Complete Guide to Hong Kong Stock Trading: From Rules to Practice, Full Process of Buying Hong Kong Stocks

Hong Kong Stock Market Fundamentals

As an international financial center, Hong Kong’s securities market holds a pivotal position. As of May 2025, there are over 2,620 companies listed on the HKEX, with a total market capitalization of HKD 38 trillion. Well-known companies such as Tencent, Alibaba, and BYD are all listed on the Hong Kong stock market, making these stocks a top choice for many investors allocating assets in Hong Kong stocks.

So, where can you buy Hong Kong stocks? First, it’s essential to understand the core mechanisms of trading Hong Kong stocks.

Detailed Explanation of Hong Kong Stock Trading Mechanisms

Trading Hours Schedule

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) trading is divided into three sessions:

• Opening Auction: 9:00-9:30 AM
• Continuous Trading: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Closing Auction: 4:00-4:10 PM

Buy and sell rules vary across these periods, so investors need to adjust their strategies flexibly according to the trading session.

Core Trading System

Hong Kong stocks adopt a T+0 trading model, which is the biggest difference from A-shares. Stocks bought on the same day can be sold on the same day, with no limit on the number of transactions. The settlement cycle is T+2, meaning funds from sales on Monday can be withdrawn by Wednesday.

It’s worth noting that Hong Kong stocks have no daily price limit, but there are market volatility control mechanisms for the Hang Seng Index and constituent stocks of the State-owned Enterprise Index. If a stock’s price rises or falls more than 10% within 5 minutes, a “cooling-off period” is triggered, restricting trading price ranges.

Trading Units and Rules

The minimum trading unit for Hong Kong stocks is 1 lot, but the number of shares per lot is set by the listed company. For example, Tencent (00700) has 1 lot of 100 shares, while Jingshi Capital Group (01160) has 1 lot of 100,000 shares.

Additionally, Hong Kong stocks support margin trading and short selling. About 1,000 stocks in the designated securities list of HKEX can be sold short, providing trading opportunities regardless of market direction.

Three Ways to Purchase Hong Kong Stocks

Investing in Hong Kong stocks can be approached through multiple channels, allowing investors to choose based on their risk preferences.

Method 1: Direct Purchase of Individual Stocks

Investing in individual stocks is the most straightforward. Stock codes starting with 0 are five-digit numbers. There are approximately 2,626 stocks listed on the Hong Kong market, divided into Main Board and Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). GEM stocks typically have codes starting with “08.”

According to HKEX data, there are 2,307 companies on the Main Board and 319 on GEM. Main Board companies tend to have more mature business operations and financials, while GEM companies generally have weaker overall market value and profitability. Beginners are advised to start with blue-chip stocks on the Main Board.

Where can you buy Hong Kong stocks? You can open an account with Hong Kong stock brokers such as Futu Securities, Tiger Brokers, Huasheng Securities, and other well-known brokers. Note that most Hong Kong brokers settle in HKD or USD, which involves exchange rate risk.

Method 2: Index and ETF Investment

For investors with limited risk tolerance, index investing is a safer choice. The main Hong Kong stock indices include:

• Hang Seng Index (HSI): The most representative indicator of Hong Kong stocks, comprising the largest and most actively traded Main Board companies
• Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI): Focuses on Chinese enterprises
• Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTECH): Focuses on the technology sector

As of March 2025, the Hang Seng Index includes 83 constituent stocks with a total market value of HKD 27 trillion, accounting for approximately 67.92% of the total Hong Kong stock market value.

Investing in indices is mainly done through ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) trading, which is more convenient than index futures (with a minimum threshold of HKD 50,000). ETFs can be traded like stocks, with products such as the Tracker Fund (02800), HSBC Hang Seng Index ETF (03115), etc. ETF trading can be directly executed on broker platforms.

Method 3: Contracts for Difference (CFD)

For short-term traders seeking flexible trading, CFDs are a new option. CFDs are derivative contracts that track stock prices, with the following features:

• Low threshold: No account opening minimum, supports long and short positions
• High leverage: Individual stocks leverage of 1-30x, indices up to 200x, far exceeding traditional brokers’ 2-4x leverage
• Low fees: No commission, only spreads and overnight financing costs

For example, buying Tencent via traditional brokers requires HKD 35,000, whereas with CFDs, a position can be established for less than $5 USD, greatly lowering entry barriers. However, leverage amplifies both gains and losses, so caution is advised.

Where to trade Hong Kong stock CFDs? You can choose reputable platforms regulated by top-tier global authorities, such as brokers regulated by ASIC in Australia. These platforms typically offer mobile apps and web trading tools, and support demo accounts for practice.

Selected Hong Kong Blue-Chip Stocks

When investing in Hong Kong stocks, focus on large-scale, stable blue-chip companies:

Practical Steps to Open a Hong Kong Stock Account

To trade in the Hong Kong stock market, you need to complete the account opening process:

Step 1: Choose a broker and register

Select a reputable Hong Kong stock broker and complete the registration. Most platforms automatically generate a demo account after registration for trading practice and strategy testing.

Step 2: Deposit funds

Before real trading, deposit funds. Main deposit methods include bank transfer, wire transfer, etc. New users often prefer using Visa/Mastercard for better rates.

Step 3: Search for trading instruments

Use the platform’s search bar to input stock name or code for quick access. For example, search “Tencent” or “0700” to locate Tencent stock directly.

Step 4: Set orders and execute

On the trading page, set order parameters: choose buy or sell, specify quantity, set stop-loss and take-profit levels, and confirm the order.

Summary of Key Points for Buying Hong Kong Stocks

Hong Kong’s market features high internationalization and maturity, with three main investment methods: stocks, indices, and derivatives, catering to different needs. No matter which method you choose, the key is to select regulated platforms, understand trading rules, and develop risk management strategies to achieve steady profits in the Hong Kong stock market.