However, there are now clouds over the horizon since Hong Kong may have actually become too attractive a destination for investment--particularly in real-estate. As China slows down and the Weest remains in the doldrums, it's only natural that more parked their money in the place which generally fares well regardless of global economic conditions. It was thus with great surprise on the part of many that the Hong Kong government has effectively put out the "FOREIGNERS NOT WELCOME HERE" (or mainlanders for that matter) sign as far as real estate investment is concerned:
There are also international monetary dynamics at work here with Hong Kong trying its best to preserve its longstanding currency board at USD1 = HKD 7.75 that make the place look even (gulp) a bargain of some sort:Property developer stocks are under pressure Monday as the market digests surprisingly tough new measures to cool Hong Kong’s property market. By targeting non-resident buyers with a new tax, finally the government is acknowledging the role of offshore demand in its overheated property market. The key measure is the introduction of a transaction tax of 15% on non-permanent residents, as well as all corporates purchasing residential property.Such taxes go against Hong Kong’s free-market ethos and are likely to hurt some unintended targets — expatriates for one. But it looks well designed in the sense it should change behavior and immediately choke off some external investment demand for residential property.
The complaints of Hong Kong resident citizens are similar to those made by those in another bastion of free enterprise, Singapore. That is, by buying up all the good properties, foreigners supposedly make it difficult for them to find residences that do not cost an arm and a leg. While I do understand this sentiment, you have to wonder though if such measures alike those being promulgated by Hong Kong will do more damage to its reputation than actually mitigating the real-estate bubble. Similar measures didn't work in Singapore:Another risk with the latest move is that it again flags to international investors the stresses facing the 29-year-old currency peg as its strains under “hot money” flows. Arguably, it is at the root of local asset inflation by forcing the importation of low interest rates and a weak currency value from the U.S. Over the past 10 days, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has repeatedly had to intervene to stop the currency from strengthening by selling Hong Kong dollars.
Slapping a punitive tax on non-resident buyers won't change things. If you don't believe that, just look at Singapore, which imposed its own additional stamp duty on foreign and corporate buyers in December last year. Transaction volumes fell initially, but then recovered. Prices have continued to rise. Earlier this month, a bungalow on Sentosa island sold for a record S$3,214 per square foot. That's equivalent to an eye-popping HK$20,398 a square foot.My thoughts exactly. Unlike the American real-estate bubble, though, Hong Kong is actually an economy you can put some faith in--but apparently the HK government now believes that too many have done so.
In the long run, however, the government's new tax will have indeed an effect. By selectively penalising non-residents, it broadcasts the message that Hong Kong is no longer open equally to all comers and so hammers a first nail in the coffin of the city as an international financial centre.
