有外资代理行最新发表的香港地产市场报告中指出，10月九龙主要分区市场的甲级写字楼市场空置率改善情况，为各主要商业区中最显著。

10月底整体甲级写字楼空置率微跌至12.6%，尖沙咀的空置率下跌0.4个百分点，九龙东写字楼空置率亦略见改善，略跌至19.1%。

该行代理表示，上月整体写字楼市场持续录得净吸纳量，涉及152,500平方呎。当中，由于物色价格相宜及优质的办公室的需求趋增，九龙写字楼空置率的改善最为明显。当中以九龙东尤甚，该区的选择类型既较多元化又多优质商厦，为物色大型办公室的租户另一热门选择。

租金按月微跌

该行另一代理表示，10月整体市场租金按月下跌0.5%。各主要分区市场中，中环和湾仔/铜锣湾租金分别下跌0.2%和1.0%，而九龙东租金继续企稳。

(经济日报)

旺角弥敦道地铺8600万易手 「木器大王」傅氏家族沽货 19年升值1.36倍

近期铺市买卖未算炽热，有老牌家族亦沽售非核心物业锁定利润，旺角太子弥敦道一个巨铺，建筑面积逾8000方呎，以约8,600万成交，原业主为有「木器大王」之称的傅世彪家族，物业19年升值1.36倍。

旺角弥敦道776至778号地下连地库及1楼，地下建筑面积约3060方呎，地库约2600方呎及1楼约2,358方呎，合共8018方呎，以约8600万成交，平均呎价10726元，租客包括永兴冰室及 SNAP Fitness，月租分别为22.5万元及17.05万元，合共39.55万元，新买家料回报约5.5厘。

平均呎价10726元

原业主为「木器大王」之称的傅世彪家族，于2004年1月以3725万买入该铺位，持货19年，帐面获利4875万元，物业升值1.36倍。

傅世彪家族旗下瑞生集团，早年在尖沙咀广东道经营木器制品起家，傅世彪更赢得「木器大王」之称，家族早于多年前，已涉足物业投资，持有尖沙咀广东道及加连威老道铺位及商厦，包括广东道116至120号海威商业中心多层楼面，加连威老道铺位及全幢物业。

今年初，瑞生集团更在皇后山邨周边申请兴建住宅，涉及皇后山邨北面、同珍厂房南面一幅用地，申请改划「住宅 (甲类)」，地积比增加至6.75倍，兴建3305伙住宅。

连约回报逾5厘

盛滙商铺基金创办人李根兴表示，上述铺位位处太子弥敦道，接近花墟，是深水埗前往太子港铁站必经之路，永兴冰室属于老牌茶记，生意经常爆满，虽然此铺不属于弥敦道游客段，外来生客较少，惟民生消费力不俗，铺门外有巴士站，亦是罕有3层复式铺，地铺为冰室，楼上及地库为健身中心，回报逾5厘。

上述铺位是深水埗前往太子港铁站必经之路， 虽然不属于弥敦道游客段，惟民生消费力不俗，亦是罕有3层复式铺。

(星岛日报)

iCITY buyers all set to move into Hong Kong’s newest digital industrial landmark

Hong Kong’s newest digital industrial landmark, iCITY in Kwai Chung, has recorded strong sales. As of November 22, 232 of the project’s 270 units had been sold, accounting for 86% of currently available properties in phase one.

Isabella Cheng, Soundwill Real Estate Agency Limited, stated that iCITY’s total sales have reached nearly HK$985.3 million. The average price in terms of gross floor area was approximately HK$9,477 per square foot, with the highest transaction price of approximately HK$10,353 per square foot. The average selling price achieved was around HK$4.247 million, representing a premium for industrial buildings in Kwai Chung.

“Since its launch, iCITY has received an enthusiastic response, with transaction prices at above HK$10,000 per square foot,” said Cheng. “Many prospective buyers made immediate purchases after on-site visits, so we have full confidence in the current sales performance of this project and hope to achieve even better results.”

According to Cheng, investment purchases accounted for 70% of iCITY buyers while 30% purchased for self-use. Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, and Yau Tsim Mong were among the major locations where buyers were based, accounting for 85%. The remaining 15% were distributed across other areas of Hong Kong.

The developer is working with mortgage referral firms and banks to provide buyers with tailor-made mortgage plans and financing options. Delivery of iCITY units is expected to commence from December 2023 through January 2024, as the development has now obtained its occupation permit.

Strategically located near the West Kowloon high-speed rail station and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, iCITY provides convenient connectivity for businesses between Hong Kong and mainland China. It is also well-positioned to benefit from the Hong Kong government’s efforts to attract businesses and talents from across the globe. This, combined with a scarce supply of comparable new industrial buildings in the city, has driven strong investor demand, Cheng said.

“With their exemption from stamp duty and lower financial outlay, these industrial buildings are highly sought-after for long-term investment by local investors and new arrivals from mainland China who have now obtained permanent residency after residing in Hong Kong for seven years,” Cheng noted.

iCITY is located at the junction of Kwai Chung’s Wo Yi Hop Road and Ta Chuen Ping Street, within a well-established industrial, commercial and residential community with convenient facilities nearby, including shopping malls, wet markets, dining, entertainment and leisure amenities.

The property boasts excellent transportation access. Bus and minibus stops are sitting right next to the project entrance, connected by multiple bus and minibus routes to areas across Kowloon, Hong Kong and the New Territories. There is also a seven-seater car service between iCITY and Kwai Hing MTR Station for easy commuting.

iCITY features a full curtain wall façade and equipped with a lift for sightseeing, providing a 24-hour smart workspace. Spanning 20 floors, phase one comprises 324 units ranging from 422 to 510 square feet, with each enjoying an ultra-high 4.2-metre floor-to-floor height* for maximum flexibility. Added comforts include a private lavatory as well as split-type air conditioning and electronic door locks within each unit.

(The Standard)

Mortgage applications slump 39pc as rates rise

Mortgage applications in Hong Kong slumped by 39 percent month-on-month in October to 5,359 cases amid rising mortgage rates, according to data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

Mortgage loans approved in the month also dropped by 2.2 percent compared with September to HK$24.9 billion. Among these, loans financing primary market transactions jumped by 75.4 percent to HK$5.6 billion while those for second-hand homes slid by 13.6 percent to HK$8 billion.

Loans for refinancing declined by 13.2 percent to HK$11.3 billion.

The outstanding value of mortgages inched up by 0.1 percent to HK$1.86 trillion at end-October, but the delinquency ratio remained unchanged at 0.07 percent.

All interbank borrowing costs fell in Hong Kong for the first time in nearly a month yesterday.

The mortgage-linked one-month Hong Kong interbank offered rate dipped by 14 basis points to 5.517 percent.

Although lenders have raised the time-deposit interest rates to draw funds from customers amid rising Hibor rates, Hong Kong dollar deposits dropped by 0.4 percent while foreign currency deposits rose 0.4 percent. The yuan deposit value grew by 3.3 percent in October.

The total assets of the Exchange Fund rose by HK$68.2 billion to HK$3.99 trillion as of the end of October.

The financial hub booked a cumulative deficit of HK$172.9 billion in the April-October period, after taking into account the proceeds of HK$66.6 billion received from the issuance of green bonds, the government said.

The fiscal reserves stood at HK$661.9 billion.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Authority said new business premiums derived from mainland visitors slumped by 32.9 percent to HK$15 billion on a quarterly basis in the third quarter of the year.

The total gross premiums fell by 1 percent to HK$428.6 billion in the first three quarters of the year from a year ago.

HSBC Life said it recorded nearly HK$30 billion in new business premiums in the first nine months of the year.