（By Cai Jingwen, Liang Yueqin）
Zhou Manjie, the Research Department Director of Ricacorp Properties, pointed when in January which is the traditional low season of each year, investors and general users may slow down the purchasing to wait and see the market trend of the following year, plus with there is unstable external economy this year, so the property transactions get less, making shop dealing (122 cases) hit the floor last month since financial crisis in 2008.
According to the latest data from Land Registry, Hong Kong registered 122 cases of shop transaction last month (the number reflects the actual market situation between 4 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago), with transaction amount at HKD 1.19 billion, respectively sharply down by 34% and 69% than 185 cases and HKD 3.811 billion in last December, and the registered number and amount in single month even is the lowest since financial crisis (nearly 59 months).
Register in last month was 122 cases, down by 34%.
Divided in property price, 4 among 6 groups were down in registered number, in the group between HKD 2 million and HKD 5 million, it had the highest decline range. This group only had 28 cases registered in last month, largely down 62% than 74 cases in last December. In addition, the registered number of group between HKD 5million and HKD 7 million also down 60% than 4 cases in last month.
Divided in districts, during 16 districts observed by this company, totally 8 districts had falling registered number, at ranges from 20% to 100%, in Tsim Sha Tsui, there were only 6 cases registered, sharply down 88% than 48 cases in last December, which was really serious. Besides, registered number in North Point, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tai Po and Tsuen Wan also declined by ranges from 40% to 67%, which reflects the shop transaction in each district was bad. On the contrary, Yuen Long registered 20 cases in last month, being the hottest shop transaction district, and it even up 11% in single month registered number, against the market trend.
Zhou Manjie pointed, although the shop market in last month was bad, but the trading after Chinese New Year may back to normal quickly, plus with the partial selling of 8 Russell Street was ideal, and many pre-sale shops in 52-56 Tsun Yip Street were rapidly sold, so the shop transactions can be more than 170 cases again in February if transactions of two above projects able to register in this month.
Mainland customer bought top floor of 8 Russell Street by HKD 200 million.
Moreover, 8 Russell Street owned by CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets sold its 27th floor and 29th floor yesterday, 29th floor among was sold to a mainland customer at HKD 208 million. According to the data, the floor area of 29th floor is 4,718 sq ft, with balcony in 3,568 sq ft. CLSA partially put on sale the 10th and 20th floor of this building in earlier, and frequently received applications from users and investors. The owner immediately additional launched 21st-26th floor after first batch of 10 floors being sold out, which also were purchased rapidly, and the average sq ft prices of these units were from HKD 33,827 to HKD 30,839. This project has sold 16 floors taking in more than HKD 2.4 billion.
