An end to the marathon consultation on the controversial Securities and Futures Bill could be in sight as legislators and brokers reacted positively to the Government's presentation of the bill yesterday.
Secretary of Financial Services Stephen Ip Shu-kwan said: 'Of course, it would need to await legislators' vote for the bill to become law, but the market now generally supports the revised bill.
'This makes me feel it is possible it can be passed before Easter so that everyone who worked on the bill can have a good holiday.'
The Government began the bill's drafting process eight years ago.
The bill is to be gazetted on November 24 and be debated by the Legislative Council on November 29.
When passed into law, it will replace 10 existing securities and futures ordinances as well as add many new regulations.