was 13,079 (2.4% above the 12-month moving average for July and 44.3% above that for August 2009)
* The total consideration of sale and purchase agreements in August was $80.2 billion (+32.8% compared with July and +50.9% compared with August 2009)
* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 14,699 were for residential units (+13.4% compared with July and +30.7% compared with August 2009)
* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $69.2 billion (+32.7% compared with July and +68.9% compared with August 2009)
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 the public in August was 541,022 (+3.2% compared with July and +16.3% compared with August 2009)
The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and the IRIS Online Services.
Ends/Thursday, September 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:00
NNNN