Quick Summary
Stamp duty for homes above HK$100m raised to 6.5% (from 4.25%)
Targets only 0.3% of transactions
Luxury sales surged in late 2025
Home prices rose 3.3% in 2025, first annual gain in four years
What Changed?
Hong Kong will increase stamp duty on luxury residential properties valued above HK$100 million to 6.5%, up from 4.25%, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan.
The measure:
Takes effect Thursday
Still requires Legislative Council approval
Expected to generate around HK$1 billion annually
The policy mainly affects the ultra-luxury segment, accounting for just 0.3% of total transactions.
Why Now?
The move comes after a strong rebound in high-end sales:
81 deals above US$10 million in Q4 2025 — the highest since late 2021
Home prices rose 3.3% in 2025, ending a four-year decline
Luxury momentum has been driven by:
Renewed investor confidence
Improving economic outlook
Expectations of further price gains
Wall Street firms such as Citigroup Inc. and Morgan Stanley forecast further price increases in 2026.
Developers Benefiting
Policy Objective
The government aims to:
Capture additional revenue from high-value transactions
Cool speculative activity at the top end
Avoid disrupting the broader housing recovery
By targeting only ultra-luxury homes, the measure avoids pressuring mass-market buyers.
Bottom Line
Key Takeaways
Luxury stamp duty raised to 6.5%
Minimal impact on overall market volume
High-end property demand resurging
Developers benefiting from renewed buying interest

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