Hong Kong plans to expand IPO confidentiality applications? Hong Kong Stock Exchange responds: relevant developments will be announced to the market in due course.

Recently, there have been rumors that Hong Kong is considering expanding the scope of IPO confidentiality applications, allowing a wider range of companies to submit their initial public offering applications in a confidential manner to consolidate Hong Kong's position as a leading global listing destination. In response to this, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange told "People's Financial News" that the Hong Kong Stock Exchange is committed to optimizing market infrastructure and listing mechanisms to ensure it stays up to date. In recent years, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has introduced several important reforms, including allowing companies with dual class share structures to list in 2018, new rules allowing biotech companies without revenue to list, and the introduction of a tech-focused listing mechanism in 2023. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission to enhance its competitiveness in various ways, and will announce relevant developments to the market in due course. Additionally, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission also told reporters that they will continue to work closely with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to explore measures to further enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong's listing market, ensuring that Hong Kong remains the preferred listing destination for quality companies.