Hongkongers want property curbs to continue or be strengthened, poll finds

Most people believe three taxes introduced to cool the property market should stay in place or be strengthened, a survey found, despite calls from lawmakers to make the measures "less spicy".

Three out of five people questioned by Chinese University's Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies believed there should be no exemptions to the special stamp duty, buyer's stamp duty and double stamp duty.

A further 14 per cent believed the cooling measures should be strengthened.

The survey had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.42 per cent.

The measures target purchases by companies and people who are not Hong Kong permanent residents, and aim to deter speculation.

But real estate and construction sector lawmaker Abraham Razack, who plans to "plug loopholes" by tabling two retrospective amendments to the bill, was undeterred by the findings.

"It is a matter of principle, not whose voice is louder," Razack said. "My amendments aim to restore flexibility to property ownership, which is a basic right of Hongkongers."