Hong Kong Law

Any person carrying on DPMS in Hong Kong will need to be registered or cease operations in Hong Kong. The Amendment Bill contains transitional provisions for DPMS carrying on business in Hong Kong before 1 January 2023.

HKEx and SFC concluded disciplinary actions in May 2022 resulting in an order for the organisers of a global Ponzi scheme to compensate HK investors and the sanctioning of listed companies and their directors

The SFC has proposed significant amendments to the SFO to: allow it to seek investor compensation orders against regulated persons; narrow the ss 103(j) & (k) exemptions; & broaden the insider dealing regime

Any person operating a VA exchange in Hong Kong will need to apply for a VASP licence or cease operations in Hong Kong. The Amendment Bill contains transitional provisions for operators of VA exchanges carrying on business in Hong Kong before 1 March 2023

The HKEx releases circular on the 4 July 2022 launch of the inclusion of ETFs in the Stock Connect. The CSRC and SFC approves ETFs in Stock Connect and the initial list of eligible ETFs has been published

The Hong Kong regulatory enforcement actions concluded in April 2022 included the Takeovers Executive’s public criticism of two former directors for breach of the SFC Takeovers Code’s no frustrating actions rule

The CSRC and SFC announced plans to allow eligible exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by Mainland and Hong Kong exchanges in Stock Connect. Implementation of the proposed arrangements will come in about two months.

HKEx published an information paper on listing rule amendments complementing new SFC Code of Conduct provisions for issuers & intermediaries conducting bookbuilding and placing activities, effective 5.08.2022

SFC releases the end-to-end test packages and file transfer connectivity guide for the Hong Kong Investor Identification Regime (HKIDR), for the preparation work for the mandatory E2E test in mid-May and June 2022

In March 2022, the HKEx announced the results of a disciplinary action against former directors of a Chapter 21-listed investment company and the SFC published the outcomes of 4 disciplinary actions.

The HKEX listed the first special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on its Main Board on 18 March 2022 following its introduction of a listing regime for SPACs on 1 January 2022.

On 9 March 2022, U.S. President Joseph R Biden Jr issued an Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets initiating a comprehensive approach to cryptocurrency regulation and oversight