The Land Registry today (March 2) released its statistics for February 2022.

Land registration 
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in February was 3,998 (-32.4 per cent compared with January 2022 and -47.1 per cent compared with February 2021)

* The 12-month moving average for February was 7,689 (3.7 per cent below the 12-month moving average for January 2022 but 16.9 per cent above that for February 2021)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in February was $36.1 billion (-33.7 per cent compared with January 2022 and -43.9 per cent compared with February 2021)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 2,912 were for residential units (-31.9 per cent compared with January 2022 and -52.5 per cent compared with February 2021)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $29.5 billion (-32.1 per cent compared with January 2022 and -48.2 per cent compared with February 2021)

     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, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, 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 February was 291,830 (-32.0 per cent compared with January 2022 and -20.3 per cent compared with February 2021)

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

The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:

     â€‹In view of the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) today (February 28) announced that starting from tomorrow (March 1), ICAC Regional Offices will open from 9am to 1pm; and from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday, to receive corruption complaints and enquiries from the public. The temporary adjustment is to allow a flexible deployment of staff to support the anti-epidemic work.
      
     The ICAC's Report Centre and the report corruption hotline (2526 6366) will continue to operate round-the-clock to receive corruption complaints and enquiries. Other enquiry hotlines, including the Corruption Prevention Advisory Service hotline (2526 6363) and the Business Ethics Development Centre hotline (2826 3288) will also maintain their normal operation.
      
     Since the fifth wave of the epidemic, the ICAC has mobilised an average of more than 150 staff each day to support the anti-epidemic work, including assisting in issuing quarantine orders and supporting the Government's relevant enquiry hotlines. The ICAC will closely monitor the development of the epidemic and the Commission stands ready to deploy more manpower to assist when necessary.

     â€‹In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Islands, Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin, Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Yuen Long Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including the Islands District Office (IsDO), the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO), the Sha Tin District Office (STDO), the Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO), the Wong Tai Sin District Office (WTSDO) and the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO)) today (February 22) distributed a total of about 65,850 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the districts.

     The IsDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Ying Yat House of Yat Tung (1) Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company.

     The K&TDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Apex and Villa Esplanada for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The SSPDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Hoi Lai Estate for voluntary testing through the Estate's property management company.

     The STDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Yan On Estate and Golden Beauty Court of Golden Lion Garden Stage I for voluntary testing through the property management companies. Moreover, the STDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Sun Chui Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company.

     The KTDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Shun Tin Estate for voluntary testing through the Estate's property management company, and distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Kwun Tong Garden Estate for voluntary testing through the Estate's property management company.

     The WTSDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in the affected area in Wong Tai Sin (including Upper Wong Tai Sin Estate, Wong Tai Sin Lung Cheung Office Block, Temple Mall North, Tsui Chuk Garden and the Tsui Chuk Garden shopping mall) for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     In addition, the YLDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Tin Heng Estate and Tin Yuet Estate for voluntary testing through the Housing Department and the property management companies.

     The Home Affairs Department made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government's compulsory testing requirement.

     If people living or working in the areas with positive sewage testing results test positive with the rapid test kits, they may call 2280 4772, the Government's 24-hour hotline for "persons tested positive with rapid antigen tests in areas with positive sewage testing results", to arrange for door-to-door delivery of nasal swab self-sampling kits and collection of the specimen for polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid confirmatory testing free of charge.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.