" the fact that half of the loans are being charged below blr may have reflected the increased competition in the residential mortgage market , under which banks are more willing to discuss mortgage terms with loan customers , " said mr choi 蔡耀君说：半数的负资产按揭贷款按低于最优惠利率计息，可能是因为住宅按揭市场竞争日趋激烈，令银行更愿意与贷款客户商讨按揭条款。
This reduction in the cost of financial intermediation through the banking channel has been manifested most obviously in the mortgage market , where , over a period of about four years , the mortgage rate relative to prime has come down by about four percentage points 年间按揭息率相对最优惠利率下调约4个百分点，已可清楚看到中转资金的成本在银行体系的渠道如何得以减低。
But , in view of the flexibility , the applicable interest rate now , i understand , is significantly higher at prime if you are a good customer than the mortgage interest rate , which is currently at around prime minus 2 . 5 per cent 不过据我所知，由于具有这项灵活性，因此现时的适用利率如属信贷记录良好的客户，为最优惠利率便大为高于按揭利率目前约为最优惠利率减2 . 5厘。
Competition for mortgage business continues to be fierce and recently some banks have even started offering mortgages with interest rates well below prime in the first year or so and close to prime thereafter in order to attract more business 按揭业务的竞争仍然激烈，最近部分银行更开始提供首年按揭利率大大低于最优惠利率的按揭贷款馀下年期则接近最优惠利率，以招徕更多生意。
