XN000022-1997-01-06 — Page 6

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The total amount secured under mortgages (other than building mortgages) was $75.28 billion, showing a decrease of two per cent and 26.2 per cent compared with 1995 and 1994 respectively.

A table summarising the above figures and other related statistics for 1996, together with the corresponding statistics recorded in 1995 and 1994, was released today by the registry.

Searches of land records made by members of the public during 1996 totalled 4,313,948, up by 46.8 per cent and 24 per cent compared with 1995 and 1994 respectively.

Meanwhile, for the month of December 1996, the LR received for registration 16,843 sale and purchase agreements for residential and non-residential building units.

This figure represents an increase of 5.2 per cent from that of November 1996 and an increase 58.7 per cent compared with December 1995.

The total consideration of these agreements in December 1996 was $69.3 billion, up 17.6 per cent and 159.5 per cent respectively when compared with the amounts for November 1996 and December 1995.

The figures are contained in the monthly statistics released today by LR on deeds relating to property transactions received for registration in the Urban and New Territories Land Registries in December 1996.

Relevant statistics for November 1996 and December 1995 were provided for comparison. Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months and the year-on-year rate of change were also released.

These statistics generally relate to land transactions executed up to four weeks prior to their submission for registration, as there is usually a time lag between the execution of deeds and their lodgement for registration.

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