China's stance on shareholder rights welcomed

Hong Kong

FOREIGN investors have welcomed assurances by China's securities watchdog that their shareholding rights are recognised in the country, in a development that should boost trading on a landmark Hong Kong-Shanghai trading link. The so-called Stock Connect project went live in November, allowing foreign investors to buy and sell Shanghai shares via the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEx) for the first time.

Many European funds have been unable to participate in the scheme, however, due to concerns among their home regulators in Luxembourg and Dublin that foreign investors' rights may not be enforceable under Chinese law.