UNLESS Hong Kong fund managers are allowed much wider scope in their investments, they are going to be prevented from providing the best service to the trustees and beneficiaries of funds.
The man who appears to be saying it is time to throw away the industry rule book is Bryce McDonnell at HSBC Asset Management.
Mr McDonnell, head director of HSBC Asset Management's global tactical asset allocation unit, also argues that trustees need to be allowed to fully use derivatives in managing retirement scheme mandates in a review of trustee powers.
Mr McDonnell says unless they are allowed to do so, under the financial services branch working party review of the Trustee Ordinance, local trustees will not be able to effectively manage retirement money in financial markets which are growing in sophistication.
Fund management convention has it that fund managers ought to manage other people's money with the long-term view in mind.
They ought to keep activity in their portfolios down to allow the long-term benefits of their investment strategy to come through without the hindrance of transaction costs.