More than one million application forms - or almost one for every seven people in Hong Kong - are expected to be snapped up for shares in Growth Enterprise Market listing candidate Tom.com before the public offer closes tomorrow.
Hundreds of investors continued to queue yesterday at banks for some of the 42.8 million shares being offered to the public by the Internet content provider.
An HSBC spokesman said the bank had distributed 800,000 forms since last Friday through 10 branches, while a further 400,000 forms would be ready for distribution today.
Francis Leung Pak-to, vice-chairman of BNP Prime Peregrine, the offering's sponsor, said Tom.com had printed 1.5 million application forms and this would be sufficient.
Given the large volume of applications, Tom.com and BNP Prime Peregrine were in talks about how to settle the applications when the offer closes, according to sources.
Banks might hire temporary staff to handle the settlement, one source said.
Tom.com, 57 per cent owned by Cheung Kong (Holdings) and Hutchison Whampoa, plans to sell 428 million new shares, of which 10 per cent are for the public.