Hong Kong's 10 major housing estates recorded 29 transactions - 38 percent up from the previous weekend.

Taikoo Shing, Kornhill, Whampoa Garden, Metro City and Kingswood Villas each had two more sales from a week ago.

"Sellers on average were willing to accept a 5 percent discount from their asking prices," said Midland sales director Gary Yeung Wing-kin.

"But although transactions have increased, the number is far lower than the peak."

Weekend sales at the peak in mid-September were about 40, Yeung said.

The 15 key secondary housing estates had 1,939 viewing reservations at the weekend, down 4percent from 2,020 last week, Midland said.

There were few homes in the primary market, and only six were sold at the weekend.

Market watchers said there were two transactions each at New World Development's (0016) Aria in Kowloon Peak and Henderson Land's (0012) The Beverly Hills in Tai Po.

One apartment each was sold at British developer Grosvenor's The Westminster Terrace in Tsuen Wan and Park Hotel Group's Kingston Lodge in Sha Tin.

"The per square foot prices were not low," said Ricacorp Properties director for New Territories David Chan Tai-wai.

Henderson relaunched The Beverly Hills last Friday and put 10 houses on the market.

One house was sold on Friday.

Chan said because of the relatively huge price tags, he regarded three transactions in the upscale project as a fair volume.

The 10 villas launched in phase 1 of The Beverly Hills are sized between 2,684 and 4,073 square feet with asking prices from HK$14.5 million to HK$38.5 million.

Phase 3 - with villas measuring around 3,000 to more than 11,000 sq ft - may be available next month at the earliest.