Hong Kong’s stock exchange is considering an extension of equity trading hours to align with most global markets, including a proposal to eliminate the lunch break, according to people familiar with the matter. 

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing relayed plans in recent weeks to major brokers and trading firms, the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. 

In one of the options, the bourse proposed to start equities trading 30 minutes earlier at 9am, and scrap the one-hour lunch break that starts at noon, the people said. 

Hong Kong is home to one of the few major exchanges that still keep a lunch hour, alongside China and Tokyo. Trading schedules have long been a contentious issue for the financial hub’s more than 500 brokerages, with moves to extend trading hours sparking protests in 2012.

HKEX is also mulling an after-hour session to catch early US activity, potentially between 8pm and midnight, the people said. It will keep the market-close at 4pm to allow for clearing and settlement, they added.

The evening slot, if installed, will be limited to a handful of larger stocks, which draw more investor interest, some of the people said. The Hong Kong exchange wants to drive home trading volume of firms that also have American depository receipts, some of the people said. 

Another issue is whether China will join the extended hours for the more than 600 eligible stocks for the Southbound Stock Connect, two of the people said. 

About 23 per cent of Hong Kong’s equity market turnover as at 2025 was generated through southbound Stock Connect, which allows mainland investors to trade Hong Kong stocks. 

Based on preliminary feedback, some market participants are sceptical about the evening session, as trading costs remain high in Hong Kong. Investors are likely to prefer hedging with US-listed options, some of the people added.

The exchange is still evaluating several proposals, which remain subject to change, the people ...