Government increases shareholding in Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited to 6 per cent

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government notified Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) on June 4 that it has increased its shareholding in HKEx, for the account of the Exchange Fund, to 6.00 per cent.  

     This is a modest and limited increase in shareholding as a result of scrip dividend election under the scrip dividend scheme in relation to the final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2017.
 
     The shareholding in HKEx is a strategic use of the Exchange Fund by the Government to enable the Government to contribute, over the longer term, to HKEx's development, particularly in strategic partnerships and linkages with other institutions in the region.
 
     The Government became a minority controller of HKEx by increasing its shareholding to 5.88 per cent of HKEx's issued share capital in September 2007.