HKEX(HK:00388) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-08-01 02:08Core Viewpoint - Hong Kong's stock market is undergoing reforms to attract emerging industries and overseas companies for fundraising, with a focus on optimizing the listing mechanism while ensuring investor protection [2][4]. Group 1: Listing Mechanism Optimization - The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has relaxed listing rules by lowering the market capitalization requirement for secondary listings of Greater China issuers and removing restrictions on "innovative industry companies" [4]. - HKEX is set to lower the listing market cap threshold for specialized technology companies by September 2024 and will launch a "Tech Company Fast Track" by May 2025 to provide pre-listing guidance for biotech and other firms [4]. - The HKEX is researching a tiered minimum public shareholding requirement based on issuer market capitalization, with consultations already initiated [4]. Group 2: Approval Process Efficiency - The approval process for listings has been significantly expedited, with the average time reduced from 61 days in 2022 to 28 days as of June 2023 [5]. - The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and HKEX have committed to completing applications within 40 business days, with a maximum of two rounds of inquiries [5]. Group 3: International Outreach and Market Expansion - The proportion of international companies listed in Hong Kong is currently between 5% and 10%, which is significantly lower than London and the US markets [7]. - HKEX plans to expand the list of recognized overseas exchanges and simplify the listing process for foreign issuers, aiming to enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong as a fundraising platform [7][8]. - The HKEX is actively promoting its listing advantages in ASEAN and the Middle East, with initiatives to attract more international companies to utilize Hong Kong's capital market [8].