Land Registry releases statistics for July
******************************************

     The Land Registry today (August 2) released its statistics for July 2013.

Land registration
-----------------

* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in July was 5,489 (+18.9 per cent compared with June but -28.8 per cent compared with July 2012)

* The 12-month moving average for July was 8,131 (2.2 per cent below the 12-month moving average for June but 4.1 per cent above that for July 2012)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in July was $27.7 billion (-10.4 per cent compared with June and -40.9 per cent compared with July 2012)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3,986 were for residential units (+6.6 per cent compared with June but -30.2 per cent compared with July 2012)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $21 billion (+12.3 per cent compared with June but -33.9 per cent compared with July 2012)

     The statistics only cover sale and purchase agreements with payment of stamp duty.  Sale and purchase agreements relating to the sale of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme are not included unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     The Land Registry also released 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.
  
     These statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month as deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction.

Land search
-----------

* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in July was 400,527 (+6.2 per cent compared with June but -3 per cent compared with July 2012)

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

Ends/Friday, August 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:01

NNNN