register now for free unlimited access to reuterscom register hong kong sept 22 reuters  hong kongs finance chief said on thursday he does not see a sharp risk to the citys real estate market nor a need to adjust property control measures as the financial hub braces for more interest rate hikes finance secretary paul chan was speaking after the hong kong monetary authority raised its base rate charged through the overnight discount window by 75 basis points to 35 its highest since october 2008 following the same move by the us federal reserve read more chan said that while home prices in hong kong have dropped close to over 6 in the first eight months as rising rates hurt sentiment the property market depends on many factors including employment and the repayment capability of homeowners i dont think theres a risk of a sharp adjustment he said the market transactions are low but theres no need to adjust control measures current measures include stamp duties on nonhong kong citizens and second homebuyers hong kong banks which have lagged their us equivalents in raising rates in recent months are expected to increase their best lending rate as soon as thursday the first increase since 2018 official data showed hong kong private home prices in july dropped to the lowest since february 2020 as homebuyers turned more bearish due to rising interest rates and an uncertain outlook reporting by clare jim and donny kwok editing by anne marie roantree christian schmollinger and kim coghill