Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) has invited service providers to respond to a Request for Expression of Interest (RFI) to provide additional electronic support services to brokers.

A spokesman for HKEx said the company was looking into the commercial viability of providing additional electronic support services for brokers operations. It has called the project BESS, Brokers Electronic Support Services.

"Proposed services should ideally focus on back office processing by Exchange Participants," the spokesman said. "However, service providers can also propose services for front and middle offices as well as other services along the securities transaction and information chains, including electronic payment for security transactions, stock settlement, custodianship and other services they believe add value to HKEx and the market.

"HKEx believes the services can best be offered through joint ventures between the company and reputable service providers. Service providers with a preference for alternative models, including non-equity partnership, are also welcome to submit a response," the spokesman said.

He said BESS would help Exchange Participants and other market intermediaries to automate their operations further through the integration of their internal systems with AMS/3, the third generation automatching system introduced in October last year, and avoid the need for individual up-front infrastructure investment.

"We expect BESS to make trading easier for investors, increase trading activity, strengthen risk management, and increase efficiency along the transaction chain," he said.

Service providers are invited to respond to the RFI not later than 12 noon on 16 March. They can obtain an electronic copy of the RFI from Roger Lee, Senior Vice President of HKExs E-Business and Information Services at rogerlee@hkex.com.hk