Loans in negative equity down sharply - 2004-02-02
The number of homeowners with negative-equity mortgages in Hong Kong dropped to 67,000 at the end of December - the lowest level since 2001, while the value of those mortgages was also the lowest for two years at HK$107 billion.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority chief executive Joseph Yam released the figures yesterday as he gave the Legislative Council's financial affairs panel an upbeat assessment of the state of the territory's economy and the banking industry.
Read the full story at The Standard

$25M program seeks to promote low-income home ownership - 2004-02-02
HSBC Bank U.S.A, HSBC Mortgage Corp., the Affordable Housing Partnership, and Freddie Mac have joined forces on a $25 million initiative to aid lower-income families become homeowners in the cities of Albany, N.Y., Schenectady and Troy, N.Y.

The program, dubbed SHOP-CAPITAL, combines consumer outreach and education by the Albany-based Affordable Housing Partnership with flexible mortgage financing options through Buffalo-based HSBC and Freddie Mac.
Read the full story at The Business Review Albany