MTR Corporation (0066) chairman Rex Auyeung Pak-keun yesterday said he believes the real estate market's sentiment has brightened, following recent satisfactory sales at the rail operator's projects.

Speaking at MTRC's annual general meeting yesterday Auyeung said that 14,000 residential units will be launched across several years and MTRC will retender the Tung Chung East project in the next 12 months after the company failed to receive any bids last year.

It is currently developing 14 projects. The main works of the Hung Shui Kiu Station project will start this year, the Northern Link project will begin in 2025, and Oyster Bay Station is expected to be completed in 2030.

Outside Hong Kong, the company will remain oriented toward rail services.

Regarding the extension of the East Rail Line into Shenzhen, Auyeung said discussions are still under way with the mainland and the MTRC would fully cooperate when the proposal is finalized.

In response to a question about why the company's share price is at a low level, finance director Michael Fitzgerald said MTR passenger capacity has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, accompanied by the overall downturn of the Hong Kong stock market, the price is impacted by cautious sentiment. But he added that the share price has picked up. In the past month, MTRC's shares have climbed from HK$24.1 to HK$28.9.

Managing director Jeny Yeung Mei-chun said that with the expansion of the railway, the depreciation rate of fixed assets would increase.

Last year, the MTRC announced a HK$65 billion investment in asset renewal and maintenance, as well as innovative technology to enhance service quality.

As to new rail projects, which have already started with a HK$100 billion investment, they will be followed by other projects, according to chief executive Jacob Kam Chak-pui.

Meanwhile, ticket revenue is expected to increase no more than 3.09 percent this year. The nominal wage index of the transport sector released by the Census and Statistics Department this year increased by 5.2 percent.

If all the data are incorporated into the fare equation, MTRC can increase its fares by 5.05 percent. However, only 3.09 percent of the final increase can be raised under the cap mechanism, while the remaining 1.96 percent may be delayed.

(The Standard)

Faye Wong sells Marinella home for $64m

Cantopop star Faye Wong sold a home at Marinella in Wong Chuk Hang for HK$64.5 million, gaining nearly 20 percent or HK$10.5 million on the deal after buying it 12 years ago for HK$54 million.

The 1,949-square-foot home was sold for HK$33,094 per sq ft.

Meanwhile, a buyer forked out HK$20 million for three flats at Central 8 in Mid-Levels, developed by Emperor International (0163),as a rental investment.

They included a one-bed unit and two open-style flats with sizes ranging from 203 to 311 sq ft. The selling prices were between HK$5.3 million and HK$8.7 million. Central 8 has sold 80 flats and the one-bed units are sold out.

Meanwhile, CK Asset (1113) will put 11 three-bedroom units at El Futuro in Kau To Shan up for sale this Saturday, with the cheapest priced at HK$15 million.

Sales manager Jim Chim Fan-wing, said several four-bedroom units were already sold this month.

In Wan Chai, One Wood Road developed by Vantage International, will open two two-bedroom show flats, each spanning 460 sq ft, this Saturday.

(The Standard)

上月甲廈錄正吸納量 外資代理行：涉24.8萬方呎

有外資代理行發表香港地產市場報告指，今年4月整體甲廈錄24.8萬方呎正吸納量，主要由於新落成的灣仔友邦大廈自用樓面落實，月內市場錄新租賃包括中國移動香港承租葵涌九龍貿易中心A座兩層共4.74萬方呎樓面，作為擴充樓面。

空置率跌至13%

隨着寫字樓租賃市場溫和改善，4月底整體市場空置率跌至13%。灣仔 (銅鑼灣) 和九龍東甲廈空置率分別跌0.2和0.3個百分點，中環和港島東空置率分別微升0.1和0.3個百分點。

該行代理表示，短期內，疲弱的經濟和寫字樓新供應，持續為寫字樓租金造成下調壓力。然而，寫字樓的中長期新供應減少，將緩和租金跌幅。

該代理續指，鑑於金鐘廊暫緩出售，九龍灣國際展貿中心重建項目擬大幅削減寫字樓空間，預計甲廈中長期新供應量合共或減少約200萬方呎。

整體租金按月跌0.4%

該行另一代理表示，4月份寫字樓租金跌幅較3月份略為收窄，整體市場租金按月下跌0.4%，3月份則跌0.7%。

至於分區方面，中環租金僅跌0.2%，而3月份則跌1.3%。港島東租金跌0.9%，尖沙咀和九龍東租金均下跌0.4%。

(星島日報)

更多九龍貿易中心寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：九龍貿易中心寫字樓出租

更多葵涌區甲級寫字樓出租樓盤資訊請參閱：葵涌區甲級寫字樓出租

旺角千望商業基座標售

旺角煙廠街31號千望商業基座，連租約推出標售，有外資代理行代理表示，物業總建築面積約6664方呎，物業在2023年全新落成，以現狀部分交吉及部分連約推出，截標日期6月27日，該商業基座共2層，包括3間地下舖及1樓全層商舖連地下入口，商舖建築面積約668至3770方呎，全部商舖層與層高度均達5米，設有獨立洗手間及來去水，提供足夠電力及隔油池。

藝人陳豪為地舖租客

該代理又說，現時其中一間地舖由影星陳豪投資的人氣糖水舖承租，物業位處旺角市中心，7分鐘步行至港鐵旺角及油麻地站，物業設有三幅大型招牌分別面向煙廠街及花園街，可帶來廣告效益。

(星島日報)