The Chamber welcomes the HKEX’s proposals to enhance its existing framework on corporate governance and related listing rules. At the same time, we recommend that such changes be implemented on an incremental and flexible basis, with consideration given to their potential costs and benefits for businesses, particularly with regard to the impact on small and medium sized issuers.

The Chamber welcomes the Government’s proposals regarding amendments to public access to personal information on the Companies Registry. At the same time, we recommend that the public be consulted on the scope of persons authorized to access protected information, and that the proposed timeline for implementation of the new measures be shortened.

The Chamber agrees with the HKEX that the existing listing requirements should be streamlined through the introduction of a common set of core shareholder protection standards (“Core Standards”) especially in respect of overseas issuers. The Chamber has also made a number of observations and recommendations on certain aspects of the Core Standards to facilitate issuer compliance, and enhance the city’s status as a place to list.