Hong Kong's SFC Suspended Vetting of 65 Listing Applications in First Nine Months Over Sponsor Failings; Some Cases Referred to Police
Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) suspended vetting of 65 listing applications during the first nine months of 2026, mainly because of deficiencies and misconduct by their sponsors, asiafirst reported on Oct. 19. The report said the regulator has stepped up scrutiny of IPO sponsor work. In a recent joint operation with the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council and the police, the SFC froze more than HK$4.66 billion in assets of two groups — the largest restriction notice on record — amid suspected conspiracy to defraud in initial public offerings, including a mainland tea-drink chain recently suspended from trading. Some suspected fraud cases have been referred to the police. The SFC has repeatedly warned that some sponsors fall short on due diligence and filing quality, and that it may halt vetting of a listing application where sponsor work is seriously deficient until the problems are rectified. (GSM, compiled from asiafirst reporting)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：证监会办事处所在的港岛东中心（资料图）。Wastslandone 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，取自维基共享资源。Photo: One Island East in Quarry Bay, home to the SFC's offices (file photo). By Wastslandone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
