Turnover in Hong Kong’s ETFs hit a record high for 2014

Head of Tax, Travis Benjamin was recently interviewed by Asia Asset Management regarding the Hong Kong ETF market. The article discussed how turnover in Hong Kong’s ETFs hit a record high in 2014, amid renewed interest in Chinese A-shares following the launch of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect last November. It also touched on how the proposed stamp duty waiver for all Hong Kong-listed ETFs would make the city the most attractive place in Asia to launch these kinds of investment products.

Travis believes the proposed uniform stamp duty exemption will lift Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the race to attract more ETF listings and save on the costs of listing locally, as issuers will no longer need to file an application for exemption from stamp duty to the Inland Revenue Department.

“Where I think this is going to make a big difference is in attracting regional and globally focussed ETFs to Hong Kong,” he said.