Please join Julia Charlton for a webinar on the Listing Rule changes implementing the first phase of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s competitiveness review and the introduction of Hong Kong’s uncertificated securities market at 5:00 to 6:00 pm HKT on 16 October 2026.
The webinar is accredited with 1 CPD point by The Law Society of Hong Kong.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Webinar Objective:
The webinar will provide an overview of the Listing Rule amendments that took effect on 24 July 2026 to implement the first phase of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s (the Exchange) competitiveness review of Hong Kong’s listing framework, including the relaxation of the requirements for companies listing with weighted voting rights (WVR) structures, the easing of the secondary listing requirements, and other changes to the initial listing requirements and listing arrangements. It will also examine the key implications for listing applicants and listed companies of Hong Kong’s uncertificated securities market (USM) regime, which is scheduled to take effect on 16 November 2026.
About the Webinar
The webinar will cover the following topics:
- Background to the Exchange’s Listing Framework Competitiveness Review and the July 2026 consultation conclusions
- Reduced financial eligibility thresholds for WVR listing applicants under Chapter 8A
- The increased 20:1 WVR voting ratio cap for applicants with a market capitalisation of at least HK$40 billion and the revised minimum economic interest of WVR beneficiaries
- The restructured Innovative Company Requirements: the New Technologies Route and the newly added New Business Model Route
- Relaxed eligibility criteria for secondary listings of overseas-listed companies under Chapter 19C
- Ownership continuity and control, and the expanded use of US GAAP
- Listing of commercialised Biotech and Specialist Technology Companies under Chapters 18A and 18C
- Optional publication of Application Proofs and the treatment of returned listing applications
- The USM legal framework: prescribed securities, Specified Jurisdictions and participating securities
- Specified dates, deferrals and SFC exemptions
- Appointment of approved securities registrars (ASRs) and Registrar Participants
- Amending articles of association and other terms of issue for consistency with the USM regime
- USM disclosure requirements for listing applicants and listed companies, and obligations following participation
About the Presenter
Julia Charlton is a Hong Kong and English qualified solicitor and has been practising law in Hong Kong since 1987. She is the founder and a partner of Charltons, a boutique Hong Kong law firm focusing on corporate finance. Julia practises as a corporate finance lawyer and has extensive experience of advising Hong Kong, Chinese and overseas businesses and financial institutions on capital raisings, M&A, investment and business activities in Hong Kong, China and internationally. Her practice areas include Hong Kong IPOs, listed companies’ regulatory compliance, capital markets, derivatives, securities law, investment funds, virtual assets, stablecoins, restructuring, private equity and regulatory issues, and general corporate and commercial matters.
- Enrolment is limited – enrolments will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Please note that we accept no liability for any non-availability for any CPD Point(s) for any participants whatsoever.
- A confirmation of attendance based on your registration and log in and out details may be sent to you automatically via email shortly after the webinar ends. No other or further confirmation will be provided.
- Please join the webinar from one device only. Using multiple connected devices at the same time may disrupt your attendance record and as a result it may not be possible for a confirmation of attendance to be issued.