Dear Valued Clients and Business Associates

From 1 August 2018 (“Effective Date”), Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEX”) will adopt a more robust delisting policy and implement the relevant amendments to the Listing Rules (“Rule Amendments”).

The main purpose of the Rule Amendments is to facilitate the timely delisting of issuers that no longer meet the HKEX’s continuing listing criteria and to provide certainty to the market on the delisting process, so as to maintain the quality and reputation of Hong Kong’s securities market.

The Rule Amendments are set out in the conclusions from responses to its Consultation Paper on “Delisting and Other Rule Amendments” (the “Consultation Conclusions”) published by HKEX on 25 May 2018. HKEX also published “Guidance on long suspension and delisting” (GL95-18) on the same day to provide guidance to long suspended issuers on the operation of the amended delisting rules and guidance specific to certain types of suspension cases. Transitional arrangements will be provided for issuers whose securities are under a trading suspension immediately before the Effective Date.