**************************************************
The Land Registry today (February 2) released the land registration statistics for last month (January).
The total number of sale and purchase agreements for all types of building units received for registration in the Land Registry in January was 8,807. This was an increase of 2.7% over December, 2006, and 50.4% compared with January, 2006.
Using a 12-month moving average, the figure for January, 2007, represented an increase of 3% over December, 2006, but a decrease of 14.6% compared with January, 2006.
The total consideration of these agreements in the month was $27.2 billion, down 4.4% from December, 2006, but up 89.1% compared with the amount for January, 2006.
Among the 8,807 sale and purchase agreements, 7,485 were sale and purchase agreements for residential units. This was an increase of 3.2% over December, 2006, and 52.8% compared with January, 2006.
The total consideration of these agreements in the month was $21.4 billion, down 4.6% from December, 2006, but up 81.5% compared with the amount for January, 2006.
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.
The figures are contained in the monthly statistics released today by the Land Registry on deeds relating to property transactions received for registration in the Land Registry last month.
Relevant statistics for December, 2006, and January, 2006, are provided for comparison. 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.
Ends/Friday, February 2, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:16
NNNN