The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission published a statement welcoming the initiatives in the Government’s 2026-2027 budget and set out a work programme with key stakeholders to boost equity market activity, deepen Mainland-Hong Kong mutual market access and develop Hong Kong’s digital asset and fixed income market infrastructure. Work with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited is set to focus on equity market reforms including enhancements to the weighted voting rights regime, facilitation for initial public offerings by biotechnology and specialist technology companies and for secondary listings, a transition to a T+1 settlement cycle, and board lot reforms. The SFC is also working towards implementing the uncertificated securities market regime within this year. On connectivity, it will collaborate with Mainland authorities to pursue the inclusion of real estate investment trusts and renminbi counters into Stock Connect and the launch of China Treasury bond futures contracts. On digital assets, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the SFC are proceeding with legislative proposals to regulate virtual asset dealing and custodian service providers, alongside SFC plans to enhance market liquidity, expand professional investor product offerings and establish a Digital Asset Accelerator for trading platforms. For fixed income and currency markets, a feasibility study is planned for a regulated electronic trading platform, while fund distribution initiatives include support for HKEX’s next phase of the Integrated Fund Platform within this year and backing for the proposed stamp duty waiver on non-residential property transfers into REITs seeking to list in Hong Kong.

Original source View in tracker