1.

How does the public know if a company is listed?

A list of Hong Kong listed companies is available at the HKEx website. Information vendors and the financial pages of Hong Kong local newspapers also normally carry the list. If the name of a company whose shares have been held by an investor for years is missing from the list, he should check with his broker or the Companies Registry to see if the company is still operating or has changed its name. HKEx Fact Book, published yearly on the HKEx website, keeps a record of name changes of listed companies during the year.

2.

 In what ways are H-share companies different from red chips?

H-share companies are companies incorporated in the People's Republic of China and approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission for a listing in Hong Kong. Shares in these companies are listed on the Stock Exchange, subscribed for and traded in Hong Kong dollars, or other currencies, and referred to as H shares. After finding its way into the Listing Rules, the term H share has been accepted and is widely used in the market. The letter H stands for Hong Kong.

A red chip company is a company that has at least 30 per cent of its shares in aggregate held directly by Mainland China entities, or indirectly through companies controlled by them, with the Mainland China entities being the single largest shareholders in aggregate terms.  Alternatively, a company would be considered  a red chip company if less than 30 per cent but more than 20 per cent of its shares are held  directly or indirectly by Mainland China entities  and there is a strong influential presence  of Mainland China-linked individuals on the company's board of directors.  Mainland China entities include state-owned enterprises, and entities controlled by provincial and municipal authorities.

The most important difference between a red chip company and an H-share company is that a red chip company is not Mainland-registered.

3.

When was the first H share listed in Hong Kong?

On 19 June 1993, the Stock Exchange, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, SFC, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange signed a Memorandum of Regulatory Co-operation in Beijing, which paved the way for the listing of mainland-registered enterprises in Hong Kong. On 15 July 1993, Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited became the first mainland enterprise to list its H shares on the Stock Exchange.

4.

How can investors contact listed companies?

Investors wishing contact a listed company may refer to the share registrar for the address and contact details of a listed company.  The name and contact numbers of the share registrar of a listed company is available under the Company/Securities Profile at the Investment Services Centre on the HKEx website.  Investors may also refer to the annual report of a listed company for the address or ask the telephone company for its telephone number. 

Investment Service Centre at the HKEx website also provides company information, including the name of the chairman and address of the principal office. Without a listed company's authorisation, HKEx cannot divulge the company's other contact details.

5.

What is the role of a share registrar of a listed company and investors?

The share registrar is a private company employed by a listed company to maintain a registrar of shareholders in Hong Kong and handle investors' enquiries.  Share registrars' services include dispatch of corporate communications including financial reports and shareholders circulars on behalf of listed companies, to registered shareholders, distributing cash and scrip dividends, handling claims for uncollected benefits, share transfers and issuing replacement certificates. 

Share registrars also work closely with the company and its sponsor in an Initial Public Offering (IPO), in particular, they distribute share certificates, refund application money to partially successful and unsuccessful applicants and answer inquiries from investors on allotment results.

6.

Can an investor who holds shares in a company attend the company's annual general meeting (AGM) if he has not received a notice to do so?

If the shares owned by an investor are registered in the name of HKSCC Nominees Limited, he may exercise his vote at the AGM by giving instructions to HKSCC through his brokers. If an investor has opened an Investor Account in CCASS and has deposited shares into the CCASS Depository, he may vote on corporate actions and activities by giving instructions directly to HKSCC. HKSCC will then send its representatives to the AGM and vote according to the instructions received. If an investor, for some particular reason, wants to vote in person or appoint a proxy to attend the AGM and vote instead of him, he must make a request through his brokers to HKSCC together with proof of his shareholdings. Investors who have opened an Investor Account in CCASS can make the request to HKSCC directly.

7.

What should investors do with shares of companies which have changed their names or been delisted from the Stock Exchange?

Change of company name does not affect listing status.  If the companies have already been delisted, investors should endeavour to contact the company directly or seek professional advice. 

Alternatively, investors can check with the Companies Registry for the current registration record of the company in Hong Kong.  If the company has changed its name but still maintains its listing status on the Stock Exchange, investors can check with the company's share registrar for details of how to change their share certificates, as well as procedures, fees and other documentation required.

If investors hold shares of companies which are no longer listed on the Stock Exchange but are still registered in Hong Kong, they should contact the company itself directly for their entitlements or other information.

8.    

How can investors update their shareholdings in the event of corporate actions such as stock splits, share consolidation or board lot size changes ?

The share registrar is responsible for changing the shareholdings of investors following corporate actions, such as stock splits, share consolidation or board lot size changes.   Shareholders will not be charged if they go to the share registrars within the period specified by the listed company.  Otherwise, the shareholders may be charged a fee. When there is a corporate action, investors should refer to the company announcement on the HKExnews website, in particular the information relating to the book closure date for the register of members, or contact the share registrar for detailed arrangements for exchanging shares.