‘Faster and safer’: Hong Kong to allow resale home payments through direct bank transfers

Hong Kong’s de facto central bank said on Thursday it will allow most second-hand residential property transactions to be settled through direct bank transfers, giving homebuyers and sellers a faster and safer alternative to cheque-based payments. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the expanded Payment Arrangements for Property Transactions (PAPT) scheme would take effect on February 28, covering the bulk of resale home deals in the city. The announcement was made jointly with the Hong Kong...