HKEX's Chan Yit-Ting: The extension of trading hours for the spot market requires more thorough consideration.

The Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX, 00388), Charles Li, stated that HKEX has consistently sought to enhance the ease of investor participation in the market, emphasizing that the primary focus should be on extending trading hours in the derivatives market. Regarding the extension of trading hours in the spot market, more careful consideration is needed, mainly due to the large number of involved investors, including local and mainland retail investors as well as institutional investors, each having different trading habits and demands. There will be close communication with all market participants, and any further announcements will be made once discussions have matured. Charles Li pointed out that HKEX is capable of extending trading hours. Currently, the derivatives market primarily involves institutional investors, with trading operating until 3 a.m. the following day. Investors from the Americas have a clear demand for an extension of trading hours by two hours, and this adjustment will be prioritized. She explained that extending trading hours would better align with the North American market, potentially increasing participation from local institutional investors. In the first half of the year, the average daily trading volume in Hong Kong's spot market increased by 18% year-on-year to HK$283 billion, setting a new high for a half-year period, with the Stock Connect accounting for 22% of the market's trading volume. Charles Li stated that in the future, efforts must be made to simultaneously strengthen liquidity in both the primary and secondary markets, believing that a thriving new stock market would help attract new investors and increase allocation to Hong Kong stocks.