MAINLANDERS RETREAT

Credit tightening in China has led to fewer mainlanders buying real estate in Hong Kong. In the first quarter, 10.6 per cent of individual homebuyers were from the mainland, down 3.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter, says Centaline Properties. Mainlanders accounted for 3.3 per cent of sellers, similar to the previous quarter. Centaline says rising property prices is likely to prompt more mainlander to sell, as they would make a good profit.