新地高铁上盖申建两幢钻石形地标建筑

新地(00016)去年11月动用高达422.32亿元投得西九龙高铁站上盖商业项目(下称高铁上盖项目)，最新发展蓝图曝光，城规会2010年批准该用地兴建3幢波浪形建筑物，新地最新建议放宽高度限制，以兴建2幢20至30层(另设2层地库)钻石形地标建筑，原方案约28.6万方呎写字楼楼面则拨作零售用途，令该项目的零售楼面大增约九成，至约60.28万方呎。

根据新地向城规会提交的最新方案，建议兴建2幢商业楼宇，总楼面面积约316.46万方呎，以约5倍地积比率发展，其中写字楼地积比率约4.05倍，楼面面积约256.18万方呎，零售用途的地积比率约0.95倍，楼面面积约60.28万方呎。新方案之下，建筑物高度约114至159米(主水平基準以上．下同)，较大纲图容许的90至115米，高约27%至38%，亦须获城规批准。

新地并就该项目提出多项发展特色，包括一条由中九龙干线园景平台、经过该项目连接至西九文化区海滨一带的「西九花园绿径」，全长约1.5公里；而该项目的总绿化空间约10万方呎，包括约4万方呎的中央广场，可作为艺术展览和音乐表演等用途。此外，高铁上盖项目与毗邻的尖沙咀九龙站上盖和邻近的文昌街一带住宅建筑，建筑物高度呈层递的阶梯式建筑，形成新的九龙城市天际线。

近月新冠肺炎肆虐，令市场对写字楼于通风和健康等方面设计尤为关注，新地遂于写字楼部分引入4.2米高的特高楼底，并设有绿色天台和阳台等设施。

对于新方案的零售楼面有所增加，新地代理特别发展部项目总监麦孟添表示，原方案下的零售楼面只有约30万方呎，规模主要服务其楼上的商厦或附近的居民，但高铁上盖项目的商场冀可打造为地区性的项目，可吸引附近社区的居民等使用，原有方案的商场规模未能配合，增加后约60万方呎楼面面积较为适合。至于写字楼楼面虽然相应减少，但麦孟添认为，相比之下只减少约一成楼面面积，对该区写字楼供应的影响有限。

新地代理地产策划及发展部规划总监黄舜浣预计，整个项目若明年首季顺利获城规会批准，可望明年次季动工，2024年起部分设施开始落成，整个项目预计2028年完工。

资料显示，新地去年投得高铁上盖项目后，先后两度为写字楼部分引入投资者，包括新地郭氏家族和平保(02318)旗下平安人寿；其中，新地佔50%股权、平安人寿佔三成，餘下20%则由郭氏家族持有，商场部分则由新地全资拥有。

(信报)

嘉芙中心全层叫价逾2775万

有代理表示，尖沙咀嘉芙中心13楼全层，面积约2832方呎，以呎价约9800元放售，涉及金额逾2775万元。

物业连租约出售，现由酒吧以月租约7.5万元租用，租期至2021年中。

该代理指出，业主于去年底原叫价约3000万元放售，是次下调意向价约7%，租金回报上升令物业更具竞争力。嘉芙中心楼上租客多以酒吧为主，出租率约九成，相信在疫情消退后，主题大厦的协同效应会发挥所长，租务需求可望更趋稳定，极其适合购入作长线收租投资之用。

(信报)

Hong Kong homebuyers return in droves for a sell-out weekend of flats offered by Sun Hung Kai and Henderson Land

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) sold 126 of the 133 Wetland Seasons Park flats in Tin Shui Wai as of 9pm, agents said

Henderson Land Development sold 77 flats of its 80 units on offer at Two Artlane in Sai Ying Pun

Hong Kong’s homebuyers turned up in droves to snap up new flats at two projects on Saturday, shrugging aside concerns about the city’s unemployment and the worst economic recession in decades, as social-distancing regulations eased.

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), Hong Kong’s largest developer by value, sold 126 of 133 flats, or 95 per cent of the units offered in the first batch of the third phase of its Wetland Seasons Park project in Tin Shui Wai as of 9pm today. As many as 22 buyers registered for each available flat.

In Sai Ying Pun, Henderson Land Development sold 96 per cent, or 77 of the 80 units offered at Two Artlane, with around nine bidders vying for each flat, agents said.

“Some homebuyers may not have dared to come out to view real estate projects over the last two or three weeks, but with the easing of social-distancing regulations and economic activities slowly going back to normal, more prospective buyers have come out,” agent said.

The potential sell-out weekend vindicates the decision by developers to put their projects back on the market, as generous discounts and easier financing enticed investors and shoppers back to property launches. New daily confirmed cases have fallen to single digits, giving local authorities the confidence to let restaurants and pubs stay open until midnight, while other entertainment venues closed since July 15 were allowed to reopen.

Prices at the latest batch of Wetland Seasons Park started at HK$4.2 million, or HK$12,513 per square foot, going up to HK$12 million (US$1.55 million) with an 18 per cent discount. Flat sizes ranged from 300 sq ft for a one-bedroom unit to 816 sq ft for a three-bedroom flat. The units at Two Artlane cost between HK$5.6 million and HK$8.9 million for flats ranging from 214 sq ft to 287 sq ft.

Most flats at both projects were priced at less than HK$10 million each, so would benefit from recent financing and mortgage measures, agent said. The agent added that more than half of those who purchased flats at Two Artlane were aiming to rent the properties, due to expectations of a low interest rate environment over the next three years.

While the city’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.1 per cent in August during the height of the third wave of Covid-19 infections, the number of people who were underemployed rose to a 17-year high, according to a government report on Thursday.

Hong Kong’s economy remains mired in a recession, contracting 9 per cent in the April-to-June period, and falling for the fourth straight quarter. The city’s gross domestic product is forecast to shrink between 6 and 8 per cent this year, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the economy.

While the city’s tourism sector has ground to a halt, retail sales have fared no better. The city’s retail sales in July fell 23.1 per cent year on year for the 18th month in a row, according to the latest government statistics.