Land Registry statistics for September
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     The Land Registry today (October 4) released its statistics for September 2011.

Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in September was 6,579 (-10.5 per cent compared with August and -52.1 per cent compared with September 2010)

* The 12-month moving average for September was 10,955 (5.2 per cent below the 12-month moving average for August and 15.9 per cent below that for September 2010)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in September was $31.2 billion (-23.6 per cent compared with August and -41.7 per cent compared with September 2010)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4,823 were for residential units (-11.3 per cent compared with August and -53.7 per cent compared with September 2010)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $23 billion (-27.8 per cent compared with August and -44.3 per cent compared with September 2010)

     The sale of residential units refers to sale and purchase agreements with payment of stamp duty. These statistics do not include the sale 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
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in September was 366,946 (-14.6 per cent compared with August and -24.9 per cent compared with September 2010)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

Ends/Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:03

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