The Land Registry today (September 4) released its statistics for August 2018.
 
Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in August was 6,688 (-21.0 per cent compared with July but +9.1 per cent compared with August 2017)

* The 12-month moving average for August was 7,616 (0.6 per cent above the 12-month moving average for July and 3.7 per cent above that for August 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in August was $60.9 billion (-38.7 per cent compared with July but +39.0 per cent compared with August 2017)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 4,822 were for residential units (-20.8 per cent compared with July but +20.1 per cent compared with August 2017)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $46.8 billion (-28.3 per cent compared with July but +39.0 per cent compared with August 2017)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme and the Tenants Purchase Scheme unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.
 
Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in August was 478,414 (-1.1 per cent compared with July but +9.4 per cent compared with August 2017)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.

     The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, and a delegation of District Council chairmen and vice chairmen will visit four cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, namely Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, from September 7 to 9. Mr Lau and the delegation will depart for Guangzhou by through train in the morning on September 7.
      
     The delegation will attend a seminar, visit local communities, go to innovative technology enterprises, view cultural facilities and exchange views with representatives of the provincial and municipal governments to learn about the latest developments of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
      
     Mr Lau will return to Hong Kong from Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port by ferry in the afternoon on September 9. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting this morning (September 4):
 
Reporter: …that Mainland officers will be staying overnight in the terminus, and what about their meals? Some reports say that we're going to pay for their meals, I mean how is the Government going to ensure that? And secondly, regarding the set-up of the Mainland Port Area, why doesn't the Government decided to do it, like, not publicly?

Chief Executive: First of all, what has taken place at midnight at the West Kowloon terminus is a working level handover. The legislation on co-location took effect at midnight today on September 4, so there was a little working-level handover procedure in order to indicate this. That was not a ceremony per se, so I wasn't there on this particular occasion. The important opening ceremony will take place on September 22 and will be formally officiated by myself and Governor Ma Xingrui of Guangdong Province. This brings me back to the point I was just making, that apparently and unfortunately, anything relating to the high-speed train normally is presented with some worries and anxieties. I don't want this to continue to repeat itself between now and the opening of the high-speed train on September 23, so I have asked the Transport and Housing Bureau together with the MTR Corporation to provide responses as promptly as possible to any queries or worries or anxieties either conveyed by media friends or we pick up somewhere, so as to allay all these unnecessary fears and anxieties.

     The same applies to the provision of meals to officers working in the Mainland Port Area. As I said, these Mainland officials will not leave the Mainland Port Area. They come in on a daily basis from Shenzhen to work in the Mainland Port Area and they are not allowed to go out to have their lunch or dinner, so we need to find arrangements to provide meals to them. The cost of all these meals as well as the cost of all the other expenses, like cleansing, collecting rubbish, electricity and water, are all picked up by the Mainland authorities, but we need to help them to arrange these things. It's as simple as that.
      
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (September 4) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Clear Water Bay First Beach in Sai Kung District as Grade 4, which means the beach is not suitable for swimming. The red flag has been hoisted. Beach-goers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.

     The Inland Revenue Department announced today (September 4) that all eTAX services will be suspended from 4pm on September 8 to 9pm on September 9 for a system upgrade. The department apologises for any inconvenience caused.

     For enquiries, please call 187 8088 during office hours.