Opinion sought on stock connect rules

The top securities regulator is seeking public opinion on rules relating to the Shanghai-London Stock Connect, a further step to promote the long-awaited program bridging China with the international capital market. It is expected to roll out this year.

The regulator is soliciting opinion on rules that cover a variety of details regarding listing and transactions on the stock trading link program between China and Europe, according to Chang Depeng, a spokesman with the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

The rules include issuance standards for Chinese Depository Receipts, related regulations for CDR applications, and regulatory arrangements for the issuance of global depository receipts on foreign bourses by listed Chinese companies, according to Chang.

China will encourage domestic blue-chip companies already listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange to also list in London, while promoting the trading of shares of London-listed firms, according to an announcement by the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Friday.

Detailed policy arrangements have been drafted as part of efforts to launch the program as soon as possible, according to the Shanghai bourse.

The Shanghai-London Stock Connect program will allow companies from China to sell global depository receipts in the United Kingdom, allow foreign investors to buy Chinese shares, and enable London-traded companies to list shares in Shanghai.

Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said at the Lujiazui Forum, an international finance conference held in Shanghai in June, that the program is set to be rolled out within the year.