Why Hong Kong wealth managers want broader access to mainland China’s Nasdaq-style markets

A recent survey by Hong Kong's Private Wealth Management Association (PWMA) and KPMG China reveals that 91% of industry professionals believe expanded access to mainland China's Nasdaq-style markets would bolster the city's private wealth sector. Despite a recent downturn, hard-tech firms continue to lure investors. The report, encompassing most of PWMA's 44 institutional members, suggests that asset managers anticipate a broader spectrum of regulated investment products to further cement Hong Kong's role as a bridge between mainland China and global capital markets.

PWMA CEO Vivien Khoo emphasized the importance of broadening regulated investment channels and enhancing product diversity to maintain Hong Kong's global supremacy as a cross-border wealth hub. The survey also highlights the Greater Bay Area's initiative to connect Hong Kong with economic centers in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, with 79% of respondents considering it "critical or moderately important" for their offshore Hong Kong business.

Currently, overseas institutional investors can trade shares in mainland China through the Stock Connect scheme and the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program, albeit with restrictions like a 10% ownership cap per institution. China's Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Wu Qing stated in June that the regulator would facilitate foreign investors in setting up wholly owned subsidiaries or joint ventures in China's securities and futures markets.

PWMA Executive Committee Chairman Amy Lo Choi-wan, UBS Hong Kong CEO, noted Hong Kong's resilience and adaptability, despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions, emphasizing the city's continued status as a trusted platform for wealth management.