[2] The exchange plays a crucial role in connecting international investors with mainland Chinese companies, serving as a major platform for capital raising.

Unlike mainland Chinese exchanges, it operates under Hong Kong’s distinct regulatory framework, which allows greater access to foreign investors.

A 2021 poll reported that approximately 57% of Hong Kong adults had money invested in the stock market.

Enhancements were also made to the system infrastructure, including the launch of off-floor trading terminals in brokers' offices in January 1996.

[22] In May 2008, the exchange also implemented a closing auction session to run from 4:00 pm to 4:10 pm, with a similar pricing mechanism as the opening auction; however, this resulted in significant fluctuations in the closing prices of stocks and suspicions of market manipulation.

The two-hour lunch break between the morning and afternoon sessions was the longest among the world's 20 major stock exchanges.

Index futures and options now began trading at 9:15 am, thirty minutes earlier than before, and closed at the same time as before, 4:15 pm.

[citation needed] In the meantime, he argues for improved investor representation on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

[citation needed] In 2007, the uproar by smaller local stockbrokers over the decision by board of directors to cut minimum trading spreads for equities and warrants trading at between 25 HK cents and HK$2 caused the new board to vote to reverse the decision.