How to choose Hong Kong stock brokers? In-depth comparison of the five major securities firms and account opening guide

Looking to enter the Hong Kong stock market but unsure which broker to choose? There are many Hong Kong securities firms on the market, with significant differences in trading costs, platform features, and account opening thresholds. A wrong step could greatly reduce your investment returns. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the five major Hong Kong brokers based on the actual needs of Taiwanese investors, helping you quickly find the most suitable trading platform.

The Three Core Considerations When Choosing a Hong Kong Broker

Before comparing each broker in detail, it’s important to understand the cost structure of investing in Hong Kong stocks. Layered costs such as trading commissions, platform usage fees, financing interest, and dividend collection fees ultimately determine your actual yield. Additionally, factors like account opening difficulty, deposit thresholds, and platform usability directly impact your investment experience.

Different investment styles have different broker requirements—beginners need simple, user-friendly interfaces and ample educational resources; advanced investors seek diverse trading instruments and in-depth research tools; low-frequency traders care about transaction fees, while high-frequency traders prioritize execution efficiency.

Overview Comparison of the Five Major Hong Kong Brokers

1. ChangQiao Securities: A New Broker with Strong Social Features

Basic Fee Structure

• Trading Commission: 0.03%, minimum HKD 3
• Platform Usage Fee: HKD 15
• Financing Annual Interest Rate: 6.5%
• Dividend Collection Fee: 0.2%, minimum HKD 30
• First Deposit: HKD 11,000 (bonus for HKD 40,000 deposit)

Core Features

ChangQiao Securities is backed by Singapore and led by a team from tech giants, integrating a “social” element into its platform architecture. Users can watch investment live streams, interact with other traders, and refer to others’ portfolios via the “Stock List” feature—similar to sharing music playlists—significantly lowering the learning curve for beginners.

The platform emphasizes data presentation clarity, transforming complex financial indicators into visual charts. Ratings, valuation analyses, and other information are streamlined, enabling beginners without professional backgrounds to get started quickly.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages include strong social features that help beginners quickly integrate into the investment community; relatively low fees with competitive positioning among peers; and friendly deposit bonus mechanisms.

Disadvantages are the limited product range, mainly focusing on Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, and ETFs, with limited support for derivatives like options, which may not meet the needs of more advanced traders.

2. Interactive Brokers (IB): A One-Stop Global Investment Platform

Basic Fee Structure

• Trading Commission: 0.08%, minimum HKD 18
• Platform Usage Fee: HKD 10
• Financing Annual Interest Rate: 5.0%
• Dividend Collection Fee: Free
• First Deposit: USD 10,000
• Account Management Fee: HKD 10/month if funds below USD 100,000 or monthly trading commissions under USD 10

Core Features

Interactive Brokers is the largest online broker in the US, rated investment-grade by S&P, and recognized industry-wide for years. Its biggest advantage is global coverage—over 150 markets, stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, and more, in over 200 countries and regions, making it a true one-stop global investment platform.

Built-in analysis tools are extensive, including fundamental explorers, event calendars, portfolio analysis, and third-party research reports, enabling deep quantitative analysis and investment decision-making.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages include: the broadest product range, lowest financing rates, full dividend exemption from collection fees, top-tier execution efficiency, and powerful analysis tools.

Disadvantages are: a relatively traditional and complex interface, average stock screener experience, some real-time quotes require paid subscriptions, low-activity accounts incur monthly fees, and the deposit threshold is relatively high.

3. Huasheng Securities: Flexible Choice Breaking Regional Limits

Basic Fee Structure

• Trading Commission: 0.03%, minimum HKD 3
• Platform Usage Fee: HKD 15
• Financing Annual Interest Rate: 6.8%
• Dividend Collection Fee: 0.5%, minimum HKD 30
• First Deposit: HKD 10,000
• No Hong Kong bank card needed

Core Features

As a platform under Sina Group, Huasheng Securities integrates financial news, analysis columns, and resources within the group. Users can get real-time market updates via the “Huasheng Tong” app, comparable to professional financial media, with KOL live interaction features.

Its key advantage is no need for a Hong Kong bank card to open an account, highly attractive to many Taiwanese investors without Hong Kong or Macau accounts. The platform supports one-stop investing in Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, A-shares, ETFs, IPOs, funds, warrants, and leveraged products, with margin financing also available.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages include: simplified account opening without Hong Kong bank cards; intuitive chart features; free real-time quotes; Cantonese tutorials friendly to Taiwanese investors; rich financial information.

Disadvantages are: server stability needs improvement; news push notifications sometimes lack objectivity; platform mainly in simplified Chinese, which may cause some comprehension issues.

4. WeBull Securities: The Ultimate Cost-Control Solution

Basic Fee Structure

• Trading Commission: 0.02%, minimum HKD 2 (no commission during free trading periods)
• Platform Usage Fee: HKD 10
• Financing Annual Interest Rate: 1.5%-6.8% (floating)
• Dividend Collection Fee: 0.2%, minimum HKD 30
• First Deposit: HKD 10,000 / RMB 10,000 / USD 1,300
• Hong Kong bank card required

Core Features

WeBull, headquartered on Wall Street, is backed by Changsha Fumi Technology, known for its “low-cost” policy. Regular promotions include zero commissions, platform fees, and membership fees for US and Hong Kong stocks, making it highly cost-effective. Its financing rates are flexible, depending on circumstances.

Particularly recommended is the “Mutual Fund” feature, allowing commission-free mutual fund trading with management fees deducted directly from net asset value, greatly reducing additional fund costs.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages: industry-low fees, favorable financing rates, frequent zero-cost promotions, friendly fund trading fee structure, ideal for cost-sensitive investors.

Disadvantages: incomplete product lineup lacking bonds and forex tools; weaker portfolio analysis features; customers must self-custody funds due to independent clearing rights, which may pose additional risks for some investors.

5. Futu Securities: Leader in Mobile Experience

Basic Fee Structure

• Trading Commission: 0.03%, minimum HKD 3 (no commission during free trading periods)
• Platform Usage Fee: HKD 15
• Financing Annual Interest Rate: 6.8%
• Dividend Collection Fee: 0.2%, minimum HKD 30
• First Deposit: HKD 10,000
• Hong Kong bank card required

Core Features

Futu Securities is invested by Tencent and listed on NASDAQ since 2019, holding licenses in the US and Hong Kong. The platform emphasizes “user experience,” with sleek, easy-to-use mobile and software interfaces, making it the top choice for mobile investors.

It features the most comprehensive charting and stock selection tools, comparable to professional chart platforms; supports Hong Kong IPO subscriptions, US IPO subscriptions, and other special functions; active community ecosystem with rich user interactions. Trading covers US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, A-shares, and funds, meeting most investor needs.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages include: best mobile experience, powerful charting and stock selection tools, active social features, complete IPO channels, diverse product options.

Disadvantages are: cannot fund via credit card, no futures or CFD trading, relatively high financing rates, and analysis tools not as deep as IB.

Broker Cost Panorama: How Big Is the Difference in Fees?

Considering a single HKD 10,000 transaction in Hong Kong stocks:

From a pure cost perspective, WeBull is the lowest, IB has the cheapest financing. But these are superficial differences—actual investment costs depend on trading frequency, holding costs, and investment instruments.

Account Opening Process and Practical Considerations

Investors with Hong Kong bank cards

Open accounts online, usually completed within 1-3 working days, most brokers support this, including ChangQiao, IB, WeBull, and Futu.

Investors without Hong Kong bank cards

Options include:

1. Visit Hong Kong in person—most direct but highest cost
2. Mail application—requires ID, passport, recent address proof, bank statements, some brokers require notarization by lawyer or accountant
3. Choose Huasheng Securities—no Hong Kong card needed, most flexible option currently

Minimum deposit amounts vary greatly; inquire beforehand to avoid issues later.

Three Advanced Paths for Hong Kong Stock Investment

Path 1: Direct Hong Kong Stock Account (Lowest Cost)

Advantages: significantly lower trading costs, rich derivatives options (like options), Hong Kong stock gains and dividends are tax-free in Hong Kong and have no estate tax.

Disadvantages: complex overseas account setup and asset management, cross-border remittance costs, and difficulty in contact if issues arise.

Path 2: Via Taiwanese Broker for Sub-Agency (Most Convenient)

Taiwanese brokers open Hong Kong accounts on your behalf and assist with trading, no need for overseas remittance, local communication.

Disadvantages: higher costs, limited eligible stocks (may exclude some Chinese state-owned enterprises), trading options constrained by domestic regulations.

Path 3: Stock CFDs (Most Flexible)

Use derivatives for short-term trading, short selling, hedging—most flexible strategies. No need to hold actual stocks, but risks and leverage are higher.

How Should You Choose?

Beginner Investors: Recommended to prioritize ChangQiao or Huasheng—ChangQiao for its social features, Huasheng for no Hong Kong card requirement—both with friendly fees.

Advanced Investors Seeking Global Allocation: IB is the only choice, despite a steep learning curve, its features and execution are unmatched.

Cost-Sensitive Investors: WeBull offers the lowest fees but with a more limited product range.

Mobile Investors: Futu leads in mobile experience.

Ultimately, your choice should consider your investment style, capital size, trading frequency, and location. There is no absolute “best”—only the most suitable personal solution.