Core Viewpoint - Many investors misunderstand the transaction cost calculation rules of the Hong Kong Stock Connect due to the exchange rate conversion between RMB and HKD, leading to the belief that transaction costs are excessively high. The article clarifies that the actual transaction costs are approximately 1.1‰, primarily consisting of broker commissions, currency exchange costs, and taxes [2][7]. Transaction Costs Breakdown - The transaction costs for Hong Kong Stock Connect are mainly categorized into broker commissions, currency exchange costs, and taxes. The article focuses on the tax fees collected by exchanges and clearing companies, which total approximately 1.1‰ [2][4]. - Investors trading stocks through the Hong Kong Stock Connect must pay taxes according to Hong Kong market regulations, including transaction taxes, settlement and clearing service fees, and custody and corporate action service fees [4]. Tax Fee Details - The tax fees include: - Stamp Duty: Charged by the Hong Kong Stamp Duty Office at 0.1% of the transaction amount (rounded to the nearest dollar, with amounts less than 1 HKD charged as 1 HKD) [4]. - Transaction Levy: Charged by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau at 0.00285% of the transaction amount (rounded to two decimal places) [4]. - Trading Fee: Charged by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at 0.00565% of the transaction amount (rounded to two decimal places) [4]. - Share Transfer Fee: Charged by Hong Kong Clearing at 0.0042% of the transaction amount [4]. Example Calculation - An example is provided where an investor buys 10,000 shares at HKD 100 each, resulting in a total transaction value of HKD 1,000,000. The tax fees calculated are: - Stamp Duty: HKD 1,000 - Transaction Levy: HKD 28.5 - Trading Fee: HKD 56.5 - Share Transfer Fee: HKD 42 - Total: HKD 1,127 [6]. Securities Portfolio Fee - The Securities Portfolio Fee is charged based on the market value of the held Hong Kong stocks, with different rates applied depending on the value brackets. For example, for a market value of up to HKD 50 billion, the annual fee rate is 0.008% [6]. Comparison with A-shares - The article highlights that the main difference in tax fees between A-shares and Hong Kong Stock Connect is that A-shares have a single-sided stamp duty of 0.5% paid by the seller, while Hong Kong Stock Connect requires a double-sided stamp duty payment [7].