Property giants condemn violence at protests
Local | Sophie Hui 9 Aug 2019
The city's major property developers have condemned the escalating violence in the anti-fugitive bill protests.
The Hong Kong's Real Estate Developers Association said that society has been suffering from violent behavior by a small group of people.
"Such acts have deviated from the original intent of the peaceful demonstrations and are bringing distress to the business community and the general public as a whole," the association said.
It condemned the escalating violence and hoped Hong Kong would regain peace and order as soon as possible.
The developers who signed the statement are Chinachem Investment, CK Asset Holdings, Hang Lung Properties, Henderson Land Development, Hongkong Land Property, Hopewell Holdings, Hutchison Properties, Hysan Development, Great Eagle, K. Wah Properties (Holdings), Lai Sun Development, New World Development, Shun Tak Holdings, Sino Land, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Swire Properties and Wheelock Properties.
The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce also said in a statement yesterday that China was a staunch supporter of Hong Kong's stability and harmony.
It welcomed the message from the director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Zhang Xiaoming, that the situation in Hong Kong has reached a critical point and that violence and chaos have to be stopped to restore social order.
Zhang was speaking at a seminar in Shenzhen on Wednesday before a 500-strong contingent from Hong Kong.
Chamber chairman Jonathan Choi Koon-shum said the group has always opposed all illegal behavior, while reaffirming support for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, her government and police.
Property prices in June dropped 0.78 percent month-on-month, their first decline after growth from January to May this year, said the Ratings and Valuation Department. The last decline was in December 2018.
However, in the first six months flat prices rose 9.5 percent.
