The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong has introduced a system of balloting for stock codes on its Main Board. A similar system has been successfully used on the Growth Enterprise Market and has raised $8.5 million for the Community Chest.

Successful applicants for listing will be able to ballot for a stock code from the normal ballot pool. This pool is made up of a running list of 50 available codes. Applicants are allowed to draw two numbers and choose the one they prefer. No charitable donation is required.

However, numbers deemed to be auspicious have been removed from this pool and transferred to a special ballot pool. For a donation of $500,000, applicants may ballot for a stock code from this pool. They are allowed to draw once only.

Finally, for a donation of $1 million, applicants can choose their own code from either the normal or special ballot pools without balloting.

All donations will be paid to the Community Chest.

Corporate Communications