There were 6,000 primary market flats built in first quarter, up 71% on the same period last year, reflecting a robust building market, the Housing, Planning & Lands Bureau says.

There were 2,800 private residential flats completed, down from 3,900 in Q1 last year.

At the end of March, there were 1,000 unsold flats, half the number recorded in the same period last year.

The 6,000 flats under construction but not yet sold during the first quarter, was up 50% on those for the same period last year.