LLAW6244 & JDOC6244
General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6244 / JDOC6244 |
| Course name: | Securities Regulation II |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | Second |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | Successful completion of LLAW6049 Securities regulation I, or demonstrated knowledge of the securities industry consistent with the scope of Securities regulation I. |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
| Cap on student numbers: | 60 |
1.2 Course description
The course will build on and develop concepts and issues that were considered in Securities Regulation I. The primary aspects of regulation the course is concerned with are (a) recent developments in issue, (b) capital markets and investment products, (c) enforcement and case law, and (d) Hong Kong in the context of global activities. These topics overlap and so are not mutually exclusive.
Hong Kong borders are relatively transparent when it comes to the extent of international participation in Hong Kong markets. Many of the activities and transactions undertaken here have an international nexus. In this light, Hong Kong regulations will be put in the context of the network of the international regulatory effort. The laws and regulations studied in the first part of this course will be recast in light of the role of IOSCO together with a conversation as to the common objectives, functions and principles that underlie the regulatory approach internationally despite the different regulatory architectures that may implement them. Appreciating the interconnectedness of international regulatory approaches will be relevant to a fuller consideration of subsequent topics in the course.
Recent issues and developments in Hong Kong regulatory system will be looked at in some detail. A focus will be to develop a deeper understanding of the factors that have caused such developments including a consideration of the relevant international factors that must be taken in to account and why. Topics covered will include the operation of dark pools, high-frequency trading and the role of liquidity in the stock market and how these relatively new phenomena are to be understood in the context of the proper functioning of a stock market. A closer examination of certain parts of the Securities and Futures Ordinance will also be undertaken.
Specific attention will be had to the current state of regulation as regards the investment product and asset management industry. This will involve a detailed look at the regulatory matters that are of concern to fund managers as well as the matters that need to be considered when creating new investment products, including structured investment products, particularly those directed at the public.
A preliminary overview of derivatives and ISDA documentation will be given by way of an introduction to developing an understanding of the role of OTC derivatives in the marketplace, its connection with the global financial credit crisis, and the decision by G20 leaders to implement regulatory oversight of this market. Developments in Hong Kong as well as other important markets that are engaged in regulatory reform of this market will be reviewed.
A focus of the course will be on the rapidly developing body of caselaw in the Hong Kong courts arising out of the increased activity of the Securities and Futures Commission in bringing matters under the Securities and Futures Ordinance to trial. Regulatory enforcement cases will also be examined and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach will be explored.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Syren Johnstone | syrenj@hku.hk | CCT 513 | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Critically examine the regulatory response to issues of current importance
CLO 2 Understand the regulatory concerns and requirements as affect the asset management industry and the development of new investment products
CLO 3 Describe and explain the OTC derivatives market, its connection with the global financial marketplace, and regulatory responses to unregulated markets of significance
CLO 4 Understand the approach taken by the SFC in enforcement actions and its increasing role in the courts
CLO 5 Appreciate the relationship between developments in Hong Kong regulations and those occurring internationally
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | N/A | 10% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Coursework | 17 Apr 2023 | 25% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | |
| Take home exam | 8 May 2023 | 65% | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
^ Students are required to pass the exam to be eligible to pass the course.
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
To be advised by course convenor(s).
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Lecture: | 3 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted on Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/