Professional investor changes in Hong Kong to benefit compliance

Jane McBride, partner, was quoted in a Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence article discussing how recently proposed amendments to Hong Kong’s professional investor regime should benefit compliance and legal professionals.

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) on March 1 issued a public consultation on amendments to the Securities and Futures (Professional Investor) Rules, seeking to allow more investors to qualify as professional investors.

Commenting on the amendments, Jane said: “The universe of professional investors will be broadened and more alternatives will be available in terms of evidence of PI status. This should make it easier to sell unauthorised investment products generally, and will certainly give those SFC-licensed firms that are only permitted to deal with PIs more options.”

“This is a welcome initiative. It is always better to have more flexibility sooner than later, of course,” she concluded.