Discussions on new HK trading board to end in coming weeks - HKEX CEO

By Anne Marie Roantree

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong is expected to finalize discussions on a new stock exchange board "in the coming weeks", Charles Li, chief executive of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd (HKEX), told Reuters on Tuesday.

In June, HKEX started a consultation on the launch of a third board that could allow companies to list with dual-class share structures and would target "new economy" companies in sectors such as the internet and bio-tech.

Public consultation ended last month, with financial industry professionals still divided over the matter.

Li, speaking at a Reuters Newsmaker event, said there might be a need for another round of consultation to decide details of the implementation of the new board and weighted voting rights. Discussions would be "very intensive" around such consultations, Li added.

Li said public interest wouldn't be compromised for profitability.

"Public interest is number one," he said.

"The key is the market will understand that the bulk of the listing rule regulation is still going to be at the exchange (HKEX) but the SFC will take a proactive role whenever they see fit," he said, referring to the Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong.

The HKEX chief also said he saw a sharp increase in international companies raising capital in Hong Kong since the start of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen stock connect, which allows non-Chinese investors to buy Shenzhen-listed shares via Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, Asia's third-biggest equity bourse by market value, is eager to increase its exposure to new high-growth sectors to remain a global listings powerhouse.

(Reporting by Anne Marie Roantree; Additional reporting by Elzio Barreto, Sumeet Chatterjee and Twinnie Siu; Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Christopher Cushing)