有代理行指，疫情持續下，寫字樓租金下跌帶動租賃，金融保險業及服務式辦公室擴充，寫字樓兩年來首次出現正吸納，第三季租金跌幅亦按季收窄，預計第四季待租率維持平穩，租金僅下跌1%至1.5%。

該行代理表示，今年第三季寫字樓租賃活動增加，租金下調速度放緩，跌幅較首兩季收窄至按季跌1.2%，更是自2019年第三季度以來首次錄正吸納量，數量高達32.77萬方呎。

銀行金融業擴充

另外，第三季待租率由次季14.4%略微下降到13.9%，反映寫字樓租賃擴張，新寫字樓租賃活動以金融和服務式辦公室為主。第三季頂租個案減少6.2萬方呎，按季減少12%。

該行預計，第四季寫字樓租金將進一步下降1%至1.5%，正吸納將在第四季繼續，預計本季的待租率維持13.9%，交易將圍繞新的供應和管理良好的租賃組合。

第四季租金將跌1%至1.5%

該代理指，未來幾年寫字樓似乎供過於求，隨新供應增加，預料待租率面積需要2至3年消化，待租率才能回落至單位數，故未來2至3年寫字樓租金難以上調，料持續橫行。

待租率需時兩至三年消化

該行另一代理指，相比第二季，第三季的租賃活動增加，以銀行及金融 (27%)、保險 (15%) 以及商務中心/共用工作空間 (12%) 最為活躍。頂租面積按季跌12%（只有約6.2萬方呎）。

代理認為，「北部都會區」大部分土地將作為創科業使用，加上本身的「維港都會區」，兩個都會區可「做大個餅」，對本港未來10至20年寫字樓需求產生正面作用。

另一代理指，今年第三季零售銷售額理想，年初至今整體銷售額較去年同期增加8.1%，當中珠寶鐘表及時裝類一枝獨秀。

核心區餐飲鋪租按季上升

一綫街鋪租金開始復甦，預期第二次消費券繼續增強。四大核心區街鋪租金按季升最多1.3%，屯門及元朗鋪租亦升逾1%。四大核心區餐飲鋪租按季升2至逾3%。旺角及中環空置率分別降至10.9及8.5%，但銅鑼灣空置率升至13.2%，相信情況要等通關才能改善。

(星島日報)

新蒲崗大有全幢3.45億易手

新蒲崗六合街3號大有大廈全幢，以約3.45億易手，樓面呎價約4203元，由資深投資者林子峰承接。

投資者林子峰承接

林子峰旗下高士威地產，其發言人表示，隨着工廈2.0計畫持續，集團看好工廈市場，新蒲崗大有街屬區內暢旺街道，人流聚集，地段極具發展前景，集團購入物業作為土儲，上述大廈佔地佔地5700方呎，可申請以14.4倍，重建發展成為一幢新式工廈，總樓面約82080方呎。

區內對上一宗全幢工廈成交為2018年8月，興勝創建沽售新蒲崗三祝街19號及七寶街1號美華工廠大廈，成交價約12.53億，項目佔地14920萬方呎 ，可建樓面面積17.9萬方呎，最新平均樓面呎價7000元，創區內工廈樓面呎價新高。

樓面呎價4203元

代理表示，小西灣新業街11號森龍工業大廈中層A室，面積約5564方呎，現叫價約2080萬放售，平均呎價約3738元。項目連租約出售，現由食品加工工場租用，月租約5.28萬，租期至2022年底，按此計算，新買家可享回報約3厘。

(星島日報)

三幢工廈放寬地積比重建

工廈活化工廈計畫延長至2024年10月，近期錄3宗申請重建，最矚目為由「物流張」之稱的資深投資者張順宜持有的民生物流中心。

民生物流涉41.5萬方呎

據城規會文件顯示，項目位於屯門洪祥路3B號，曾於2015年獲批改裝為辦公室及商店及服務行業/私人會所/食肆用途；最新向城規會放寬地積比率限制。上述項目地盤面積約36401方呎，申請放寬地積比率約20%發展，由9.5倍增加至11.4倍，以重建為一幢樓高20層 (包括2層地庫) 的工廈，可建總樓面約414967方呎。

瑞康地積比增至逾12倍

另外，億京今年7月斥資4.98億購入葵涌瑞康工業大廈，最新申請放寬20%地積比率，重建一幢樓高24層新式工廈，總樓面約17.68萬方呎。地盤面積14463方呎，地積比率由10.186倍增加至12.223倍，重建為樓高24層 (包括1層地庫) 的新式工廈，涉總樓面約176779方呎。

同區葵涌德大工業大廈申請放寬兩成地積比率，以重建一幢26層高新式工廈，涉總樓面約20.2萬方呎；地盤面積約17745方呎，申請放寬地積比約20%發展，由9.5倍增加至11.4倍，而建築物高度由主水平基準以上130米，以重建為一幢樓高26層 (包括2層地庫及1層防火層) 的新式工廈，涉及可建總樓面約202293方呎。

此外，粉嶺區則錄全幢工廈申請改裝個案，粉嶺安樂門街33號，地盤面積約5160方呎，申請人提出將全幢改裝為6層高工廈，作藝術工作室、寫字樓、資訊科技及電訊業等用途，涉及總樓面約25748方呎。

(星島日報)

北部都會區帶動 粉嶺工業區升格

《施政報告》提出「北部都會區」願景，連粉嶺安樂村工業區亦受惠，將會由「工業」用途升級為「商貿及創科」地帶，提供共享工作間吸引初創企業進駐，並將會興建鐵路接駁。

工業轉型商貿創科發展

鄰近粉嶺聯和墟的安樂村工業區，範圍達351.1萬平方呎，現時屬於「工業」規劃用途。區內由98幢工業大廈，及政府持有的20幅休憩用地、臨時停車場等組成。有見社會對工廈、貨倉仍然有相當需求，因此規劃署之前決定保留該區作為「工業」規劃用途，並放寬規劃發展限制。不過，根據最新《施政報告》提出的「北部都會區」計劃，就提出為配合港深緊密互動圈發展創科經濟的方向，可將粉嶺安樂村工業區由「工業」地帶改劃為「其他指定（商貿及創科）」地帶，為工業區轉型助力，提供共享工作間鼓勵初創企業進駐。

政府認為，改劃土地用途地帶可對市場主動釋出土地最新規劃意向的信息，而在改劃土地的同時，可參考起動九龍東的成功經驗，改善公共空間及行人系統，採取積極政策推動轉型改造。同時，政府提出北環綫東延，從古洞站東延，接駁香港羅湖及文錦渡地區以及新界北新市鎮各發展節點，可在粉嶺安樂村工業區設站，並以無縫的行人系統連接粉嶺站，預計將會帶動整個安樂村工業區發展、轉型。

三成半樓面建數據中心

事實上，區內近年亦有7個工廈興建或活化項目，共提供逾114萬平方呎樓面，當中至少3個將會發展成為數據中心，涉及40.2萬平方呎，佔整體樓面供應約35%，可見發展數據中心方面的潛力。當中新加坡豐樹產業於本年初，以約8.1294億元投得的粉嶺安樂門街工業地，面積約4.34萬平方呎，以地積比率約5倍發展，最高可建樓面約21.7萬平方呎，以每平方呎樓面地價約3,750元計，創下新界北區工業地呎價新高。

豐樹產業將會用作為集團首個位於香港的數據中心，並計劃出租予終端使用者或數據中心營運商等。該數據中心除了服務本地用家外，亦會提供良好及快速的網絡予深圳的雲端用家，及其餘內地主要城市的用家。

另外，去年佳明旗下兩間全資附屬公司，亦分別以約1.68億及約1.88億元，購入粉嶺安居街3號及粉嶺安福街7號地皮，兩幅地皮面積分別約1.79萬及1.91萬平方呎，佳明亦表示購入地皮後，將興建兩座數據中心，並作租賃用途。

(經濟日報)

HKTDC sells two Peak homes to Cheng family for $185m

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council sold two units with parking spaces at Villa Verde on The Peak for HK$185.3 million to a grandson of the late founder of New World Development, Cheng Yu-tung.

The two connected units, measuring 2,311 square feet each, changed hands at HK$93 million and HK$92.3 million in September, data from the Land Registry showed. This suggested an average price of around HK$40,000 per sq ft. The two units came with one parking space each.

The history of the properties dated back to 1970 when the statutory body acquired three units and three parking spaces at the projects for a total of HK$621,600. Together with one parking space, the average price for one luxury unit stood at about HK$207,200, suggesting that the council had a paper gain of more than HK$184 million in selling the two flats after holding the properties for 51 years.

The buyers of the two flats are Cheng Chi-him and Joyce Ho Wai-chung, who are believed to be the grandson of New World Development's Cheng, and his spouse.

The Trade Development Council sold a flat with a car park at Woodland Heights in Wong Nai Chung Gap for HK$96 million at the beginning of this year. This followed an investment of HK$150,000 in 1967. It suggested a price growth of 639 times after 54 years. The council has cashed out more than HK$281.3 million in selling properties in less than one year.

Meanwhile, Kennedy 38, a project in Kennedy Town jointly developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016), Wheelock Properties and Henderson Land Development (0012), is expected to launch sales in early November.

(The Standard)

Hong Kong’s office rental market shows signs of recovery as more space is taken up than vacated for first time in two years

The three months to September saw ‘net absorption’ for the first time in two years, meaning more space was taken up than vacated, according to property agency

The property services giant said there had been a ‘resurgence in transactions’ in the third quarter among finance firms and insurers

Hong Kong’s office rental market is showing signs of recovery after being battered by 2019’s social unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic that immediately followed it.

The three months to September saw “net absorption” for the first time in two years, meaning more space was taken up than left empty, according to property agency.

The property services giant halved its forecast for the overall average rental decline this year from a range of 8 to 13 per cent to between 4 and 6 per cent. The average rent per square foot in Hong Kong has already sunk 26.4 per cent from a peak of HK$75.9 in April 2019, to HK$55.9 in the third quarter of this year.

“Compared to the relatively low levels of tenant movement in the second quarter, we saw a resurgence of transaction activity in the third quarter with several notable deals concluded by tenants from within the banking and finance, insurance and business centre [and] co-working sectors,” property agent said.

As a result, the amount of office space being surrendered dropped 12 per cent from the previous quarter, equating to a reduction of 62,000 square feet in total. Surrendering means abandoning offices before the contracts expire.

The overall office space availability rate dipped slightly to 13.9 per cent in the third quarter and will probably continue to drop at a similar pace through to the end of 2021, according to the agency. 

Chinese investment bank CICC expanded its office space at One International Finance Centre by about 32,600 sq ft when it renewed its contract, according to a report by another agency.

As for the retail market, property agency said insurance companies were boosting the sector by taking advantage of lower rents to expand.

“We are seeing more insurance companies actively expanding, aiming to engage with potential and existing customers further. We anticipate insurance service centres may be an upcoming trend, taking advantage of the lowered retail rentals,” property agent.

Retail space occupancy levels gradually improved in most districts. Mong Kok and Central outperformed other areas, the agent said.

When asked about the government’s recently announced plans to develop the Northern New Territories, agent said focusing the innovative technology industry there will lead to a rise in the white-collar working population in the Northern Metropolis, and a subsequent rise in demand for office buildings.

“It will also stimulate the local retail and food and beverage [sector],” the agent added.

(South China Morning Post)

For more information of Office for Lease at International Finance Centre please visit: Office for Lease at International Finance Centre

For more information of Grade A Office for Lease in Central please visit: Grade A Office for Lease in Central

CK Asset and Henderson Land set to launch housing projects in proposed Northern Metropolis

CK Asset is close to announcing the launch of the 341-unit #Lyos housing development in Hung Shui Kui in the northern New Territories

Henderson Land’s yet-to-be named project in Fanling, close to the proposed On Lok Tsuen station on the Northern Link, is awaiting presale approval

CK Asset Holdings and Henderson Land Development are likely to see to huge interest in their upcoming projects in the northern New Territories, as investors bet on an improvement in infrastructure in the area following the announcement of the proposed Northern Metropolis.

The two projects will provide close to 2,000 units in Hung Shui Kui and Fanling, close to the mainland border, which come under Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s Northern Metropolis plan that aims to have 2.5 million residents within 20 years. It will also include a “Silicon Valley” that will closely interact with neighbouring Shenzhen.

“We have received a surge in inquiries on home prices in areas close to these new projects, with some investors indicating they were interested in buying existing flats as a long-term investment in anticipation of upcoming projects that will be offered at higher prices,” property agent said.

CK Asset is about to kick off the marketing push for the #Lyos housing development comprising 341 units in Hung Shui Kui, which is expected to be served by a new rail link connecting Shenzhen’s burgeoning Qianhai economic zone. The rail link is as an extension of the planned HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) Northern Link to cater for the newly announced eightfold expansion of Qianhai.

The #Lyos development is expected to be completed in September 2023, but there is no concrete timetable on the completion of the rail link connecting Hung Shui Kui to Qianhai.

Units in Hung Shui Kui currently fetch between HK$12,000 and HK$15,000 per square foot, according to property agency.

A 572 sq ft unit at the 26-year-old Meadowlands development in Hung Shui Kiu is on the market for HK$6.5 million, or HK$11,364 per sq ft, while the asking price for a 471 sq ft flat at the three-year-old Park Villa is HK$7.3 million, or HK$15,499 per sq ft, according to the agency.

In Fanling North, Henderson Land’s yet-to-be named project at 8 Ma Sik Road, close to the proposed On Lok Tsuen station, is awaiting presale approval. The Northern Link extension will connect Kam Sheung Road, Lok Ma Chau border checkpoint and Tuen Mun to the MTR’s Tsuen Wan line.

While the entire development will have 1,576 units, phase one comprises 600 units and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.

“Now is the perfect timing to release these new flats for presale,” agent said.

At present, home prices in Fanling and Sheung Shui were about HK$15,000 per square foot, about 16 per cent lower than the HK$18,000 per square foot in Kowloon, another agent said.

“The lower prices in the Northern New Territories is mainly because of its inaccessibility. Once the transport infrastructure improves, the price gap between the area and Kowloon will narrow,” the agent said.

Some owners have held back their sale after Carrie Lam said an innovation and technology corridor will serve as the engine of the planned 300 sq km Northern Metropolis, the agent said, adding that he expects to see an increasing interest in the area among prospective investors.

“Most flat viewing appointments were cancelled due to the heavy rain on Saturday and the Typhoon No 8 signal on Sunday. We expect the area to attract more attention and flat seekers to hunt for ‘treasures’ before prices move up,” the agent said.

Separately, another property agency said that it expects the growth pace of home rents in the New Territories to outperform Kowloon over the next five to 10 years.

Upon full development of the entire Northern Metropolis, the total number of jobs would increase substantially from 116,000 at present to about 650,000, including 150,000 jobs related to innovation and technology.

“More people will come to work and create leasing demand,” agent said.