Chen Yiting: In the first eight months, Hong Kong's IPO fundraising exceeded HKD 340 billion, surpassing last year's total.

On September 8, HKEX (00388) CEO Charles Li stated in his speech at the China Opportunities Forum that Hong Kong's new stock market has continued its strong momentum this year. As of the end of August, 104 companies have gone public in Hong Kong, raising over HKD 340 billion, surpassing the total amount for last year. He pointed out that issuers from Southeast Asia and the Middle East are gradually choosing Hong Kong as their listing location. This year, three of the world's top five IPOs have settled in Hong Kong, leveraging the city's financing platform to connect with international capital and further supporting companies' global business expansion. Charles Li mentioned that the participation of international cornerstone investors in Hong Kong IPOs has reached a recent high. In addition to traditional Asian investors, there has also been a continuous increase in long-term funds from the Middle East, Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. This not only reflects international investors' recognition of the long-term value of Chinese innovative enterprises and Chinese assets but also demonstrates Hong Kong's vital role as an important platform connecting Chinese opportunities with global capital, continuing to exert its unique value. Regarding the performance of Hong Kong's secondary market this year, he noted that the market has shown strong vitality, with an average daily turnover exceeding HKD 280 billion in the first eight months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 14%, maintaining a historically high level. Charles Li believes that the Chinese economy is undergoing profound transformation, and Chinese opportunities are constantly evolving. As an international financial center, one of Hong Kong's greatest advantages is its ability to effectively connect Chinese opportunities with global capital. In the future, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will continue to invest in the construction of market infrastructure to provide investors with a more efficient, robust, and resilient market environment.