Securities and Futures Commission

Market Infrastructure

SFC Consults on Registrar Fee Limits in Paperless Securities Market

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 25/02/2025

The SFC proposes limits for the fees that securities registrars can charge investors under the USM regime, which is targeted for implementation in early 2026.

Market Infrastructure

HKEX Announces Enhanced Fee Structure for Securities Market

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 24/02/2025

HKEX said the current structure disproportionately impacts lower-value trades and the new structure will be more equitable across all trade sizes.

Crypto / Digital Assets

SFC Grants Virtual Asset Trading Platform Licence to Bullish

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 20/02/2025

The SFC has granted Bullish a licence to operate as a VATP, making it the 10th licence applicant to receive this approval.

Crypto / Digital Assets

SFC Unveils Roadmap for Achieving Virtual Assets Hub Ambitions

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 20/02/2025

The roadmap includes potentially allowing virtual asset derivatives, margin financing, and staking and lending services.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong Gazettes Subsidiary Legislation on Paperless Regime

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 19/02/2025

Six pieces of subsidiary legislation set out detailed operational and regulatory matters for the uncertificated securities market regime.

Securities / Derivatives

Hong Kong SFC Offers Clarity on Listing of Alternative Funds

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 18/02/2025

The SFC said its door has “always been open” for closed-ended alternative funds, including PE funds, to be listed on the stock exchange.

Enforcement

SFC Reviewing Margin Financing Practices of Securities Firms

By Manesh Samtani | 18/02/2025

The SFC is conducting a thematic review of eight securities firms that provided unusually high levels of margin financing for new IPO subscriptions.

Crypto / Digital Assets

SFC Mulls Rule Changes to Boost Virtual Asset Sector

By Manesh Samtani | 17/02/2025

The SFC is considering relaxing certain rules to improve liquidity in Hong Kong’s virtual asset market and enhance the city’s position as a digital asset hub.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong’s First Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Law is Becoming Reality

By Albert Yuen | 17/02/2025

Albert Yuen and Eunice Lee at Linklaters discuss the proposed new Cyber CI Bill and its implications for critical infrastructure operators.