Home ownership seen out of reach (note 1) for most

More Hong Kong people complain that home ownership is beyond their reach, but believe prices will fall in the next few years, a survey has found.

 

The survey on property ownership shows that 64 percent of respondents believe they have no hope of (note 2) owning a property within 10 years if prices remain at current levels. The figure is up from 60 percent last year.

 

Only some 27 percent said they intend to buy property, down from 33 percent in 2010.

 

The poll, conducted by Citibank and the University of Hong Kong, took in 1,070 individuals between August 15 and 29.

 

Some 35 percent foresee falling prices in the next couple of years, up from 25 percent a year ago. Some 21 percent see prices remaining flat (note 3) and the remaining 44 percent expect prices to keep rising.

 

“In the past year, the government has been coming up with (note 4) new property measures continuously that have been effective in curbing (壓抑) speculation,” said Citibank’s director of secured lending Lawrence Lam Chi-kong.

 

“These measures, along with the mortgage rate hikes, are not good news for the property market and property transactions.”

 

He expect transaction numbers to fall further in the short term, and property prices to drop slightly,

 

“However, the demand for property remains. The low-interest environment (note 5) we have now should help stabilize (穩定) the development of the property market in the long term,” Lam said.

 

Meanwhile, Chueng Kong (0001) put on the market 159 more flats at La Splendeur, its latest project at Lohas Park, Tseung Kwan O.

 

The flats are sized (面積) between 894 and 984 square feet and cost HK$5,701 per sq ft on average.

 

(note 1) out of reach=遙不可及

Got out of the car=下車

Came out of her trance=醒過來

Made out of wood=用木製造

Out of sight=看不見了

Out of touch with reality=脫離現實

Five out of six votes=六票其中五票

Victor was tricked out of his savings=Victor 被人騙了所有儲蓄

 

(note 2) have a hope of=沒有希望

Cherish [entertain] the hope that=抱著希望

Julian lives up to Victor’s hopes=不辜負Victor 的期望

Where there is life, there is hope=有生命就有希望

Victor is the hope of his school=Victor 是他學校的希望

 

(note 3) see prices remaining flat=認為樓價會保持平穩

Flat=淡然的,直率的, 直截了當的, 平的, 平袒的, 扁平的

Flat rate of 3%=一律百分之三

Flat denial=斷然否認

Ten dollars flat=拾元整

 

(note 4) coming up with=提出

Come out=出來, 傳出, 長出

Come out with=發表, 說出, 公佈

Come over=過來

Come round=過訪, 前來

Come through=經歷,脫險

Come up against=遭遇

Come up to=達到, 符合

Come what may=不論發生什麼事情

Come with=隨同而來

 

(note 5) low-interest environment=低利息環境