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Peace and quiet high on list of attractions

In a city synonymous with hustle and bustle and high pressure, The Repulse Bay offers a welcome retreat to those who wish to keep urban life at arm's length.

The top-end residential property, in Island South opposite Repulse Bay Beach, offers access to promenades, jogging paths and hiking trails - only 15 minutes' drive away from Central.

Located in a prestigious residential area, the magnificent complex offers luxurious unfurnished and serviced apartments for short- and long-term lease.

The units are especially popular among families who desire spacious living areas, a sense of community and family activities.

Tina Wong, property manager of The Repulse Bay, said the key tenants were expatriates, many from the United States and Europe, and many working in the finance sector.

'They have come in quest of fresh air, space and quality of life,' Ms Wong said.

'All units in the property enjoy a picturesque, tranquil sea view, and 90 per cent of them open on to private balconies.'

The Repulse Bay was firming up asking rents as the luxury residential and serviced apartment market stabilised, she said.

'We have cut the rental incentives significantly because the market is bottoming out and showing signs of improvement,' she said. 'And we are getting quite a positive market response.'

In the past two months, rentals for serviced apartments at The Repulse Bay had recorded a slight increase of 2 per cent to 3 per cent, a growth rate higher than that in the overall luxury residential sales market, Ms Wong said.

'April to June is usually the peak season for luxury residential leasing business. This is when expatriates and their families settle down here before summer and prepare for their children's schooling. This period serves as a barometer of market performance.

'We therefore do not expect to see too significant rent increases at present. However, the second and third quarters will see gradual growth.'

The Repulse Bay complex comprises 68 tastefully appointed serviced apartments and 353 unfurnished units in seven towers, including a choice of luxurious suites and duplexes to accommodate families of different sizes.

The De Ricou serviced apartments range in size from 2,020 square feet to 2,243 sqft, and feature elegant furniture and interiors.

Rentals are in the region of $62,000 to $80,000 a month.

Repulse Bay Apartments, which caters to families who need four-bedroom flats, has unveiled a range of renovated unfurnished units.

Last year, the property began to convert some of its three-bedroom units into four-bedroom units, and more units will be converted in phases, according to demand.

As part of the upgrading, The Repulse Bay has added a number of luxury modern apartments to one of its residential blocks.

These new apartments boast large bathrooms and spacious kitchens fitted with double ovens, big freezers and wine cabinets.

Other value-added services and facilities include an enhanced closed-circuit television security system and a renovated club restaurant.

The club house will undergo a renovation in summer, when most tenants will leave Hong Kong for their vacations.

The 60,000-square-foot clubhouse has an extensive gymnasium, an indoor heated swimming pool, squash courts, tennis courts, a golf driving net, a day spa, video/DVD rentals, a coffee shop/lounge, a sauna and a Jacuzzi.

Community activities are among the attractions at The Repulse Bay. Ms Wong said tenants hailing from different parts of the world welcomed the interaction offered by these programmes.

An Easter carnival over the long weekend will include activity booths (including pottery and face painting), a live band, a children's magic show and a juggling performance.

Parties and other events are organised for the residents over the Christmas and Lunar New Year holidays.

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