油塘榮山工廈 申建29層甲廈

油塘榮山工業大廈最新向城規會申請將用地由「綜合發展區」地帶改劃為「商業 (1)」地帶，並以地積比率約11倍重建1幢29層高 (另設5層地庫) 的甲級商廈，總樓面約54.5萬平方呎。

申請人指，包括上述項目在內的「綜合發展區」用地早前已獲批作綜合發展，而申請地點亦已獲批建酒店，但申請人強調，該獲批申請並非由是次申請地點的土地擁有人提出，因此申請人不會落實其酒店發展。

另外，葵涌業成街14至15號工廈亦申建1幢20層高 (包括2層地庫及1層平台)的新式工廈，總樓面約16.19萬平方呎。項目於7月已獲屋宇署批出建築圖則。

(經濟日報)

安達臣地中標價高次標72%

上月底領展以7.66億力壓4財團，投得觀塘安達臣道對出商業地，地政總署昨以不具名方式，公布其餘4份落選標價，出價介乎7000萬至4.4488億，樓面呎價約503至3195元，其中首兩標出價已見明顯差距，中標價較次標高出約72.2%，可見領展以志在必得價投地。

最低標價7000萬

次標出價約4.4488億，與中標價相差約3.2112億，樓面呎價則約3195元，而中標價較次標高出約72.2%；緊接其後出價約4.188億，與中標價相差約82.9%；另有兩個財團以「執雞」價投地，出價約7000萬及1.253億，樓面呎價僅503及900元；而最低標出價僅7000萬，樓面呎價約503元，與中標價相差近10倍。

(星島日報)

佳寧娜申強拍青山道舊樓遭拒

土地審裁處就長沙灣青山道300至306號舊樓的強拍申請公布判決，土地審裁處指出，大業主就當中個別地段持有的業權份數，未達申請門檻，決定拒絕該申請。資料顯示，上址的大業主包括佳寧娜集團 (00126) 等。

(信報)

Hong Kong property developer New World expects housing market to feel the squeeze from rising interest rates

Housing market will gradually recover as there is still strong demand for homes, says CEO Adrian Cheng

Hong Kong-listed developer posts an 8.5 per cent increase in full-year profit to US$159.2 million

Hong Kong’s housing market will be under pressure in the short-term from rising interest rates globally, the CEO of New World Development (NWD) said on Friday, after the property developer posted a modest 8.5 per cent rise in full-year profit.

“Such a turbulent market is stressful for everyone and we managed to record some gain in earnings,” Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, who is also the executive vice-chairman, said in an online briefing to discuss the results.

He said that property buyers in the city have adopted a wait-and-see attitude amid a tightening interest rate cycle globally. “Buyers need some time to digest, which will lead to downward pressure on Hong Kong’s property market in the short term.”

The company’s net profit for the year ended June 30, 2022, rose 8.5 per cent from a year ago to HK$1.05 billion (US$159.2 million), while underlying profit, excluding changes in the valuations of properties, rose 1.8 per cent to HK$7.08 billion. Revenue was flat at HK$68.2 billion.

New World’s revenue generated from property sales plunged 23 per cent year on year, mainly dragged by a 80 per cent drop in contracted sales in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s housing market remains mired in a slump, reflecting the impact of higher interest rates and the city’s coronavirus restrictions. Home prices fell by 2.26 per cent in August to their lowest level in three and a half years and have retreated 6.5 per cent this year.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has raised its base interest rate five times this year to 3.5 per cent, a 14-year high, in lockstep with hawkish US Federal Reserve rate increases. Banks such as HSBC and Bank of China (Hong Kong) raised their prime rates last week to a four-year high, making it costlier to fund big-ticket purchases such as housing.

“But we believe it [the housing market] will recover gradually, as there is still strong demand for homes,” Cheng said.

Asked about his views about the new Hong Kong government led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and easing of quarantine measures, Cheng said that the administration was handling the situation pretty well.

“We hope to see more relaxation and want the city to host more events, bring back some talent and reboot Hong Kong’s economy,” he said.

After more than two years of efforts to prevent coronavirus infections, Hong Kong lifted its Covid-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from September 26, adopting a “0+3” model.

New World said it was targeting revenue of HK$30 billion from property sales this year, split evenly between Hong Kong and mainland China.

The company’s K11 Musea shopping centre in Kowloon recorded a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent in sales during the period, while total footfall amounted to around 20 million.

The developer said that the increase in sales was mainly driven by better performance of its top tier international brands tenants, including jewellery and watches as well as personal care and beauty.

It has proposed a second-half dividend of HK$1.5 per share, bringing the full year dividend to HK$2.06 per share.