Guide to Depositing Physical HK Share Certificates

Important Notes on Physical Share Certificates
· After the Uncertificated Securities Market (“USM”) is implemented on 16 November, your existing physical share certificates remain valid. You are not required to convert them into electronic form.
· Once shares have been converted into electronic form, they cannot be converted back into physical certificates, except in special circumstances such as the issuer’s delisting.
· Newly listed (IPO) securities are paperless from the date of listing. No physical share certificates are issued, so withdrawal of physical certificates does not apply to them.

Step 1. Provide the details of the physical stock certificates to be transferred via online customer service or the account manager.

1.1 Photo taking and uploading

Please take a photo of the front side of the physical stock certificate and upload the image to your account manager or online customer service, indicating your intention to transfer-in the relevant certificate.

1.2 Verification

After Longbridge verifies that the stock certificates can be transferred-in, your account manager or online customer service will provide feedback within 2 working days.

Note: Each certificate to be transferred-in must be photographed.

Step 2. Submit the supporting documents in person at the Hong Kong office.

2.1 Document signing

Please sign on the back of the original stock certificate under the [Signature(s) of transferor(s)] section.

If a transfer form is used, please sign on the back under the [Signature(s) of transferor(s)] section (within the red box as shown below). This signature will be used by the stock registrar to verify the Shareholder's information, so it must be consistent with the signature on file with the stock registrar. (Up to three styles of signatures are accepted here.)

Note: For corporate accounts, the company seal and signature are required. If no seal is available, please insert "FOR AND ON BEHALF OF [Shareholder's Name]" and sign.

A transfer form

2.2 On-site processing

Please personally deliver the signed physical stock certificates and transfer form (if applicable) to the office of Longbridge Securities. (Mailing is not accepted.)

Office address: Unit 3302, 33/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

 

FAQs

How long will it take to complete the stock transfer-in?

If the provided information and documents are correct, the transfer process is expected to be completed within 12 working days after Longbridge receives the physical stock certificates.

Note: The actual transfer time is subject to the processing time of the Central Clearing and Settlement System.

If the shares are USM participating securities, they can only be withdrawn electronically once the relevant share certificates have undergone mandatory dematerialisation.

Fees for Depositing Physical Share Certificates

  1. Stamp Duty
    For 1 to 10 physical share certificates deposited on the same day, only government stamp duty of HK$5 per certificate will be collected. For 11 or more certificates deposited on the same day, a handling fee of HK$5 per certificate will be charged in addition to the government stamp duty.
    Note: If you use an instrument of transfer, stamp duty is charged only once. Stamp duty already collected will not be refunded if the deposit is unsuccessful.
  2. Transaction-based Dematerialisation Fee
    If the deposited physical share certificates require mandatory dematerialisation, a fee of HK$5 per certificate will be charged, with a minimum charge of HK$20 per transaction.
    This fee will not be charged if the shares are not participating securities and therefore do not require mandatory dematerialisation.
  3. Transfer and Registration Fee
    0.02% of the value of the securities to be transferred, with a minimum charge of HK$20 per transaction.

Deposit Process for Electronic HK Share Certificates (for clients who hold electronic share certificates and a USI account in their own name with the relevant share registrar)

  1. Submit a transfer-in request in the Longbridge app, providing the stock code, deposit quantity, your USI number, and the holder’s name exactly as recorded with the share registrar.
  2. Once Longbridge has verified all the information, we will submit a USI transfer-in instruction to HKSCC (Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company) and settle the transfer.
  3. The share registrar will ask you to confirm the transfer. Please confirm as soon as you receive the notice from the share registrar, otherwise the transfer cannot be completed.
    Note: Transfers of electronic share certificates only apply where there is no change in beneficial ownership (NCBO).

 

Notes:

  1. Currently, Longbridge only supports the transfer-in of physical stock certificates for HK stocks. Please note that the name of the shareholder must be consistent with the name under the Longbridge account when handling the stock transfer-in.
  2. For the transfer-in of jumbo certificates, clients are required to provide transaction records (e.g., statements) of the relevant stocks for the past six months and the physical stock withdrawal slips.