• make case related submissions (such as issuer enquiries, waiver applications, pre-vetting documents, size tests, listing applications, trading arrangements, and trading halt/resumption requests), and receive and respond to HKEX’s enquiries and comments;

• update their corporate events, positions and other information, including board/ shareholders meetings, blackout periods, share capital movements, distribution of dividends, changes of board members and committees, senior management, company secretary, auditor, share registrar and its address, principal place of business and corporate website, etc.; and

• file all information required by the existing e-Forms. No separate e-Forms will need to be submitted by the issuers.

No.  HKEX IAP currently covers only listed equities and exchange traded products. 

Listed issuers’ authorised representatives, relevant staff, professional advisers, financial printers and any other market participants designated by the listed issuers are expected to use HKEX IAP.

Issuers and advisers are encouraged to try out the Trial Version, and refer to the User Guide and the Training Videos for how to use the HKEX IAP.

No, but ESS will no longer support submission of e-Forms (see also Q2 above).  

HKEX IAP will be the primary portal for listed issuers and their advisers for Rule compliance related matters, and is complementary with ESS.  HKEX IAP will provide direct connection to ESS for publication of announcements and circulars (such as for notifiable and/or connected transactions).

The launch of HKEX IAP is covered by the Exchange’s authority to set up electronic submission channels under MB Rule 2.07(3A) / GEM Rule 2.21, and no major Rule amendments are necessary. That said, we will make housekeeping Rule amendments to streamline the listing application process through HKEX IAP.  For details, please refer to section 7 of the Information Paper.

Administrator

Administrator is a person authorised under a board resolution (or equivalent document) to register the HKEX IAP account, set up the organisation’s profile, manage user access and handle adviser delegation.

Submitter

Submitter is an Authorised Representative or Issuer/Adviser Representative who is authorised to make submissions to HKEX, and to check, update and complete the company profile as necessary.

Approver

Approver is a person authorised to review company profile update prepared by the Submitter and to submit profile setup request to HKEX during the onboarding period. Depending on the approval settings and the type of organisation, this may be an Authorised Representative or an Issuer/Adviser Representative. 

Following the onboarding period, an Approver will have the authority to approve the publication of announcement forms generated from HKEX IAP.

No.  HKEX IAP is designed to facilitate checks and balances through segregation of user roles. Issuers and advisers may assign user roles based on their operational needs and internal controls.

The HKEX IAP electronic token is set up through Microsoft Authenticator and is used to generate one-time passwords for identity authentication. Users will need to input the one-time password when registering company and user accounts and when accessing or using HKEX IAP functions going forward.

No. The HKEX IAP electronic token will not replace the existing physical token used for ESS. However, once logged in to HKEX IAP, users can access ESS directly without a separate login.

For issuers

Registration is scheduled to be rolled out in phases starting from October 2026, and each issuer will receive a notification letter 12 weeks prior to its registration window to make early preparations for onboarding.  

For advisers

Registration has commenced for advisers.  They may visit https://iap.hkex.com.hk/ip/registration at any time to apply for account registration.

For detailed procedures, please refer to Episodes 18 - 20 of our tutorial videos in our IAP Education Centre.

No. 

The Exchange expects issuers to complete onboarding within the prescribed timeframe. To support the effective implementation of HKEX IAP and avoid delaying the enhancements to the centralised portal for displaying issuers’ information, extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Any extension granted will be for the shortest period reasonably practicable. 

Listed issuers are advised to complete the following tasks no later than one week prior to the commencement of their onboarding phase:

1. Assign HKEX IAP user roles to at least three representatives, including one Administrator, one Submitter, and one Approver.

2. Approve and execute the following documents:

• board resolution (or equivalent document) authorising (a) HKEX IAP account registration; (b) acceptance by your entity of the T&Cs of HKEX IAP; and (c) a dedicated person (e.g., a director) to apply for HKEX IAP registration and sign the letter of acceptance of the T&Cs of HKEX IAP; and

• the letter of acceptance to the T&Cs of HKEX IAP signed with black ink.

3. Compile corporate and corporate personnel information (for equity issuers) and/or corporate, scheme, product, and stock information (for exchange traded product issuers) for verification of information pre-populated on HKEX IAP and update it where necessary.

Advisers should complete the following tasks before onboarding:

1. Assign HKEX IAP user roles to at least one representative as the Administrator.

2. Approve and execute the following documents:

• board resolution (or equivalent document) authorising (a) HKEX IAP account registration; (b) acceptance by your entity of the T&Cs of HKEX IAP; and (c) a dedicated person to apply for HKEX IAP registration and sign the letter of acceptance of the T&Cs of HKEX IAP; and

• the letter of acceptance to the T&Cs of HKEX IAP signed with black ink.

We recommend completing preparation of the onboarding documents no later than one week prior to the commencement of your onboarding process.

A template of letter of acceptance can be found here.

No standard template is prescribed for board resolutions. Issuers and advisers should determine the form and content of the board resolution having regard to their own governance structure. 

If in doubt, please contact our onboarding helpdesk via 2840-2345 or hkexiap@hkex.com.hk.

There are no specific requirements on who may act as the authorised signatory. Issuers and advisers should determine the appropriate authorised signatory having regard to their own circumstances and governance structure. The authorised signatory should be properly authorised and supported by a board resolution and/or other relevant authorisation documents.

If in doubt, please contact our onboarding helpdesk via 2840-2345 or hkexiap@hkex.com.hk.

In such case, the Exchange may accept an equivalent authorisation document, provided that it clearly evidences its authorisation of the HKEX IAP registration and the authority of the relevant person(s) to act on behalf of the issuer or the adviser.

No. Once onboarded, issuers must use HKEX IAP as the designated communication and submission channel for all regulatory matters within the prescribed scope of HKEX IAP.