China securities regulator breaks with tradition to attend Hong Kong delegates’ meeting

In an unprecedented move, Liu Shiyu, the new chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), on Tuesday attended the Hong Kong delegates’ discussion at the “Two Sessions”, the country’s top two annual political meetings.

His attendance gains significance as it comes amid the continuing volatilities that have come to mark the Chinese stock markets of late.

Liu did not make a clear statement on the long-awaited Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect scheme during the meeting, only saying the stock markets in Hong Kong and Shenzhen were “sister flowers”.

But Maria Tam Wai-chu, head of the Hong Kong delegation, refused to divulge what Liu said at the meeting.

Fellow delegate David Wong Yau-kar noted Liu’s difference of style from most other mainland officials.

“Mainland officials usually summarise the main points after all delegates speak, but Liu asked questions on matters raised by delegates,” he said.