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Hong Kong Residential Market Post-Budget Sentiment Strengthens as Smaller-Sized Unit Transactions Pick Up
Grade A office rents remained under pressure in Q1, while a tourist inflow recovery is yet to boost retail market confidence
- Smaller-sized residential units have been more sought-after following the relaxation of the maximum property value chargeable at a HK$100 stamp duty level as announced in the latest government budget speech, supporting first-hand residential sales. The total residential unit transaction number for Q1 climbed 24% y-o-y to reach 12,200 units.
- The Grade A office market recorded positive net absorption of 143,700 sf in Q1, although the high availability rate saw the overall rental level soften further by 2.5% q-o-q.
- Growing visitor arrival numbers in Q1 failed to drive up retail sales, with high-street rents across core retail districts adjusting within a +/-2% range q-o-q. However, an expected boost from the mega event economy is expected to be reflected later this year.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 April 2025 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield today held its Hong Kong Property Markets Q1 2025 Review and Outlook press conference. Following the government’s announcement to raise the residential property maximum value chargeable at a stamp duty level of HK$100 from HK$3 million to HK$4 million in the latest budget speech, first-time home buyers and investors were more active, resulting in a significant uptick of transactions in March from the first two months of the year. However, overall home prices in Q1 continued to trend down as interest rates stayed at a relatively higher level.
In the Hong Kong office market, the Grade A sector recorded positive net absorption in Q1, although the abundant available space continued to weigh on the rental outlook. In the retail market, the structural changes seen in tourists’ and local residents’ consumption patterns continued to curtail retail sales performance, in turn hindering retail market rental grow. However, we expect that the city’s ongoing mega event program activity will support greater visitor arrivals and consequent retail sales in the coming few quarters.
Grade A office leasing market: New demand led by banking & finance sector, although new supply ensures continued high availability and pressure on rental levels
The Grade A office market achieved a sixth consecutive quarter of positive net absorption in Q1 2025, reaching 143,700 sf. Despite the positive leasing momentum, the citywide overall availability rate edged up q-o-q to 19.2%. The expanded availability was primarily due to the completion of THE CENDAS project in Kowloon East, bringing 352,800 sf of new Grade A space to the office market. Relocation and expansion activities from the banking & finance and insurance sectors were the key drivers of new leasing activity in the quarter, with the two sectors accounting for approximately 46% of total new leased area. Notable transactions included American hedge fund Point72’s commitment to a 49,500 sf space at The Henderson.
With incoming new supply and the availability rate remaining at a high level, the citywide overall Grade A office rental level softened further by 2.5% q-o-q to record HK$43.9 per sf per month. Compared with the peak of Q1 2019, the overall Grade A office rental level has now fallen by 42.2%.
Chart 1: Rents of Grade A offices in Hong Kong
John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “Looking ahead, the recovery of Hong Kong’s initial public offering (IPO) pipeline and stock market performance, as well as the measures introduced by the Hong Kong Government to attract more global capital, enterprises, and family offices, should help support downstream demand from the finance sector, in turn underpinning the city’s office market sentiment. As current office rents are now discounted by more than 40% against the prior peak level, occupiers pursuing flight-to-quality strategies have greater options. In the coming three quarters of 2025, around 3 million sf of new supply is expected to enter the market. This presages a further intensifying of the competitive leasing environment. We expect the overall average office rental level to remain under pressure, with a decline of 7%–9% throughout 2025.”
Retail leasing market: Retail performance recovery missed expectations, high street rents mixed
The Hong Kong retail market has been unable to demonstrate a significant sales performance improvement despite the continued growth in tourist arrival numbers, predominantly due to the continued structural changes in the consumption preferences of visitors and locals. The city’s overall retail sales for the January to February 2025 period recorded HK$64.8 billion, representing a drop of 7.8% y-o-y.
Generally, inbound visitors from the Chinese mainland no longer focus their time on traditional shopping activities at malls. In turn, high-end categories in the city’s key retail sectors have been the most impacted. Retail sales in the Jewellery & Watches and Fashion & Accessories sectors declined 15.8% and 6.4% y-o-y in the first two months of January and February, respectively. The Supermarkets sector, which had performed steadily in the past few years, also recorded a 4.4% y-o-y drop. Meanwhile, Food, Alcohol & Tobacco; and Medicines & Cosmetics, were the only sectors to post growth, albeit modestly at within 1% y-o-y.
Leasing transactions in the Tsimshatsui retail district were relatively active, with landlords more willing to offer greater flexibility and rental discounts. In turn, this attracted tenants from different sectors along with Chinese mainland brands to expand into core districts, while also encouraging some local retailers to look for opportunities again. Key district vacancy rates in Kowloon remained stable with Tsimshatsui and Mongkok at 9.4% and 8.4%, respectively. Causeway Bay was the only core retail district to record greater vacancy in Q1, jumping to 5.3% from 0% in Q4 2024. The overall vacancy rate in Central dropped slightly q-o-q from 8.6% to 7.1%.
Overall high street retail rents in Tsimshatsui and Causeway Bay fell slightly at 2.3% and 1.0% q-o-q, respectively. In Mongkok, the entry of some aggressively moving tenants prompted a moderate q-o-q increase of 0.5%. The Central district overall rental level was unchanged. In the F&B sector, rental levels remained soft, with Causeway Bay and Mongkok falling in a range of 0.4% to 1.8% q-o-q. Tsimshatsui F&B rents remained unchanged, while the Central F&B sector saw a 0.5% uptick q-o-q, chiefly supported by high-end dining options.
Chart 2: High street retail rents in prime districts in Hong Kong
John Siu added, “In Q1, leasing activity on Haiphong Road was particularly active. Deals concluded during the quarter involved retailers that already have a presence in the area. Most of these retailers believe that the current rental level has dropped to an attractive level. In spite of the change in tourists’ spending patterns and uncertain sales levels, they are still willing to sign new leases as the costs become more controllable. We expect these uncertainties to stay in the short-term, hence hindering the pace of rental recovery. Looking ahead, we believe Chinese mainland retailers will continue to be the major source of new leasing demand in the market, to cater to the consumption habits and preferences of residents coming to Hong Kong from the mainland in recent years. The government’s efforts to promote tourism and the development of the mega event economy also led us to believe that the local retail market will gain support and receive a boost later this year with the successive hosting of mega events and concerts.”
Residential market: Relaxation of stamp duty policy supports transaction numbers recovery, price decline narrows by end of quarter
With the government’s relaxation of the stamp duty levy on properties priced up to HK$4 million in the February budget speech, coupled with the wealth effect brought by the stock market recovery at the start of the year, overall residential market sentiment improved in Q1. The residential transaction number in March strengthened significantly to close to 5,400 units, driving the total Q1 transaction number up 24% y-o-y to circa 12,200 units. As some buyers regained confidence to enter the market, developers seized the opportunity to launch new projects, leading to a pick-up in the primary residential market, with the proportion of first-hand sales expected to increase in March.
Chart 3: Number of residential sale & purchase agreements
Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, commented, “Rating and Valuation Department data shows that overall residential prices continued to decline in February by 0.9% m-o-m, bringing a combined drop of 1.6% for the first two months of 2025. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s small- to medium-sized residential price index, home prices exhibited further fluctuations by correcting at around 1.7% in Q1. Among the residential unit sectors, price levels corrected most notably in City One Shatin, representing the small-sized sector, with a drop of 9.1% q-o-q. Prices fell by 2.2% in Taikoo Shing, representing the mid-sized sector, while prices at the luxury sector Residence Bel-Air saw an overall 7.4% decrease in Q1 2025. We expect that upcoming residential transactions will be mostly focused on smaller-sized units.”
Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, added, “Although our Cushman & Wakefield verbal inquiry index in March rebounded by around 26% from the January low, and transaction numbers have risen to more than 5,300 units, the local property market is still constrained by the uncertainties brought about by recent global trade and economic conditions. Looking ahead, if the economy and stock market can stabilize again, and the U.S. Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates within the year, it will support the residential transaction level, thereby stabilizing housing prices. Given that the current market conditions are more volatile than expected at the beginning of the year, some investors and potential buyers may adopt a wait-and-see approach again. We expect overall transaction numbers to be similar to last year, and property prices may fluctuate within a range of ±3% during the year.”
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Photo 1: (From left to right) Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield; John Siu, Managing Director, Head of Project and Occupier Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, and Rosanna Tang, Executive Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield.
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About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2024, the firm reported revenue of $9.4 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).
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Skyro Rolls Out Reusable Digital Credit Across the Philippines, Explores Opportunities in Southeast Asian Markets
SkyroCredit is a reusable, revolving digital credit line that provides access to a fixed credit limit without a plastic and without relying on the Visa or Mastercard networks. Once approved, a customer’s credit is available within the Skyro app and can be used instantly by scanning any QR Ph code, the Philippine QR payment standard accepted at more than 90% of merchant outlets nationwide. Leading merchants include SM, Mercury Drug, Watsons, Jollibee, McDonald’s, and DALI Supermarket. Customers can borrow, repay the amount they have used, and reuse the same credit limit without reapplying.
NasimAliev, Skyro co-founder, said:
“Our goal is to provide access to affordable credit for underserved communities across Southeast Asia at a time when everyday expenses continue to rise and consumers’ financial priorities are evolving.
“Today’s consumers need financial solutions built around real-life spending needs and changing financial priorities. With SkyroCredit, we bring flexible financial solutions to our customers’ fingertips. The credit line offers all the benefits of flexibility, including an interest-free grace period. This provides customers with maximum convenience for everyday use while even allowing them to save money through cashback.
“By expanding our portfolio of point-of-sale loans, cash loans, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products to include flexible credit lines, we are building long-term customer relationships based on everyday use, responsible borrowing, and trust.”
Eligible customers receive initial credit limits of PHP 1,000 to PHP 10,000 (approximately USD 17 to USD 170), with the opportunity to increase their limit to as much as PHP 100,000 through regular, responsible use. Purchases carry 0% interest for up to 45 days. Every purchase also earns 1% cashback, which customers can redeem on future purchases through the app.
Skyro’s expansion into reusable digital credit addresses one of Southeast Asia’s largest financial inclusion opportunities by enabling sustained customer engagement. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, only half of Filipino adults have a formal financial account. As QR-based payment networks continue to expand across the region, Skyro can leverage this infrastructure to deliver accessible digital credit products that meet growing consumer demand.
Hashtag: #Skyro #SkyroCredit #DigitalCredit
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Skyro
Skyro is a high-growth, digital-first fintech group delivering scalable, responsible access to financial services across high-potential emerging markets. Powered by proprietary data science, AI-driven credit decisioning and alternative data scoring, the company combines a mobile-native experience with modular fintech architecture to serve underserved customer segments at scale.
In just three years, Skyro has grown to serve over one million active customers in the Philippines, underpinned by a robust credit portfolio exceeding $200 million. The company’s strategic ambition is to establish itself as the preeminent full-spectrum financial services group across dozens of emerging markets worldwide.
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Peach Garden Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with Singapore Flyer-Inspired Mooncake Keepsake Gift Set
The Singapore Flyer design roots the collection in a recognisably local identity, with the launch timed to the National Day period as the city moves into the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival gifting and reunion season. Pre-orders open from 13 July to 10 August at $61 nett inclusive of GST (usual price: $91.11).
A Keepsake Built Around the Singapore Skyline
Designed around a circular silhouette that echoes the Singapore Flyer’s iconic form, the Graceful Showstopper is crafted to hold its place in a home well beyond the festival.
Rooted in a recognisably Singaporean aesthetic, it functions as a decorative display piece as much as a festive gift, whether set out for a family gathering, presented to a business client, or kept as a personal memento of the season. Logo customisations are available on corporate orders of 50 boxes or more.
Handmade Daily, in a Range Built for Modern Palates
Returning alongside the centrepiece is Peach Garden’s low-sugar mooncake range, available in baked and snowskin varieties. The Deluxe Combination of Four spans four flavours across eight miniature pieces:
- Mini Lemon Yuzu Snowskin
- Mini Pandan Lotus Snowskin with Melon Seed
- Mini Low Sugar White Lotus Snowskin with Macadamia
- Mini Lychee Snowskin with Lychee Martini Truffle
Every mooncake in the range is handmade fresh daily across Peach Garden’s six outlets, a practice the group has maintained amidst an industry where production has shifted increasingly toward automation.
The collection will be available at more than 20 festive kiosks across Singapore for the first time, including Takashimaya from 20 August and VivoCity from 25 August, both through 25 September. Collection is available from 11 August to 25 September at all six Peach Garden outlets, from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm.
Hashtag: #PeachGarden #GracefulShowstopper #MoonCakeFestival #MidAutumnFestival
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Peach Garden
Peach Garden is one of Singapore’s leading Chinese restaurant brands, renowned for its contemporary Chinese cuisine, exceptional hospitality, and award-winning festive creations. With six outlets across Singapore, the brand continues to bring families, friends, and businesses together through meaningful dining and gifting experiences.
For much of the past century, urban development followed a relatively straightforward equation: build housing, expand infrastructure and accommodate population growth. This formula is now showing its limitations. As climate risk intensifies, biodiversity declines and cities compete not only for investment but also for talent, developers around the world are now forced to redefine the very nature and purpose of what they build.
From the Gulf to Singapore, and from Scandinavia to Southeast Asia, large-scale urban projects are evolving into integrated ecosystems where mobility, green infrastructure, education, healthcare, digital services and environmental restoration are planned together. The industry paradigm has shifted from constructing buildings to designing places capable of sustaining both economic growth and quality of life over generations.
Vinhomes has initiated a comprehensive repositioning to navigate this global transition.
Known as Vietnam’s largest residential developer, the company is increasingly recognized not merely as a builder of housing projects, but as a creator of large-scale lifestyle ecosystems, communities where urban planning, technology, ecology and public services are conceived as parts of the same system.
When Nature Becomes Urban Infrastructure
For decades, environmental considerations were often introduced after a city’s masterplan had already been completed.
The emerging model reverses that sequence. Across many of its recent developments, Vinhomes operates on the principle that natural systems should become the starting point of planning. Hydrology, coastal conditions, biodiversity and existing vegetation are treated as design inputs that shape the urban layout from the earliest stages.
This philosophy marks a notable departure from conventional large-scale development, particularly in rapidly urbanising markets where natural landscapes have frequently given way to intensive construction.
With more than 30 developments across Vietnam and a land bank equivalent to roughly two-thirds the size of Singapore, Vinhomes has the unusual opportunity to test this planning approach at a metropolitan scale.
Rather than replicating identical urban formulas, each project is designed around the ecological characteristics of its location.
The company maintains that the long-term success of a city should ultimately be measured not by how much has been built, but by whether natural ecosystems continue to thrive decades after residents have moved in. That perspective aligns with an increasingly influential school of urban planning in which green infrastructure is viewed as essential public infrastructure.
Factors Compelling Cities Toward Regeneration
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks have become standard across global investment. Urban planners, however, are beginning to question whether sustainability alone is sufficient.
Maintaining today’s environmental conditions may no longer be enough if tomorrow’s cities must also respond to rising temperatures, sea-level change and growing demographic pressures.
Vinhomes’ strategic response is crystallized in its ESG++, a framework that extends beyond conventional ESG principles by introducing two additional objectives: Regeneration and resilience.
The distinction is subtle but important.
Regeneration implies restoring ecological systems rather than simply reducing environmental impact. Resilience focuses on designing cities capable of adapting to changing climatic, technological and social conditions over many decades.
Projects such as Vinhomes Green Paradise Can Gio and Vinhomes Global Gates Ha Long are intended to demonstrate how these concepts can be incorporated into large-scale urban planning, combining renewable energy, smart infrastructure and ecological restoration within a single development model.
This shift highlights a growing global consensus: the success of next-generation cities will ultimately be measured by their ability to adapt to increasingly complex environmental challenges.
Vietnam’s Urban Story Is Becoming Part of a Global Conversation
For many international audiences, Vietnam remains associated primarily with its cultural heritage and natural landscapes. Urban development may become an equally important part of that story.
Rapid urbanisation, expanding infrastructure investment and a national commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 have created conditions in which entirely new urban models can be planned without many of the legacy constraints facing older cities.
This developmental opportunity is capturing increasing global interest.
Commenting on Vinhomes Green Paradise’s participation in the global 7 Wonders of Future Cities initiative, Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of the New7Wonders Organisation, described Vietnam as undergoing a “transformative step change” in its national identity and global positioning. He pointed to the country’s progress in reducing the carbon footprint of urban mobility as an example of coordinated action between government and the private sector that offers valuable insights extending beyond Southeast Asia.
For Vinhomes, participation in international platforms such as 7 Wonders of Future Cities is therefore less about showcasing a single project than about contributing to a broader discussion on how rapidly developing economies might approach urban growth differently. The company’s evolution mirrors a wider shift taking place across the global property sector.
Increasingly, the core value proposition for developers is no longer anchored in how many buildings they can deliver. Instead, it centers on whether they can create cities that remain economically competitive, environmentally resilient and socially relevant long after construction has ended.
Hashtag: #Vinhomes
https://vinhomes.vn/enThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
