Hong Kong Securities Institute (HKSI)

The Hong Kong Securities Institute (HKSI) was officially formed in December 1997 as a professional body to raise the standards of securities and finance practitioners in Hong Kong. In setting standards for professional excellence in Hong Kong, the HKSI offers a platform where individuals can gain the skills, and achieve the necessary professionalism and personal competence as they proceed towards further career advancement.

The HKSI provides continuous professional development by offering comprehensive examinations and an extensive programme of training courses and events. Finance professionals can also benefit from HKSI membership programme which provides invaluable support and professional recognition from industry peers as well as substantial discounts on a variety of HKSI programmes.

The establishment of the HKSI helped Hong Kong enter the ranks of world class financial centers. Since its establishment in 1997, the HKSI has striven hard to uphold our objectives and missions through a number of groundbreaking achievements.

Practical, Market Focused Programmes

All of HKSI's professional training, events and examinations programmes are developed hand in hand with high profile market practitioners. Managing Directors, CEO's and Chairmen of major STOCK broking houses, investment banks, fund managers and insurance organisations serve on HKSI Committees guiding the direction of our service offering. This guiding hand of industry leaders helps to ensure that all of our courses, seminars, examinations and events are practical and market focused.

HKSI Mainland China Activities

With the introduction of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) in January 2004, the links between the financial market communities in Hong Kong and Mainland China have become closer. Recognising the importance of this continuing trend to our members, the HKSI has expanded its service offering into the Mainland China market, with the introduction of Mainland China training programs and examinations to be held throughout 2005.

The HKSI views the CEPA and the subsequent mutual recognition of qualifications of securities and futures practitioners by both the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and China Securities Regulatory Commission as a significant step forward in the development of closer co-operation between the Hong Kong and Mainland China financial services industries. Seeing the demand of Mainland practitioners well-versed in the rules and regulations governing Hong Kong and international markets, the HKSI opened a representative office in Shenzhen in May 2008. The mission of the Mainland office is to establish the necessary grounding for fruitful exchanges between Mainland and Hong Kong professionals by providing a direct means for interest individuals to gain a better understanding of the Hong Kong securities market and access information on various professional examinations and trainings.

HKSI Professional Examinations

The Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries (LE) offered by the HKSI has been approved by the SFC as the Recognised Industry Qualifications and Local Regulatory Framework Papers for meeting its competence requirements and is therefore the benchmark qualification for market practitioners. This practical, market focused examination covers a series of examinations across different regulated activities. Market participants are advised to check with the SFC regarding the specific examinations required for the issuance of a licence in each designated regulated activity.

Professionals such as those working in the areas of dealing in securities are required by the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) to be licensed and therefore need to gain LE qualification for practices in regulated activities. The SFO established a single licensing regime with 9 types of regulated activities (RAs). The regulated activities include:

The LE has 10 examination papers which focus on regulatory and technical matters.

The HKSI will award certificates to candidates who have successfully completed a preset combination of examination papers within 3 years.

The HKSI also offers job specific examination qualifications. For those practitioners looking to be involved in the Mandatory Provident Fund industry, the HKSI offers the MPF Intermediaries Examination (MPF).

To help practitioners fulfill their life long learning goals and licensing requirements, the HKSI offers an advanced level comprehensive industry examination, the Professional Diploma in Financial Markets (PDFM). The PDFM offers students a high degree of flexibility, allowing them to pursue the programme at their own pace and by their preferred mode of study.

For those candidates interested in developing international qualifications in Hong Kong, the HKSI is now able to offer the CIIA Final Examination.

External links

• Official Website
• HKSI LE Structure