Annual Report 2011 - Hysan Development Company Limited
Annual Report 2011 - Hysan Development Company Limited
Annual Report 2011 - Hysan Development Company Limited
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Our Marketplace<br />
and Our Response<br />
In <strong>2011</strong>, uncertain global economic environment set the<br />
backdrop for the property leasing market in Hong Kong.<br />
Our three leasing segments responded successfully to<br />
such market changes.<br />
Hong Kong Economy<br />
The Hong Kong economy recorded a moderate GDP<br />
growth of 5% in <strong>2011</strong>. The growth moderation was mainly<br />
caused by a slowdown in exports since the second<br />
quarter of <strong>2011</strong> amid a worsening global economic<br />
environment. Domestic consumption nevertheless<br />
displayed remarkable resilience throughout the year,<br />
thereby rendering a strong cushion to overall economic<br />
performance. Total employment in Hong Kong rose to 3.7<br />
million as of December <strong>2011</strong>, while the unemployment<br />
rate fell to 3.3%. Inflation rate was 5.3% in <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
The Hong Kong economy recorded a moderate GDP growth in <strong>2011</strong><br />
Office<br />
The Grade “A” office market started strongly with buoyant<br />
demand in the first half of <strong>2011</strong>. However, concerns over<br />
the growing global economic uncertainties led to slowing<br />
new demand and expansion activities since mid-year.<br />
New Grade “A” office supply* totalled 1.6 million square<br />
feet in <strong>2011</strong>. The majority of space was located in<br />
decentralised areas. Such a new supply level was<br />
considerably lower than that in 2008 (3.7 million square<br />
feet), which then coincided with reduced demand amidst<br />
the global financial crisis. Overall net take-up* in Hong<br />
Kong amounted to 2.0 million square feet in the year.<br />
Decentralised Kowloon East recorded a significant netabsorption.<br />
Among the core districts (Central, Causeway Bay/<br />
Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui), Causeway Bay/Wanchai was the<br />
largest contributor with a positive net take-up of around<br />
160,000 square feet.<br />
Despite a slowdown in new demand and expansion activities,<br />
the market saw considerable demand from companies<br />
seeking cost-saving relocation opportunities – especially those<br />
from Central – to more affordable options in other submarkets<br />
as mentioned above. At the end of December <strong>2011</strong>,<br />
the overall vacancy rate in Causeway Bay/Wanchai fell to<br />
1.9%. The graph on the right shows the vacancy rate of Grade<br />
“A” office in Central, Causeway Bay/Wanchai, Tsim Sha Tsui<br />
and Kowloon East for both 2010 and <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
All Grade “A” office sub-markets witnessed double-digit rental<br />
growth in <strong>2011</strong>. Recording an annual rental growth of 20.2%,<br />
Causeway Bay/Wanchai outperformed the other two core<br />
districts, namely Central (10.2%) and Tsim Sha Tsui (19.2%).<br />
During the last quarter, Central rental levels fell by 4.5%.<br />
Rents in Causeway Bay/Wanchai fell by 1.1%, while those of<br />
Tsim Sha Tsui grew by 2.4%. It should be noted that the rental<br />
gap between Causeway Bay/Wanchai and Central remained<br />
wide during the year (see the graph on the right).<br />
<strong>Hysan</strong>’s office portfolio maintains a balanced tenant mix<br />
* The new supply and net take-up figures in <strong>2011</strong> exclude Hong Kong<br />
Government Headquarters in Admiralty.<br />
Source: Jones Lang LaSalle (data as of March 2012)<br />
24<br />
<strong>Hysan</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2011</strong>