Related News
Home » Business » Real Estate
Selling hotel rooms to get around HK curbs
Source: Bloomberg News |
February 22, 2013, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AS Hong Kong's government scrambles for measures to rein in rising property prices, Asia's richest man has turned to selling hotel rooms in the city, a move that may spark further regulation.
Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd this week raised HK$1.4 billion (US$181 million) selling all 360 rooms at its Apex Horizon project in Hong Kong's northwest. Foreign buyers are required to pay a 15 percent extra tax on purchases of residential properties, one of the measures imposed in October to stem a doubling in housing prices in the past four years. The measures so far haven't been extended to other real estate, such as hotel rooms, offices, shops and parking spaces.
The move challenges efforts by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, whose attempts since taking over in July to rein in home prices amid a widening wealth gap in the city have been stymied by low interest rates and a stream of buyers from the Chinese mainland. The government said it will inspect the project where Cheung Kong is selling the hotel rooms to ensure they aren't being used as residences.
Cheung Kong's sale "is a smart move, but it'll probably be a one-time move," said Lee Wee Liat, a Hong Kong-based analyst at BNP Paribas SA. "We're a bit concerned this will trigger a government push to extend curbs to other property asset class. I doubt they'll let this happen again."
The city's second-largest builder sold all the rooms, ranging from 656 square feet to 909 square feet in size, on Wednesday and yesterday, spokeswoman Anita Tsui said yesterday.
Other curbs introduced by the government since 2009 include higher mortgage down-payment requirements and extra taxes when buyers resell homes within two years of purchases.
Hong Kong's Development Secretary Paul Chan said on Wednedsay the government has sent inspectors to make sure the rooms aren't used as residential apartments.
Officials visited The Apex Horizon project to make sure the suites are operating under guesthouse licensing rules, Chan said, according to a transcript published on the government website.
The government reserves the right to take back the property if the terms of the land grant are violated, he said.
Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd this week raised HK$1.4 billion (US$181 million) selling all 360 rooms at its Apex Horizon project in Hong Kong's northwest. Foreign buyers are required to pay a 15 percent extra tax on purchases of residential properties, one of the measures imposed in October to stem a doubling in housing prices in the past four years. The measures so far haven't been extended to other real estate, such as hotel rooms, offices, shops and parking spaces.
The move challenges efforts by Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, whose attempts since taking over in July to rein in home prices amid a widening wealth gap in the city have been stymied by low interest rates and a stream of buyers from the Chinese mainland. The government said it will inspect the project where Cheung Kong is selling the hotel rooms to ensure they aren't being used as residences.
Cheung Kong's sale "is a smart move, but it'll probably be a one-time move," said Lee Wee Liat, a Hong Kong-based analyst at BNP Paribas SA. "We're a bit concerned this will trigger a government push to extend curbs to other property asset class. I doubt they'll let this happen again."
The city's second-largest builder sold all the rooms, ranging from 656 square feet to 909 square feet in size, on Wednesday and yesterday, spokeswoman Anita Tsui said yesterday.
Other curbs introduced by the government since 2009 include higher mortgage down-payment requirements and extra taxes when buyers resell homes within two years of purchases.
Hong Kong's Development Secretary Paul Chan said on Wednedsay the government has sent inspectors to make sure the rooms aren't used as residential apartments.
Officials visited The Apex Horizon project to make sure the suites are operating under guesthouse licensing rules, Chan said, according to a transcript published on the government website.
The government reserves the right to take back the property if the terms of the land grant are violated, he said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
