The Democratic party has renewed calls for the stock exchange to become a public body following the acquittal of former vice-chairman and current exchange council member Chen Po-sum on bribery charges.
Democratic legislator Sin Chung-kai told a Legislative Council financial affairs panel meeting that if the exchange were a public body, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) could monitor the behaviour of members.
Mrs Chen was acquitted last month of eight bribery charges relating to the sale of exchange seats. She received two commissions totalling $1.6 million for the sale, but did not report this to fellow council members.
She was also convenor of the membership committee at the time, leading some prominent exchange members to argue she had a conflict of interest.
If the exchange were turned into a public body, bribery charges would be treated under a different section of the bribery ordinance. Exchange council members and staff would become civil servants, which would place them under more onerous reporting restrictions regarding the receipt of commissions.
'The stock exchange is a private company but it is carrying out a public duty in providing trading facilities for the public to invest in listed companies,' Mr Sin said.