The Court of First Instance of Hong Kong has granted the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) a worldwide interim injunction order in legal proceedings against Mr Chan Ching Wa, a former staff of the Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited (HKEX), and his extended relatives, Mr Lam Cho Man and Mr Chau Chi Kwong, for alleged insider dealing in the shares of at least seven Hong Kong-listed companies.

In parallel, the SFC has commenced first-of-its-kind proceedings in England and Wales and obtained an interim injunction order from the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (UK Order) to freeze the assets of Chan and Chau in England and Wales. The UK Order obtained by the SFC would ensure that there are assets left to meet any future reliefs granted by the Court as the three suspects have left Hong Kong and transferred their assets outside of Hong Kong.

The SFC alleges that between 3 June 2020 and 5 March 2025, Chan gained access to confidential and price-sensitive information about various Hong Kong-listed companies prior to their public announcements during his tenure as an Assistant Vice President of the Listing Division of HKEX. Chan allegedly used the information to trade shares of Hong Kong-listed companies through securities accounts held by Lam by procuring him to trade the shares on his behalf and/or counselling him to trade them.

Lam also allegedly disclosed to Chau inside information that Chan passed onto him, and Chau subsequently traded the relevant shares.

The HK Order and the UK Order prohibit the three suspects from disposing of or diminishing the value of their assets in Hong Kong and overseas (including England and Wales), up to the total values of HK$3,709,566 for Chan and Lam and HK$604,545 for Chau.

The Orders will remain in force until the next scheduled hearings on 27 February 2026 regarding the HK Order and 6 March 2026 regarding the UK Order.