中环甲厦空置率5% 7年高

有代理数据指出5月甲厦空置率全部按月上升，其中过去「一盘难求」的中环区甲厦最新空置率已升至5.05%，创近7年新高。

代理表示，有数据指出，整体港岛区甲厦空置率为6.9%，较4月上升0.38个百分点，当中5个核心商业区包括铜锣湾、湾仔、中环、上环及金鐘，5月份甲级商厦空置率均录得按月升幅，幅度约0.19至0.51个百分点不等。

当中最大升幅为铜锣湾及中环区，铜锣湾为5区中空置率最高，最新数字为8.73%；而过往空置率一直维持在1至3%的中环，亦由3月时突破4.12%后，连续3个月持续上升，至最新5.05%，为2013年10月后首次录得超过5%水平，当月空置率为5.16%。

代续表示，现时香港商业环境面临多种挑战，令本港营商环境增添阴霾。市场陆续传出企业「大搬细」、寻顶租等个案，如最新市场消息指，中环区多幢指标商厦相继出现顶租盘，如皇后大道中9号、美国银行中心，其中中环中心顶租盘多逾10个。如一个中层全层单位，租客从事旅游业务，租用面积近2.5万平方呎，现以每月约175万元放顶租，呎租约70元。

港岛乙厦空置率6.12%

代理指出，至于乙级商厦表现方面，港岛区整体空置率为6.12%，较4月份上升0.41个百分点，当中铜锣湾、湾仔、中环及上环最新乙厦空置率都较4月份高，升幅约0.07至0.77个百分点不等。中区乙厦同样为重灾区，由4月约4.81%，急升至最新5.58%。反而上环区乙厦空置率按月轻微下调0.3个百分点，至5月约8.6%。

代理预测，随着港区国安法逐步落实，为香港商业前景信心添加不稳定性，加上疫情仍然持续，料经济復甦需时，下半年整体写字楼市场审慎，需求仍有待观察，预料核心区甲厦空置率将继续上涨。

(经济日报)

Secondary home sales hit four-week high

Hong Kong's secondary homes market hit a four-week high with 22 deals in 10 major housing estates over the weekend, rising 37.5 percent week-on-week, benefiting from the low-interest-rate environment after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates near zero, said Midland Realty.

A 213-square-foot apartment in Tin Lai Court in Tin Shui Wai fetched HK$3.08 million, or HK$14,460 per sq ft, the highest selling price in nearly a year, according to Many Wells Property Agent.

Tai Koo Shing has recorded around 10 second-hand transactions so far this month at an average selling price of HK$20,916 per sq ft, similar to last month, property agency said. However, a 695-sq-ft flat with a terrace only sold for HK$11.5 million, or HK$16,547 per sq ft, HK$1.3 million cheaper than the asking price.

Kerry Properties (0683) sold two houses in luxury The Bloomsway in Tuen Mun recently for around HK$81 million. The luxury project reported 13 transactions so far this month, and the developer is expected to have pocketed around HK$580 million from these sales.

Property agent explained that there were not many new home projects launched over the weekend, and this boosted secondary deals in housing estates.

Property agent believed that as the United States will not raise interest rates for two years, the low-interest-rate environment in Hong Kong is expected to continue for a period of time and as such repaying mortgages will be a relatively more cost-effective option than renting an apartment.

In the commercial market, the vacancy rate of Grade A office buildings in Central rose to a seven-year high of 5.05 percent in May and is expected to rise further, according to the property agency.

Meanwhile, overall prices of industrial buildings in May rebounded for the second consecutive month, rising 0.6 percent month-on-month, but rents fell 1.1 percent, according to another property agency.

The agency expects that the implementation of the national security law, the beginning of the process of abolishing Hong Kong's special status by the United States, and the continuous social unrest will bring uncertainties to the market.

(The Standard)