Leasing

What about long term leases with rights to renewal?
Because of the barriers in place to the purchase of land by foreigners, the
most effective way to acquire land that a building resides on is to purchase
the land on a 30-year leasehold with an option to extend the lease for
subsequent 30-year periods.

Leases are limited to 30 years, except on land for industrial purposes, which may be established for 50 years. Similarly, lease extensions are capped at 30 and 50 years respectively. Possession of the land leased for an already owned building is protected by the fact that the building rests on the land; ownership of the building is separate from
the land and cannot be seized by the lessor once the lease expires.

Leases exceeding three years are enforceable for only three years unless they are
registered with the Land Department. Therefore, a 30-year lease must be
registered with the Land department. In addition, a lease continues to be
valid even in the event the property on the land is sold.