In response to press enquiries, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. (HKEx) has issued the following statement.

A total of 48 Futures Exchange Participants reported between 10:00am and 10:20am this morning that their connections to Hong Kong Futures Automated Trading System (HKATS), the Futures Exchange trading system, were interrupted.

HKEx Derivatives Market Operations staff asked the affected participants to re-log on to the system.

HKEx Derivatives Market Operations staff had opened its backup centre at Citibank Plaza. Affected participants were notified to contact HKEx Derivatives Market Operations staff should they wish to use the terminals in the backup centre to place orders.

After re-logging on to the system, the affected participants had successfully established connections to HKATS in batches.

All affected participants who reported this morning that their connections were interrupted had reestablished connections with HKATS by 11:00am.

The HKATS system operated normally and the futures market was open throughout the trading day.

HKEx is investigating the cause of the incident.