At a glance
- Companies must meet the framework's requirements before receiving the designation.
- Companies that clear the HKEX Green Equity Framework may use the mark only while maintaining ongoing compliance and passing annual reassessments.
- Assessment is carried out by Recognised Reviewers, who evaluate how far a company's activities contribute to the green economy.
HKEX opened applications on 20 October 2026 for HKEX Green Equity, a voluntary designation for Hong Kong-listed companies with significant green business activities, ESG News reported. Companies must meet the framework's requirements before receiving the designation.
Companies that clear the HKEX Green Equity Framework may use the mark only while maintaining ongoing compliance and passing annual reassessments. Continued use is conditional on passing assessment again, making the designation renewable rather than a one-time award.
Assessment is carried out by Recognised Reviewers, who evaluate how far a company's activities contribute to the green economy. HKEX has published its approved reviewer list on a dedicated Green Equity webpage, giving issuers a named set of assessors. The report did not include application costs, assessment timelines or any initial applicants, according to ESG News.
How HKEX positions Green Equity
HKEX presents the designation as a way to promote the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance and make qualifying green businesses more visible to investors globally. Paul Chow, HKEX Group General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer, said the label “will help strengthen visibility for qualifying companies, support informed investment decisions and further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a leading international sustainable finance hub.”
The designation sits inside a wider HKEX low-carbon offering that already spans climate disclosures and Core Climate products, including carbon credits and Green Electricity Certificates.
As this publication reported on 21 October, eligibility also includes a 50% revenue test and requires fossil fuel revenue and investment below 5%.
The EU’s Transition category, as this publication reported in September, is aimed at retail products and optional for institutions; HKEX Green Equity is held by the issuer and pointed at investors screening listed equities. Both are opt-in labels, and neither replaces a disclosure obligation.
Reported by the Policy & Disclosure desk from ESG News. Published . Corrections