[Hong Kong] Report on “The Green Bond Market in Hong
Kong: Developing a Robust Ecosystem for Sustainable Growth”
HKMA News, 24 Nov 2020
The
Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research (HKIMR) and the
research arm of the Hong Kong Academy of Finance released an Applied Research
report titled “The Green Bond Market in Hong Kong: Developing a Robust
Ecosystem for Sustainable Growth”. HKIMR Applied Research reports are released
on topics that are highly relevant to the financial industry and regulators in
Hong Kong, and they aim to provide insights on the long-term development
strategy and direction of Hong Kong’s financial industry.
Full
text: click here;
Report: click here
[Hong
Kong] HKEX to introduce synapse, a settlement acceleration platform for stock
connect
HKEX
News, 24 Nov 2020
Hong
Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has introduced HKEX Synapse, a new
settlement acceleration platform for its landmark Stock Connect programme. It
will automate and streamline post-trade processes, underpinning the growth of
global investors accessing the Mainland China market via Stock Connect. Asset
managers, brokers, global custodians, local custodians, and clearing
participants will all benefit from the improved connectivity and enhanced
capacity to handle the growing volume of trades flowing through Stock Connect.
HKEX Synapse is an optional platform, and is expected to begin testing in 2021
with a group of pilot users.
Full
text: click here
[Singapore]
MAS Launches World's First Grant Scheme to Support Green and
Sustainability-Linked Loans
MAS
News, 24 Nov 2020
MAS
announced the launch of the Green and Sustainability-Linked Loan Grant Scheme
(GSLS), which will be effective as of 1 January 2021. The first of its kind
globally, the GSLS seeks to support corporates of all sizes to obtain green and
sustainable financing by defraying the expenses of engaging independent service
providers to validate the green and sustainability credentials of the loan. The
grant also encourages banks to develop green and sustainability-linked loan
frameworks to make such financing more accessible to small and medium-sized
enterprises.
Full
text: click here
[Hong
Kong] SFC bans Chan Shun King for 24 months
SFC
Enforcement News, 25 Nov 2020
The
SFC has banned Ms Chan Shun King, a former account executive of Sun Hung Kai
Investment Services Limited (SHKIS), from re-entering the industry for 24
months from 25 November 2020 to 24 November 2022 for breaches of the SFC’s Code
of Conduct. The SFC found that between October 2008 and August 2015, Chan
effected transactions in two clients’ accounts on a discretionary basis without
obtaining the clients’ prior written authorizations as well as the approval of
SHKIS’s senior management. In doing so,
Chan not only breached the regulatory requirements on the authorization and
operation of discretionary accounts under the Code of Conduct, but also SHKIS’s
policies and procedures for discretionary accounts.
Full
text: click here
[Hong
Kong] SFC bans Pang Hon Pan for 21 months
SFC
Enforcement News, 25 Nov 2020
The
SFC has banned Mr Pang Hon Pan, a former private banking relationship manager
of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited (SCBHK) and a former senior
relationship manager of Bank of Singapore Limited (BOS), for 21 months from 25
November 2020 to 24 August 2022. The SFC’s disciplinary action follows a
referral by the HKMA. The HKMA found in
its investigation stemming from a self-reporting by SCBHK that Pang breached
SCBHK’s internal policies from 17 April 2010 to 31 March 2017 by falsely
declaring to SCBHK on seven occasions that he had no existing securities
account.
Full
text: click here
[Hong
Kong] SFC supports Chief Executive’s initiatives
SFC News, 25 Nov 2020
The SFC welcomes the initiatives in the Chief
Executive’s Policy Address to further deepen the mutual access between the
Mainland and Hong Kong financial markets. The SFC also supports further
promoting the development of private equity funds, family office business, and
the real estate investment trusts (REIT) market in Hong Kong and will soon
release its consultation conclusions on proposed regulatory changes that would
give REITs more flexibility in making investments.
Full text: click here
[Hong
Kong] Hong Kong widens Connect stock links for global funds to tap Star Market,
tying city’s financial future closer to China’s heft
SCMP,
25 Nov 2020
Hong
Kong will broaden its cross-border investment channels with mainland China’s
stock exchanges, offering the city as the stepping-off point for international
funds to gain access to one of the world’s best-performing capital markets. China-domiciled
investors can invest in pre-revenue biotechnology companies on Hong Kong’s
stock exchange while global funds will be allowed to tap shares on Shanghai’s
Star Market via the expanded Stock Connect schemes.
Full
text: click here
[Hong Kong] Hong Kong mulls easing restrictions on
REITs
The Standard, 26 Nov 2020
Financial
Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po yesterday said the government aims to promote real
estate investment funds by offering more investment choices. The government is
considering relaxing the investment restrictions of REITs, broadening the investor
base, facilitating market operation through legislative and regulatory
enhancements, and stepping up market promotion and investor education.
Full
text: click here