Malaysia, Hong Kong to ease dual listings rules - The Edge Malaysia

HONG KONG, 23 JULY 2026 —

Malaysia and Hong Kong have signed a pact to ease dual listings rules, aiming to expand cross-border investment products and facilitate companies' access to investors in both markets. The agreement, signed on July 23, will come into effect in September, allowing companies to submit a single set of documents, including the prospectus, to support applications for simultaneous primary and secondary listings in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation between the two financial hubs, with a history of collaboration dating back to the establishment of the mutual recognition framework. The framework, which has been in place for several years, has enabled the cross-listing of securities between the two markets, promoting greater investment flows and market integration. The existing framework has been expanded to cover exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including futures-based, leveraged and inverse, and commodity ETFs, as well as real estate investment trusts. This expansion is expected to provide investors with a wider range of investment options and increase the attractiveness of both markets to international investors.

The latest agreement is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to deepen financial ties between Malaysia and Hong Kong. The pact was signed between the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (SFC), with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong adding Bursa Malaysia to its list of recognised stock exchanges. The move is expected to make it easier for companies to tap investors across both markets, while also widening investment options available to investors. According to SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi, the deal opens up an "extensive range of options for investors in both countries", and is expected to facilitate the introduction of more bespoke regionally-focused offerings.

The impact of the agreement on the Malaysian market is expected to be significant, with the potential to attract more foreign investment and increase the competitiveness of Bursa Malaysia. With over 1,130 listed companies, ETFs, and real estate investment trusts, Bursa Malaysia is well-placed to benefit from the expanded mutual recognition framework. The agreement is also expected to increase the attractiveness of Malaysia as a destination for foreign investment, particularly from Hong Kong and other Asian markets. According to SFC chairman Kelvin Wong, the markets of Hong Kong and Malaysia are "well-placed to complement each other as financial gateways connecting global capital respectively with the Chinese Mainland and Southeast Asia".

The agreement is also expected to have a positive impact on specific sectors and companies in Malaysia. For example, companies listed on Bursa Malaysia may benefit from increased access to investors in Hong Kong, while Hong Kong-listed companies may benefit from increased access to investors in Malaysia. The expanded mutual recognition framework is also expected to increase the range of investment products available to investors in both markets, including ETFs and real estate investment trusts. The memorandum of understanding signed between Malaysia's Audit Oversight Board and the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Hong Kong is expected to facilitate cooperation on audit oversight, financial reporting compliance, and information sharing in relation to cross-border regulations, further strengthening investor protection and confidence in both markets.

Looking ahead, the agreement is expected to have a positive outlook for both Malaysia and Hong Kong. The expanded mutual recognition framework and the easing of dual listings rules are expected to increase investment flows between the two markets, promoting greater market integration and cooperation. According to Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi, the SC hopes that market players will leverage the arrangement to introduce more bespoke regionally-focused offerings, further increasing the attractiveness of both markets to international investors. With the agreement set to come into effect in September, companies and investors in both Malaysia and Hong Kong are expected to benefit from the increased access to investment opportunities and the expanded range of investment products available. Details on the implementation of the agreement and its impact on specific companies and sectors will be closely watched in the coming months.

Related: Bursa Malaysia · Hong Kong