Housing market

Financial Secretary: Government has no intention of relaxing the three property market cooling measures SSD, DSD and BSD

The Financial Secretary said in a blog post that the HKSAR Government has no intention of relaxing the three property market cooling measures, namely the Special Stamp Duty (SSD), the Double Stamp Duty (DSD) and the Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD), as members of the public still face difficulties in purchasing homes. He said that, without affecting the risk of the banking system, the Government would explore solutions for first-time buyers who are capable of servicing a mortgage but lack sufficient down payments, and would conduct continuous dynamic assessments taking into account property prices, transaction volumes, residential supply and the overall economic situation, without setting a rigid deadline.

Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.

財政司司長網誌維持全年經濟增長3至4%預測

財政司司長在網誌宣布在這一輪經濟預測覆檢維持今年3至4%的增長預測不變。本港第二季經濟按年增長3.5%，較首季4.6%放緩，但仍連續第七個季度高於過去十年平均2.7%的趨勢增長率。下半年主要不明朗因素為國際貿易磨擦及美國加息步伐。

Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.

財政司司長解釋房屋政策新措施與空置差餉安排

政府公布六項房屋政策新措施，建議就空置一手私人住宅徵收應課差餉租值兩倍的額外差餉，並規定發展商每次推售單位不得少於同意書總數的20%。空置以入伙紙發出後12個月未售且逾6個月未作居住或出租計算，財政司司長指措施目標並非要遏抑樓價。

Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.

財政司司長網誌談私人住宅樓市數據與風險

財政司司長在網誌指，未來三至四年潛在一手私人住宅供應約98 000個單位，是2004年9月以來新高，包括約8 000個貨尾單位、61 000個建築中單位及可興建約29 000個單位的熟地項目。預計未來五年每年平均落成量約20 300個單位，較過去五年增約七成；2017年第一季置業負擔比率惡化至66.1%，他提醒市民留意供應與利率風險、量力而為。

Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.

財政司司長網誌也談美國加息 提醒樓市風險逐步加大

美國聯儲局加息四分之一厘，財政司司長在網誌指本港加息只是幾時而非會否的問題，樓市面對的風險將逐步加大。他列出未來三至四年一手私人住宅潛在供應量達94000個、去年第四季市民負擔比率惡化至約63%，並表示現階段看不到「減辣」或「撤招」的空間。