Land Registry statistics for December
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     The Land Registry today (January 4) released its statistics for December 2010.

Land Registration
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*     The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in December was 11,790 (-26.2% compared with November but +6.1% compared with December 2009)

*     The 12-month moving average for December was 13,562 (0.4% above the 12-month moving average for November and 21.5% above that for December 2009)

*     The total consideration of sale and purchase agreements in December was $53.4 billion (-27.8% compared with November but +24.6% compared with December 2009)

*     Among the sale and purchase agreements, 9,328 were for residential units (-29.3% compared with November but +2.4% compared with December 2009)

*     The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $39.9 billion (-32.2% compared with November but +14.9% compared with December 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
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*     The number of searches of land registers made by the public in December was 454,584 (-15.5% compared with November but +8.4% compared with December 2009)

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

Ends/Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:00

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