Hong Kong's pre-owned housing index eases moderately  

港府接连出手调控 香港楼市微妙复杂

香港特区政府接连出手调控，炙热的香港楼市暂趋平静。反映香港二手私人住宅楼价的中原城市领先指数(CCL)结束连续四周上涨态势，轻微下挫。

Hong Kong (CNS) -- The Centa-City Leading Index (CCL), the gauge of the pre-owned housing market in Hong Kong, went down moderately last week, ending a four-week uptrend, according to data released Thursday.

The CCL index eased to 123.45 in the week of March 18 to 24, down slightly from 123.66 during the week of March 11 to 17.

Up to 95 percent of local respondents said housing prices in Hong Kong are too high, according to a survey conducted last week by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In order to cool the overheated property market, the local government has raised interest rates and extended the existing Special Stamp Duty set in 2010. The Buyer's Stamp Duty, a 15 percent additional duty, was introduced last October. A double stamp duty was also put into effect last month to further strengthen control of the market.