Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing's new trading hall will feature a traditional circular layout if brokers get their way but they want its glass-wall, 'fish tank' design modified to protect their privacy, sources say.
The HKEx received 33 submissions from brokerages on three options for the new look. An oval-shaped hall covered by a metallic canopy was given the thumbs-down as too noisy and a rectangular design was criticised as being like a classroom.
'It shows most brokers want to keep the traditional style,' the source said.
Under a revamp plan, when a 20-year lease expires in October, the trading hall will be cut from 900 seats to 300 to make room for a museum and a viewing gallery.
'Many submissions don't like the canopy design as they fear it will be a noisy hall and few opt for the rectangular one as they think it looks like a classroom and will make it difficult for brokers to talk to each other,' the source said.
However, the circular-hall model was not universally accepted with many complaining its glass walls allowing visitors to watch traders invaded their privacy.