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A new survey by one of the world's largest human resources firms says Hong Kong has the world's priciest apartment rents. Asia's growing economy and a demand for higher-end housing is to blame for a general price spike¹ in housing throughout Asia.

一家国际人力资源公司的调查显示，香港是全球住宅租金最昂贵的城市。蓬勃发展的经济以及对高档住宅的需求令亚洲房价居高不下。

ECA International says renting a three-bedroom apartment in popular neighborhoods in Hong Kong averages more than $9,700 a month. That is more than double Asia's average for executive-level housing, which ECA says was around $3,800 a month in 2007.

ECA国际是世界上最大的人力资源公司之一。这家公司的调查说，在香港繁华地段租用三房公寓单位的月平均租金高达9700多美元。这是亚洲主管级平均公寓房价的两倍多。ECA国际说，2007年主管级房价每个月大约为3800美元。

Lee Quane, ECA International's general manager in Hong Kong, says Hong Kong rents increased by 15 percent in 2007. He says the rest of the region also saw a rise in rents for managers, executives² and expatriate business people.

ECA国际香港区总经理关礼廉说，香港房价2007年涨了15%，而且亚洲其他地区的外派商务人员的房价亦有上涨。

"The cost of accommodation has increased at a faster rate than it has elsewhere in the world to the point that the average cost of expatriate accommodation in Asia is more expensive than the global average," he said.

他说：“亚洲住房费用上涨比世界其他地区快，外派人员的房租也比世界平均值要昂贵。”

Quane says Asia's growing economy and increased demand for high-end housing from foreign executives in Hong Kong have driven rents up.

关礼廉说，亚洲的经济成长以及越来越多外籍主管对高级住宅需求的增加都导致了香港房价高涨。

The increase is good news for landlords in Hong Kong, but for renters and real estate agents, the high costs could hurt.

这对于房东是好消息，但对于房客与房地产经理人则是伤害。

Quane says that as Asia becomes more expensive some companies may find it is not cost-effective to move staff to the region.

关礼廉说，当亚洲房价越来越贵，某些公司可能会觉得将人员派驻此处并不经济实惠。

However, Simon Lo, director of research for property firm Colliers International, says higher rents are not likely to hurt Hong Kong's ability to attract businesses. He says demand for higher-end apartments is good, because company officials still want the economic benefits of working near mainland China.

高力国际的研究部一位姓罗的主任表示，高房价并不一定会伤害香港吸引企业的能力。他说，对高级住宅的需求是好的，因为公司依旧想要获得与中国大陆有地利之便的经济利益。

"Hong Kong is the place to be if you want to do business with China," he said. "And then the demand for these apartments or even serviced apartments is really [in] strong demand."

他说：“如果想跟中国做生意，香港是最好的地方。对高档公寓以及酒店式住宅的需求也一直十分强劲。”

Other Asian cities that made ECA's top 10 global list were Mumbai, Seoul, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City. Lee says Singapore saw Asia's biggest year-on-year rental³ increase of more than 30 percent last year.

其他被ECA国际列在世界高房价前10名的亚洲城市包括了孟买、首尔、新加坡与胡志明市。关礼廉说，新加坡涨幅最高，一年内涨了30%。

Globally, the average rent for executives was about $2,900. Moscow ranked second in cost, followed by New York, Tokyo and London. The survey said Karachi is the cheapest city in the world for expatriate executives to rent a three-bedroom apartment.

全球平均的主管级房价约为2900美元。莫斯科位居第二高，接著是纽约、东京与伦敦。研究显示，巴基斯坦卡拉奇市是外派主管租用三房公寓单位租金最低的城市。