Hong Kong Conveyancing Deadline Checklist
Conveyancing deadlines in Hong Kong fail for process reasons more often than legal complexity. A missed stamp duty deadline carries automatic penalties. A late ASP execution can void the entire agreement.
This checklist covers the key date-sensitive milestones with the actual timeframes that apply.
PASP to ASP: the critical first window
The timeline from Provisional Agreement for Sale and Purchase (PASP) to formal Agreement for Sale and Purchase (ASP) depends on the transaction type.
First-hand residential properties (new developments)
Under the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance:
- Purchaser must execute the ASP within 5 working days of signing the PASP
- If the purchaser signs within 5 working days, the vendor must execute within 8 working days
- If the purchaser does not execute within 5 working days, the PASP is terminated and the preliminary deposit (typically 5%) is forfeited
These deadlines are strict and statutory.
Secondary market (resale) properties
- Standard practice is 14 days to sign the formal ASP after the PASP
- If the ASP is delayed beyond the usual 14-day window, solicitors often need to stamp and register the PASP as well (stamping fee HK$100)
- The 14-day period is market convention, not a statutory hard limit — but exceeding it can trigger additional stamping and registration requirements depending on the transaction structure
Stamp duty deadline: 30 calendar days
Under the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117), the agreement for sale and purchase must be stamped within 30 days of execution of the earliest agreement (typically the PASP).
Key facts:
- The 30 days are calendar days, not working days
- Weekends and General Holidays are included in the count
- There is no automatic extension for CNY, typhoons, or any other non-working period
Late stamping penalties
| Delay | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month late | 2x the stamp duty |
| 1–2 months late | 4x the stamp duty |
| Over 2 months late | 10x the stamp duty |
For voluntary disclosure where the delay was not deliberate, a reduced penalty formula applies: 14% × stamp duty × (days delayed / 365), with a minimum of HK$500.
Current AVD rates (post-February 2024)
Since 28 February 2024, the stamp duty regime has been significantly simplified. Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD), Special Stamp Duty (SSD), and New Residential Stamp Duty (NRSD) have all been abolished.
Residential AVD is now charged at rates aligned to the Scale 2 rate table:
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to HK$4,000,000 | HK$100 (fixed) |
| HK$4,000,001 – HK$6,000,000 | 1.5% |
| HK$6,000,001 – HK$10,000,000 | 2.25% |
| HK$10,000,001 – HK$20,000,000 | 3% |
| Above HK$20,000,000 | 4.25% |
Requisitions on title
Under standard practice, the purchaser's solicitor has 7 working days after receipt of title deeds and documents to raise requisitions on title.
Important: requisitions can be raised out of time if they go to the root of the contract or concern matters not apparent from the documents provided.
Completion period
- Standard: approximately 60 days (2 months) from signing the formal ASP
- Typical range: 45–90 days, negotiable between parties
- The Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012 govern most transactions unless varied
Late completion
Under the Law Society Conditions of Sale 2012, if completion is delayed by one party's default, the other party is entitled to Late Completion Interest at the contractual default rate on the relevant sum, calculated daily. The applicable rate is stated in the Conditions and is typically set high enough to discourage delay.
Land Registry registration
The Land Registry pledges to complete registration within 15 working days of lodgement.
Milestone checklist
For each milestone in a property transaction, confirm:
- Is the deadline counted in calendar days or working days?
- What counts as a non-working day? (Saturdays, General Holidays, typhoon days?)
- Is there a rollover rule if the deadline falls on a non-working day?
- Who owns the deadline — purchaser's solicitor, vendor's solicitor, or the client?
- What is the consequence of missing it?
Holiday proximity check
When any deadline falls within one week of a holiday cluster (CNY, Easter, or October), run these additional checks:
- Verify the exact General Holiday dates for the current year
- Check whether any substitution days affect the count
- Run the calculation with a second person as a cross-check
- Log the final date and assumptions in the matter file
The Easter + Ching Ming cluster in April 2026 (3–7 April, five consecutive non-working days) is a particular risk area.
Where the calculator helps
The HK calculator counts working days using the gazetted 2026 holiday list, automatically excluding General Holidays and weekends. This is useful for:
- PASP-to-ASP working-day deadlines
- Requisition periods
- Completion date planning around holiday clusters
For step-by-step scenarios, see the Use Cases.