NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 16. Investment Properties Accounting Policy Investment property comprises freehold land, leasehold land and buildings held for long-term rental yields or for capital appreciation or for both, and that are not occupied by the Group. Property held by the lessee as a right-of-use asset is classified and accounted for as an investment property when the rest of the definition of investment property is met. Investment properties (including those under development) are carried at fair value and are valued twice a year. The majority of investment properties are valued by independent valuers. The valuations are performed in accordance with the HKIS Valuation Standards 2020 published by The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors and are on the basis of market value related to individual properties, and separate values are not attributed to land and buildings. These values represent their fair values in accordance with HKFRS 13. Land and buildings that are being developed for future use as investment properties and investment properties that are being redeveloped for continuing use as investment properties are measured at fair value and included as investment properties under development. Changes in fair values are recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss. Subsequent expenditure is charged to an investment property’s carrying amount only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with that expenditure will flow to the Group and the cost can be measured reliably. All other repair and maintenance costs in respect of an investment property are expensed in the consolidated statement of profit or loss during the financial period in which they are incurred. If an investment property becomes owner-occupied, it is reclassified as property, plant and equipment or leasehold land under right-of-use assets, and its fair value at the date of reclassification becomes its deemed cost for accounting purposes. Expenditure incurred in leasing out the Group’s investment properties during development is deferred and amortised on a straight-line basis in the consolidated statement of profit or loss upon occupation of the property over a period not exceeding the term of the leases. Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements Cushman & Wakefield Limited, an independent property valuer, was engaged to carry out a valuation of the major portion of the Group’s investment property portfolio at 31st December 2023. This valuation was carried out in accordance with the HKIS Valuation Standards 2020 published by The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, which define market value as “the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction, after proper marketing and where the parties each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion”. The assumptions are principally in respect of market rents and yields. Management has reviewed the independent property valuation and compared it with its own assumptions, with reference to comparable sales transaction data where such information is available, and has concluded that the independent property valuation of the Group’s investment property portfolio is reasonable. 164