繁體中文 | 简体中文

Terms and Conditions for Securities Services

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SECURITIES SERVICES

Client Terms

LEGAL NOTICE

CLIENT TERMS

DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY POLICY

 

 

Terms and Conditions for Securities Services

Important: Please read these terms and conditions carefully.

These terms and conditions set out the rights and obligations of you, the Customer, and us, the Bank, in connection with your use of the Securities Services. All these terms are legally binding, so please read them through carefully before you agree to be bound by them.

Securities Services Risk Disclosure Statement

The stock market is a rapidly changing market and there is an inherent risk in incurring loss in shares dealing.

Every transaction concluded through and required by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("the Exchange") is subject to a transaction levy or other levies from time to time imposed by the Exchange. Every Broker is authorised to collect the appropriate transaction levy or other levies in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Exchange from time to time. A copy of the latest rule on this aspect is available from the Exchange on payment of the prescribed charges.

All transactions duly concluded through and recognized by the Exchange are governed by the Rules of the Exchange relating to trading and settlement in particular and shall be binding on both Broker and the Customer. A copy of the latest rules on these aspects is available from the Exchange on payment to the Exchange.

The prices of Securities fluctuate, sometimes dramatically. The price of a Security may move up or down, and may become valueless. It is as likely that losses will be incurred rather than profit made as a result of buying and selling or otherwise dealing in Securities.

Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) stocks involve a high investment risk. In particular, companies may list on GEM with neither a track record of profitability nor any obligation to forecast future profitability. GEM stocks may be very volatile and illiquid.

Customer should make the decision to invest only after due and careful consideration. The greater risk profile and other characteristics of GEM mean that it is a market more suited to professional and other sophisticated investors.

Current information of GEM stocks may only be found on the Internet website operated by the Exchange. GEM companies are usually not required to issue paid announcements in gazetted newspapers.

Customer should seek independent professional advice if Customer is uncertain of or has not understood any aspect of this risk disclosure statement or the nature and risks involved in trading of GEM stocks.

The Securities under the Nasdaq-Amex Pilot Program (PP) are aimed at sophisticated investors. Customer should consult his/her dealer and becomes familiarised with the PP before trading in the PP Securities. Customer should be aware that the PP Securities are not regulated as a primary or secondary listing on the Main Board or the GEM of the Exchange.

Where Securities are received or held overseas, the Customer acknowledges that such Securities may not enjoy the same protection as that conferred under the Securities and Futures Ordinance and the Securities and Futures (Client Securities) Rules.

In leaving the Securities in the custody of another person, Customer may be exposed to the credit risk of that person.

1. Interpretation
  1.1 In the event of any conflict or discrepancy between these terms and conditions and (a) the terms of any other agreement subsisting from time to time between the Bank and the Customer or (b) the terms of any agreement between such Customer and any other Bank Affiliate in respect of dealings in Securities, these terms and conditions shall prevail. For the avoidance of doubt, the Terms and Conditions for Tele-electronic Banking Service shall apply in relation to the giving of instructions by telephone or via the Internet.
  1.2 In these terms and conditions,
"Account" means the Securities Account and/or, as the case may be, the Settlement Account;
"Application" means the application form signed by the Customer in respect of the Securities Services;
"Bank" means Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited which is registered for Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities), Type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance with CE number AJI614 and its successors and assigns;
"Bank Affiliate" means any subsidiary of the Bank and any holding company thereof and any subsidiary of any such holding company;
"Broker" means such broker or brokers as may be appointed from time to time by the Bank to provide broking services in relation to the Securities Services;
"Business Day" means any day (excluding Saturday and Sunday) on which the Bank is open for the transaction of business in Hong Kong;
"Charge" means the charge created by clause 22;
"CCASS" means Central Clearing and Settlement System operated by HKSCC;
"Charged Securities" means all Securities which are now or shall come into the possession, custody or control of the Bank or, where appropriate in the custody of the Nominee, from time to time and for any purpose whatsoever which shall include any additional or substituted Securities and all dividends or interest paid or payable, rights, interests, monies or property accruing or offered at any time by way of redemption, bonus, preference, option or otherwise on or in respect of such Securities or additional substituted Securities;
"Communication" means any notice, statement, request, demand for payment, approval, consent or other communication to be given by the Bank to the Customer or by the Customer to the Bank;
"Customer" means any customer, being an individual in his personal capacity, signing, and named in, the Application and who has applied to the Bank to subscribe to the Securities Services and in whose name the Securities Account and the Settlement Account are maintained; where the Securities Services are to be jointly subscribed by, and the Securities Account and the Settlement Account are in the joint name of, two or more persons, then unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, "Customer" shall mean all of such individuals collectively;
"Customer Company" means any company in respect of which the Customer directly or indirectly:
(a) owns not less than fifty per cent (50%) of the issued share capital; or
(b) controls not less than fifty per cent (50%) of the voting rights attaching to the issued share capital;
"Dealing System" means any automated dealing system which the Bank may (but without obligation) from time to time provide for the purposes of the Securities Services;
"Exchange" means The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;
"HKSCC" means the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited;
"Holding company" and "subsidiary" have the meanings ascribed thereto in Section 2 of the Companies Ordinance;
"Hong Kong" means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China;
"Hong Kong dollar" means the lawful currency for the time being of Hong Kong and "HKD" shall be construed accordingly;
"Liabilities" means all monies, liabilities and obligations of whatsoever nature whether actual or contingent which are now or at any time hereafter may be or become due, owing or incurred from or by the Customer or any Customer Company as primary or collateral obligations to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate and whether or not accrued in connection with the Securities Account, the Settlement Account or the Securities Services or for which the Customer or any Customer Company may be or become liable to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate on any account or in any manner whatsoever and in whatever currency (whether alone or jointly with any other person and in whatever name, style or firm) together with interest from the date of demand to the date of payment, legal costs and all other costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Bank or any Bank Affiliate (where the Customer consists of more than one person, then only monies, liabilities and obligations due, owing or incurred by those persons jointly);
"Nominees" means such entity or entities as may be appointed from time to time by the Bank to provide nominee services in respect of Securities acquired for the Customer;
"Securities" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include securities listed or traded on the Exchange or any stock exchange outside Hong Kong;
"Securities Account" means the account opened and maintained by the Customer with the Bank for the purposes of the Securities Services, and shall include such account as may from time to time be re-designated or re-numbered;
"Securities Depositary" means any securities depositary, settlement system, dematerialised book entry system or similar system, including, without limitation, CCASS;
"Securities Services" means the services provided by the Bank to the Customer of buying and selling Securities for the account of the Customer, on instructions given by the Customer to the Bank by telephone, facsimile or via the Internet, and all services related or incidental to such activity, in accordance with these terms and conditions;
"Settlement Account" means the bank account or accounts established and maintained by the Customer with the Bank which is designated by the Customer from time to time to hold funds intended for the settlement of transactions in the Securities Services and/or for the receipt of income, dividends and other payments (if any) in connection with any Securities and/or for the payment of any fees in connection with any Securities, or in the absence of any such designated account(s) subsisting at the relevant time for whatever reason, any other cash account(s) maintained by the Customer with the Bank, and shall include such account as may from time to time be re-designated or re-numbered;
"United States dollar" means the lawful currency for the time being of the United States of America and "USD" shall be construed accordingly;
"U.S. Person" includes any natural person who is a citizen of or resident in the United States; a corporation, partnership or other business organisation organised or incorporated under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, any estate or trust which is administered by an executor or trustee who is a U.S. person or the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; any account (other than any estate or trust held by a dealer or fiduciary for the benefit of a U.S. person) and any partnership or corporation organised and incorporated under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction which was formed by U.S. person principally for the purpose of investing in securities not registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. "U.S. Person" shall not include any branch or agency of a United States bank or insurance company that is operating outside the United States for valid business reasons as a locally regulated branch or agency engaged in the banking or insurance business and not formed primarily for the purpose of investing in securities not registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. For purposes of this definition, the "United States" includes the United States of America, its states, territories and possessions and the District of Columbia. The Bank reserves the right to amend this definition of "U.S. Person" by notice to the Customer as may be necessary to conform to applicable law and authoritative interpretation thereof.
  1.3 In these terms and conditions, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the word "person" includes any individual, company, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, sole proprietorship or other business entity;
(b) words denoting one gender shall include all other genders;
(c) words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;
(d) headings have been inserted for convenience of reference and shall not affect construction.
  1.4 In these terms and conditions reference to an Ordinance is to an Ordinance or law of Hong Kong and any subsidiary legislation related thereto as from time to time amended, codified or re-enacted.
  1.5 The Chinese translation of these terms and conditions is provided for convenience only and the English version shall prevail for all purposes.
     
2. Instructions
  2.1 The Customer hereby authorises the Bank to buy and sell Securities for the account of the Customer and otherwise deal with Securities, receivables or monies held in or for the Securities Account or monies held in or for the Settlement Account upon the instructions of the Customer as given in accordance with these terms and conditions.
  2.2 The Bank is hereby authorised (a) to act as the agent of the Customer relating to the purchase and sale of or other dealings in Securities as well as the registration, withdrawal or collection of Securities or distributions from Securities, or the exercise of any rights or claims arising from or relating to Securities including (without limitation) dividends, rights issues, conditional cash offers or other corporate actions and (b) to provide the Customer with information requested by the Customer from time to time on the prices of or other information relating to Securities. The Bank is not obliged to provide the Customer with any translation of any such information requested by the Customer or to ensure that such information is true and accurate. For the avoidance of doubt, and without prejudice to the generality of clause 23, the Bank will not provide the Customer with advisory services or otherwise advise the Customer in respect of the suitability of any Security for the purpose of the Customer's investment in Securities and the Customer shall rely on its own judgment and decision with respect to investment in Securities. The Bank shall have the absolute discretion to determine whether or not to accept any instructions as to any transactions in Securities given pursuant to these terms and conditions by the Customer. The Bank shall not be obliged to give any reason for any refusal to accept or delay in acting on such instructions, nor shall the Bank be held liable for the consequences of any such refusal or delay unless caused by the fraud, wilful default or negligence of the Bank. In particular (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the Bank may refuse to act, or delay in acting, on instructions for the sale of Securities if such Securities are not registered in the name of the Bank or a Nominee or documents of title relating to those Securities are not held by the Bank or a Nominee or where in the opinion of the Bank such instructions are contrary to any applicable laws, rules or regulations and the Bank shall be entitled with the Customer's consent to amend such instructions so that they comply with such laws, rules or regulations. In accepting instructions from the Customer, the Bank shall in all circumstances act as the Customer's agent and not as principal.
  2.3 Prior to giving instructions to sell any Securities, the Customer will advise the Bank of any legal restriction on the transfer of such Securities (including under the Securities Act of 1933 (U.S.)) and will provide the necessary documents to the Bank to satisfy legal transfer requirements. The Customer is responsible for any delays, expenses and losses associated with the compliance or failure to comply with any restrictions on the transfer of Securities.
  2.4 Where the Bank requires a response from the Customer within a specified time frame, the Customer acknowledges that failure to respond within such specified time frame may result in the Bank being unable to implement the Customer's instructions.
  2.5 If an order cannot be executed or wholly executed, the Bank shall be under no obligation to notify the Customer immediately. Accordingly, if the Customer requires immediate confirmation as to whether any transaction has been effected he should contact the Bank subsequently. Instructions to buy or sell Securities may be partially executed if the instructions cannot be fully executed. Orders to sell or purchase Securities will, to the extent not by then executed, lapse at the close of trading hours on each Business Day.
  2.6 Notwithstanding the terms of any other agreement or course of dealing between the Bank and the Customer, the Bank is requested and authorised, but is not obliged, to rely upon and act in accordance with any instruction, notice or other Communication which may from time to time, be, or purport to be, given by telephone, facsimile or via the Internet by the Customer (when applicable) without inquiry or verification on the part of the Bank as to the authority or identity of the person making or giving or purporting to make or give such instruction, notice or Communication and regardless of the circumstances prevailing at the time of such instruction, notice or Communication provided that the Bank reasonably believes such instruction, notice or Communication emanated from the Customer. The Bank shall not be liable for any losses suffered or incurred by the Customer as a result of the Bank acting upon the same.
  2.7 The Bank shall be entitled to treat an instruction, notice or Communication given as provided in clause 2.6 as fully authorised by and binding upon the Customer. The Bank shall be entitled (but not bound) to act on or take such steps in connection with or in reliance upon such instruction, notice or Communication as the Bank may in good faith consider appropriate, whether it be an instruction to acquire, purchase, sell, dispose of or otherwise deal with Securities or transfer Securities from the Securities Account or purports to bind the Customer to any agreement or other arrangement with the Bank or with any other person or to commit the Customer to any other type of transaction or arrangement whatsoever, regardless of the nature of the transaction or arrangement or the value, type and quantity of the Securities involved and notwithstanding any error or misunderstanding or lack of clarity in the terms of such instruction, notice or Communication.
  2.8 In the event that the Bank does not consider any communications to be genuine or to have been given by the Customer or on its behalf, the Bank may decline to act and the Customer hereby releases the Bank from any liability whatsoever or howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from or as a result of the Bank's inaction or omission.
  2.9 The Bank may record all telephone conversations with the Customer in order to verify the instruction or Communication of the Customer but it shall not be obliged to do so. The Bank may also maintain records of instructions or Communications received from the Customer via the Internet. In case of dispute, the Customer agrees to accept the contents of any such telephone recording or computer record as final and conclusive evidence of instructions or Communications from the Customer.
     
3. Appointment of Brokers, Nominees and Agents
  3.1 The Bank has express authority from the Customer to appoint Brokers, Nominees and other agents including custodians and sub-custodians and to terminate any such arrangements with said Brokers, Nominees and other agents and to appoint replacement Brokers, Nominees and/or other agents. The Bank shall use reasonable care in the selection and appointment of such Brokers, Nominees and/or other agents.
  3.2 The Customer agrees that the Bank shall have full power and authority to negotiate and agree for and on behalf of the Customer all arrangements in respect of brokerage, nominee or custodian services with Brokers, Nominee and/or custodians, or other agents and, in relation to any termination, appointment or replacement appointment, to instruct such Brokers, Nominees and/or custodians or other agents to make suitable arrangements in respect of the completion of transactions and transfer of securities including, without prejudice to the foregoing the transfer of securities into the name of a replacement Nominee.
     
4. Funding of Purchases: Restrictions on Withdrawals
  4.1 The Bank shall debit and make payments from the Settlement Account without further instructions from the Customer, and the Customer hereby authorises the Bank to debit the Settlement Account:
(a) with an amount (including the purchase price and all related accrued interests, fees, costs and expenses) required to be paid by the Customer pursuant to any transaction effected under these terms and conditions; and
(b) all taxes, fees, disbursements, charges and expenses properly payable by the Customer pursuant to these terms and conditions or in respect of the purchase, sale, holding or transfer of Securities or for such other dealings in Securities.
  4.2 It is a fundamental condition that the Customer shall ensure, and the Customer undertakes and warrants, that at all times there shall be available in the Settlement Account funds sufficient to satisfy all payments due in relation to any purchase of Securities instructions for which have been issued to the Bank hereunder, including the relevant purchase price together with the relevant stamp duties, relevant commissions and other charges payable or to be incurred in connection with such purchase. The Bank is authorised, at any time after receipt of such instruction, at its discretion to place a stop order to earmark such amount of the funds in the Settlement Account required to satisfy all amounts payable in relation to such purchase. In the event that the Settlement Account becomes overdrawn, the overdrawn amount will be considered a loan payable on demand, and shall be subject to a rate of interest customarily charged by the Bank for similar loans as determined by the Bank from time to time. If there is no or insufficient cash held in the Settlement Account in the currency in which the Customer has instructed the Bank to make a payment, then the Bank is authorised (but not obliged) by the Customer to make such conversions of cash (at such rates of exchange as the Bank shall determine on the date of conversion) held in any other currency in the Settlement Account as may be required for such payment.
  4.3 Notwithstanding any term of any other agreement between the Bank and the Customer, following the giving of such instructions, and whether or not any earmarking of funds has been effected as aforesaid, the Customer shall not be entitled to and shall not withdraw or otherwise utilise, by cheque or otherwise, and the Bank shall not be obliged to release or pay out of the Settlement Account, any of the amount required to settle the purchase unless and until the Bank is notified that the instruction to purchase has for any reason not been executed and subject to rights arising pursuant to clause 21. Accordingly, the Bank is irrevocably authorised, notwithstanding any provision of any other agreement or arrangement between the Customer and the Bank from time to time:
(a) to refuse to honour any cheque or other payment drawn or debited against the Settlement Account and/or to delay in taking any such action, during any period between the issue of instructions to purchase Securities for the account of the Customer and the application of funds payable in relation to the purchase the subject of such instructions; and
(b) to apply monies in the Settlement Account in settlement of any sums payable in relation to any such purchase in priority to any other proposed application of such funds instructed or purportedly instructed upon by the Customer.
  4.4 The Customer acknowledges and agrees that if at any time there are in the reasonable opinion of the Bank (having regard to other payments debited or due to be debited) insufficient funds in the Settlement Account for these purposes the Bank may (in the Bank's sole discretion and without any obligation to do so on the part of the Bank) transfer funds as necessary from any other account or accounts maintained by the Customer with the Bank without further instruction or sanction from the Customer.
  4.5 For the purposes of placing a stop order on such funds in the Settlement Account and/or prohibiting withdrawal or utilization of such funds, the Bank shall be entitled to assess an approximate amount using such guidelines as it may determine from time to time and subsequently to adjust such amount following notification by the Broker of the precise amount due from the Customer in respect of such purchase.
  4.6 The Bank is authorised to deliver to the Brokers on behalf of the Customer such funds, share certificates and other documents relating to Securities as it may receive or hold in connection with dealings in Securities effected pursuant to instructions received or purportedly received from the Customer.
  4.7 By these terms and conditions, the Customer expressly authorises the Bank to part with possession of Securities for the exercise of any lien or charge in these terms and conditions or pursuant to any sale of Securities permitted by these terms and conditions including any sale to realise monies to make any payment due to the Bank pursuant to these terms and conditions.
  4.8 The Bank shall promptly credit to the Settlement Account all cash received by it for the account of the Customer from the sale of Securities held on behalf of the Customer pursuant to these terms and conditions.
  4.9 The Bank reserves the right to debit or credit the Settlement Account if it has been inadvertently credited or debited. The Settlement Account will be governed by current account principles. The Bank's obligation to pay the Customer any amounts and/or repay any funds in the Settlement Account is an obligation of the Bank in Hong Kong, where the Settlement Account is opened.
  4.10 The Customer agrees that if the Bank shall for any reason fail to receive payment for all or any part of any amount due to be paid to the Customer in respect of any sale entered into by the Customer or by the Bank on the Customer's behalf on the due date for payment in accordance with the rules and regulations of the relevant exchange and/or any applicable laws, the Bank's obligation to make payment to the Customer in respect of such sale shall by virtue of such failure become an obligation to make payment of such amount as is equal to such payment as is actually received by the Bank.
     
5. Customer's Default in Funding
  5.1 Unless otherwise agreed between the Customer and the Bank, the Customer agrees that if insufficient funds are available in the Settlement Account as required by clause 4.2, the Bank is authorised:
(a) In the case of a purchase transaction, to transfer or sell such purchased Securities to satisfy the Customer's obligations to the Bank; or
(b) In the case of a sale transaction, to borrow and/or purchase such sold Securities to satisfy the Customer's obligations to the Bank.
  5.2 The Customer acknowledges that he will be responsible to and will indemnify and keep indemnified the Bank from any loss, costs, fees and expenses in connection with the Customer's failure to meet his obligations by the settlement dates required.
     
6. No margin or credit facilities
  These terms and conditions shall apply to an account for cash dealing only. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall oblige the Bank or any Bank Affiliate to grant or maintain any margin or credit facilities.
     
7. Registration of Securities
  7.1 Subject to the provisions of clause 7.2 and clause 21, the Customer agrees that any Securities deposited with the Bank or acquired by the Bank on behalf of the Customer or any amounts paid to the Bank on behalf of the Customer shall be dealt with in accordance with the instructions of the Customer given in respect of the particular Securities or monies.
  7.2 The Bank shall register Securities acquired for the Customer in the name of the Bank or the Nominee or may deposit securities with, or hold securities in, CCASS or any other Securities Depositary on such terms as such Securities Depositary customarily operates.
  7.3 The Nominee shall hold Securities registered in its name as the nominee of the Bank. The Nominee shall designate all such Securities as held by it to the order of the Bank but identified as being Securities held by the Bank for the Customers and being identified as Securities of which the Bank is not the beneficial owner. The Customer shall not give any instruction to the Nominee direct.
  7.4 The Customer acknowledges and agrees that Securities from time to time acquired and/or held through or in CCASS shall be held subject to and in accordance with CCASS Rules.
     
8. Securities Fungible
  8.1 Any securities deposited with the Bank or purchased for the Securities Account may, at the absolute discretion of the Bank, either be treated as fungible or specifically allocated to the Securities Account.
  8.2 Any obligation of the Bank to deliver, or to hold in safe custody, Securities purchased or acquired on behalf of the Customer shall be satisfied by the delivery; or the holding, of Securities being identical with such Securities in terms of number, class, denomination, nominal amount and rights attached thereto (subject always to any capital reorganisation which may have occurred in the meantime affecting such Securities).
     
9. Securities Account: Withdrawals
  9.1 Subject to clause 9.2, the Bank shall as soon as reasonably practicable after having been required to do so by instructions from the Customer:
(a) procure the registration of any Securities from time to time forming part of the Securities Account in the name of the Customer or a person notified by the Customer as being the nominee of the Customer, or if so instructed, deliver the documents representing the Securities to the Customer or such a nominee whereupon such Securities shall cease to form part of the Securities Account;
(b) transfer such sum as may be specified in the instructions of the Customer from the Securities Account to the Settlement Account and such transfer shall be deemed a good discharge of the obligation to make payment to the Customer.
  9.2 The obligations of the Bank in clause 9.1 shall be subject to the other provisions of these terms and conditions and in particular clause 21 and to the right of the Bank to require that prior to any withdrawal the Customer discharges in full all sums or liabilities actual or contingent owed by the Customer or any Customer Company to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate. The Bank may without Customer instruction or notice to the Customer discharge any such liabilities out of monies standing to the credit of the Accounts prior to implementing any registration or transfer pursuant to clause 9.1 or otherwise may require payment thereof to be made by the Customer prior to implementing any registration or transfer pursuant to clause 9.1.
  9.3 The Bank reserves the right to debit or credit the Securities Account if it has been inadvertently credited or debited
     
10. Securities Account: Additions
  The Customer may at any time request that the Bank accept delivery or a transfer of Securities to be held as part of the Securities Account. The Bank shall not be obliged to accept any such request but, if it does so, the Securities so delivered or transferred shall be held as part of the Securities Account and shall be subject to these terms and conditions as if they were acquired by the Bank on behalf of the Customer. In such case, the Customer shall execute such instruments of transfer and/or other documents as may be required to transfer the Securities to the Securities Account and register them in the name of the Bank or the Nominee, or deposit, and hold, them in CCASS or any other Securities Depositary.
     
11. Trading Limits
  11.1 The Customer acknowledges that the Bank has the right to set limits and parameters to control the Customer's ability to use the Securities Services at the Bank's absolute discretion and the Customer undertakes to comply with those limits and parameters. Such limits and/or parameters may be amended, increased, decreased, removed or added to the Securities Services by the Bank in its absolute discretion and may include (without limitation):
(i) controls over maximum order amounts and maximum order sizes,
(ii) controls over the Bank's total exposure to the Customer,
(iii) controls over the price at which orders may be submitted,
(iv) controls over the origin of the Customer's orders and
(v) any other limits, parameters or controls which the Bank may be required to implement under any applicable law or regulation.
  11.2 The Customer acknowledges that orders will be accumulated over the trading day and the Bank will check all orders received by whatever means of communication against the credit limits and trading limits as specified by the Bank from time to time.
     
12. Execution of transactions by the Bank
  12.1 In executing the Customer's instructions from time to time:
(a) to acquire or purchase Securities, the Bank shall be authorised at its discretion to transfer to the Customer Securities owned or held by (i) the Bank or (ii) any Bank Affiliate;
(b) to sell or dispose of Securities, the Bank shall be authorised at its discretion to acquire or purchase such Securities (i) for the Bank's own account or (ii) for account of a Bank Affiliate.
  12.2 The Bank will act as principal in the circumstances as described in clause 12.1(a)(i) and clause 12.1(b)(i) and subject thereto will act as an agent (in the capacity of a broker) and not as a principal.
  12.3 By reason of physical restraints on the Exchange or on any other stock exchange and rapid changes in the prices of Securities that frequently take place, there may, on occasions and despite the Bank's reasonable endeavours, be a delay in making prices or in dealing at any specific time or "at best" or "at market" The Customer agrees in any event to accept and be bound by dealings which take place on his behalf and agrees that the Bank shall not be liable for any loss arising by reason of its failing, or being unable, to comply with any terms of an order of the Customer unless caused by the fraud, wilful default or negligence of the Bank.
  12.4 The Bank may aggregate the Customer's order with the Bank's own orders, and those of persons connected with the Bank and its other customers. This procedure may operate on some occasions to the Customer's advantage and on others to its disadvantage. However, where the Bank has aggregated its customers' orders, including the Customer's order, with the Bank's own order it will give priority to satisfying the orders of its customers in any subsequent allocation if all orders cannot be filled.
  12.5 Unless the Customer gives specific instructions to the Bank to the contrary, the Customer acknowledges that all orders or requests are good for the day only and that to the extent unfulfilled they will lapse at the end of the official trading day of the Exchange or, as the case may be, the stock exchange outside Hong Kong on which the Securities in question are listed or traded.
     
13. Short Sales
  13.1 The Customer agrees that all sale orders submitted to the Bank are long sale orders, ie, the Customer represents that the Security to be sold is owned by the Customer (or any person for whom the Customer is acting) and that the Customer has forwarded the Security to the Bank.
  13.2 Whenever any instruction to be given by the Customer is an instruction to sell in respect of Securities which the Customer does not own i.e. is a short sale, the Customer undertakes to inform the Bank immediately of the same.
  13.3 The Customer acknowledges that the Bank will not accept an instruction to sell for short account on behalf of the Customer. The Bank shall not be responsible to the Customer for identifying whether or not an instruction is to sell for short account.
     
14. Contract Notes
  The Bank shall within the period from time to time specified under the Securities and Futures Ordinance or the subsidiary legislation related thereto or the rules of the Exchange, or of any other stock exchanges as amended from time to time, send to the Customer copies of the contract note relating to any transactions in Securities effected by the Bank for the Securities Account. The Bank shall despatch the copy of the contract note to the Customer at the last mailing address on record with the Bank. The Customer shall upon receipt of the contract note examine the same and to promptly give notice to the Bank if the Customer considers that any details stated therein are incorrect in any respect. If the Bank does not receive any written objection from the Customer within the period stipulated in a contract note for this purpose, the Customer shall be deemed to have accepted all the transaction details contained as true and accurate in all respects.
     
15. Statements
  15.1 The Bank shall send the Customer monthly statements showing the position of the Securities Account and the Settlement Account. Such statement shall be in the form and contain the information as the Bank may from time to time determine.
  15.2 The Bank shall send to the Customer such information relating to the Securities Account and the Settlement Account as the Customer may from time to time reasonably require in writing.
  15.3 The Customer shall upon receipt of a monthly statement examine the same. If the Bank does not receive any written objection from the Customer in respect of any details stated in a monthly statement within the period stipulated in the statement for this purpose, the Customer shall be deemed to have accepted the same as true and accurate in all respects. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Customer shall not have the right to object to details contained in a monthly statement if those details have already been previously stated in a contract note which have been accepted by the Customer as true and accurate.
  15.4 The Bank shall despatch the monthly statement and any other information requested in accordance with clause 15.1 and clause 15.2 respectively to the Customer at the last mailing address on record with the Bank.
     
16. Expenses and Fees
  16.1 In consideration of the Bank agreeing to provide the Securities Services, the Customer agrees and acknowledges that the Bank shall be entitled to charge the Customer fees and charges to be computed on such basis as may be notified to the Customer from time to time and the Bank shall be entitled at any time to revise the level of fees and charges and/or impose charges for any services subject to giving 30 days prior notice or such lesser period as may be required by any applicable law or regulatory authority.
  16.2 The Bank is irrevocably authorised to debit the Settlement Account with all fees and charges levied by the Bank, and to so debit and pay to the Brokers or the Nominees as the Brokers or the Nominees may direct or to any other payee entitled thereto, all commissions payable in respect of such transactions and all stamp duties, taxes, bank charges, transfer fees, registration fees, interest and other expenses incurred or to be incurred in respect of or in connection with the Settlement Account or any dealings in Securities effected in pursuance of instructions received or purportedly received from the Customer or holding of Securities on behalf of the Customer pursuant to these terms and conditions.
  16.3 The Customer acknowledges that the Bank may pay CCASS, or other Securities Depositaries, settlement fees on a consolidated basis and the Bank is entitled to retain any rounding differences as a result of the payment of such fees on such basis.
     
17. Dividends
  All dividends and other distributions in cash derived from Securities held by the Bank in the Securities Account shall be credited to the Settlement Account.
     
18. Corporate Actions
  18.1 The Bank shall use reasonable endeavours to notify the Customer with regard to communications in respect of distributions or pecuniary entitlements requiring any election or decision by the Customer received by the Bank or the Nominee in respect of Securities held in the Securities Account and the Bank shall not be liable for any non-receipt, delay or failure in forwarding communications in sufficient time for instruction to be given by the Customer save in the case of fraud, wilful default or negligence of the Bank. In the absence of or delay in receiving instructions from the Customer in response to a notification in accordance with this clause 18.1, the Bank shall be authorised, at its discretion, to take such steps as it may consider expedient to enable it to provide the Securities Services including the right to act or refrain from acting in accordance with the default option as specified in such notification.
  18.2 The Bank shall not be under any duty to investigate or participate in any meeting or any subscription, conversion or other rights in respect thereof or as regards any merger, consolidation, reorganisation, receivership, bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, compromises or arrangement or to take any affirmative action in connection therewith or procure that the Nominee do so except in accordance with written instructions issued by the Customer and upon such conditions as to indemnity, provisions for expenses and otherwise as the Bank may at that time require in its favour and in favour of the Nominee.
  18.3 The Bank shall be authorised in respect of Securities registered in the name of the Nominee to do the following or instruct the Nominee to do so:
(a) to request payment of and receive all interest, dividends and other payments or distributions in respect of the Securities;
(b) where monies are payable to or for the benefit of the Customer in respect of any of the Securities in more than one currency, to collect them in such currency as may be permissible by law and as the Bank may in its sole and unfettered discretion determine;
(c) to surrender any of the Securities against receipt of the monies payable at maturity or on redemption if called prior to maturity and provided that where Securities are called for redemption prior to maturity the Bank and the Nominee shall have no duty or responsibility to present the Securities for redemption, unless, after call is made, the Customer requests the Bank in writing so to do;
(d) to complete and deliver on behalf of the Customer as owner any ownership certificates in connection with the Securities which may be required by law;
(e) in its sole and unfettered discretion to comply with the provisions of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in force which purports to impose on a holder of any of the Securities a duty to take or refrain from taking any action in connection with any of the Securities or payments or distributions or monies payable in respect of any of the Securities; and
(f) to exchange any documents relating to any Securities, where such documents have been issued in interim or temporary form, for documents in definitive form.
     
19. Conflict of Interest
  19.1 The Customer acknowledges that when the Bank deals for the Securities Account it may have an interest, arrangement or relationship that is material in relation to the investment or transaction concerned. Such interests will not necessarily be separately disclosed to the Customer prior to or at the time of any transaction or at any other time. The following interests of the Bank may affect the Customer (without limitation):
(a) the Bank may have acted, may be acting or may seek to act as a financial adviser or lending banker to the issuer (or any of its affiliated companies) of the Securities in which the Customer may be dealing or may have advised or may be advising any person in connection with a merger, acquisition or take over by or for such issuer (or any of its affiliated companies);
(b) the Bank may have a holding, dealing, or market making position or may otherwise be trading or dealing in the Securities or assets of any kind underlying, derived from or otherwise directly or indirectly related to such Securities;
(c) the Bank may have received or may be receiving rebates, payments or other benefits for giving business to the Brokers;
(d) the Bank may have sponsored or underwritten or otherwise participated in, or may be sponsoring or underwriting or otherwise may be participating in a transaction;
(e) the Bank may have been or may be an affiliate of an issuer (or any of its affiliated companies) of the Securities in which the Customer may be dealing.
  19.2 Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to inhibit the Bank from:
(a) instructing or otherwise procuring the purchase for the Customer of Securities held by the Bank for its own account or held by any other of its Customers; or
(b) acting in any capacity for any other person or from buying, selling, holding or dealing in any Securities for its own account or that of any other Bank Affiliate notwithstanding that instructions have at any time been received from or on behalf of the Customer for the purchase, sale or holding of or other dealing in the same or similar Securities; or
(c) purchasing or procuring the purchase for its own account or for the account of any other of its Customers Securities of the same type as or a similar type to any Securities in respect of which instructions have at any time been received from the Customer;
and the Customer hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Bank may so act, buy, sell, hold, deal, or instruct provided that in any such case the terms of any such dealing are not less favourable to the Customer than they would have been had the transactions been entered into with a party other than the Bank or one of its Customers.
  19.3 The Bank shall not be liable to account to the Customer for any emoluments, commissions, profits or any other benefits whatsoever earned by it in relation to any transaction in Securities effected in pursuance of instructions received from the Customer.
  19.4 The Bank shall not be under any duty to disclose to the Customer any fact or thing which comes to its knowledge or notice in the course of acting in any capacity for any other person or in its own capacity.
     
20. Dealings with the Accounts
  The Customer agrees not to, and not to purport to, assign, grant an interest over or otherwise deal in any way with, nor (without the Bank's prior written consent) to create or allow to subsist a charge, pledge or other encumbrance over:
(a) the Securities Account or any Securities, receivables or monies held in or for the Securities Account; or
(b) all or any part of the monies from time to time standing to the credit of the Settlement Account.
     
21. Set-off and Lien
  Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in any other agreement between the Bank or any Bank Affiliate on the one part and the Customer (or any Customer Company) on the other part, the Bank may upon the occurrence of an Event of Default set out in clause 36 and without prior notice to or consent of the Customer, set off and withhold from, apply and/or transfer (as the case may be) monies, securities and/or receivables held in or for the Settlement Account, the Securities Account or any other account held for the Customer (or, if the Customer consists of more than one party, any one or more of such parties) with the Bank (and whether or not such monies, securities or receivables are held for the Customer individually or jointly with others) against and in full or partial settlement of Liabilities. For the purpose of exercising the right of set-off or of discharging any sums or liabilities aforementioned, the Bank may sell or dispose of any of the Securities or receivables from time to time held in or for the Securities Account or any other account with the Bank or a Bank Affiliate, if any relevant obligation or liability is not discharged in full by the Customer. The Bank or a Bank Affiliate shall be under no duty to the Customer as to the price obtained in respect of any such sale or disposal. The rights of the Bank set out in this clause 21 shall be without prejudice and in addition to any right of set-off, combination of accounts, lien or other right to which the Bank or any Bank Affiliate is at any time otherwise entitled (whether by operation of law, contract or in any other manner whatsoever). The Customer hereby irrevocably directs the Bank to take all necessary action and effect all necessary transfers in this respect.
     
22. Charge Over Securities Account
  22.1 The Customer hereby charges the Charged Securities as continuing security for the payment and satisfaction on demand of all Liabilities and the performance of all obligations of the Customer under these terms and conditions and including any costs, charges and expenses including legal fees of enforcing these terms and conditions and the Charge contained in this clause incurred by the Bank or any Bank Affiliate.
  22.2 Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default set out in clause 36 or the failure of the Customer to settle the Liabilities when due or perform its obligations under these terms and conditions:
(a) the Charge contained in this clause shall be immediately enforceable; and
(b) the Bank (or where appropriate the Nominee acting upon instructions from the Bank) may, without notice to the Customer:
i) appropriate, transfer or set-off the whole or any part of any monies comprised in the Charged Securities in or towards payment or discharge of any of the Liabilities hereby secured; and/or
ii) sell or dispose of the Charged Securities or any part thereof either together or in parcels in such other manner and for such consideration (whether payable or deliverable immediately or by installments) as the Bank may think fit.
  22.3 The Bank and the Nominee shall not be in any way responsible for any loss occasioned by action pursuant to clause 22.2 howsoever arising.
  22.4 Without prejudice to the generality of clause 22.2, the Bank (or, where appropriate, the Nominee) shall be entitled to appropriate to the Bank or sell or dispose of the Charged Securities or any part thereof at the current market price thereof to any Bank Affiliate without being:
(a) in any way responsible for any loss occasioned thereby howsoever arising; and
(b) accountable for any profit made by the Bank (or, where appropriate, the Nominee as its agent) and/or any Bank Affiliate.
  22.5 In the event of any sale or disposal pursuant to this clause 22, if less than all of the Charged Securities are to be sold or disposed of, the Bank (or, where appropriate, the Nominee) may in the Bank's absolute discretion select which of the Charged Securities are to be sold or disposed of.
  22.6
In the event of any deficiency after the sale or disposal of the Charged Securities, the Customer hereby undertakes to make good and pay on demand to the Bank such deficiency.
  22.7 The amounts realised by the exercise or enforcement of the Charge contained in this clause shall be applied against the liabilities of the Customer or any Customer Company in such order of priority as the Bank may in its absolute discretion determine.
  22.8 The Charge contained in this clause is in addition to and without prejudice to any collateral or other security which the Bank or any Bank Affiliate may by these terms and conditions or otherwise whether now or hereafter hold from or on account of the Customer or any Customer Company and shall be a continuing security notwithstanding any intermediate payment or settlement of account or satisfaction of the whole or any part of any sum or sums of money owing by the Customer or any Customer Company. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the Charge contained in this clause shall subsist and continue to have full force and effect after the termination of these terms and conditions until the Customer and any Customer Company has fully discharged all of its obligations to the Bank and any Bank Affiliate.
  22.9 Any monies realised pursuant to the Charge contained in this clause may be placed and kept to the credit of a suspense account for so long as the Bank or the relevant Bank Affiliate may in its absolute discretion determine without any obligation in the meantime to apply the same or any part thereof in or towards discharge of any monies or liabilities due or incurred by the Customer or any Customer Company to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate.
  22.10 The Charge contained in this clause shall not be prejudiced any amendment or variation to these terms and conditions or by the liquidation, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Customer or any Customer Company.
     
23. Automated Quotations and Confirmations
  23.1 The Customer acknowledges that any quotes on the price of Securities, any market data and any other information provided via any automated quotation system maintained by the Bank (which may be received or accessed by the Customer by internet, telephone or other tele-electronic means) are provided by an independent third party, subject to a disclaimer by such third party and the Exchange to the following effect: "[Third party] and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited endeavour to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided but does not guarantee its accuracy and accepts no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any inaccuracies or omissions" The Bank is not responsible for the accuracy, timeliness or completeness of such information.
  23.2 All orders shall be executed at the then current market prices and neither the Bank nor any of the Brokers represent to the Customer that any order will be executed at a price previously quoted to the Customer by way of an automated quotation system or otherwise.
  23.3 If the Customer has registered to receive SMS/email order confirmation, the Customer will receive notification from the Bank by SMS or email message (a) when an order has been partially or fully executed on the Exchange, (b) when the Exchange has accepted the Customer's instruction to cancel an order, (c) when an order has expired because it has not been executed by the close of the period of validity of the order, and (d) when an order has been rejected either by the Bank or the Exchange, for whatever reason. The Bank gives no warranty as to the timeliness or reliability of SMS/email communications, and shall have no liability in the event that the Customer fails to receive such communication. The Bank will from time to time specify the scope and features of the SMS/email order confirmation service, and may modify, expand or reduce it at any time with or without notice. If the Customer places his order via telephone, and has not registered to receive SMS/email order confirmation, the Bank will endeavour to notify the Customer by telephone of the status of an order.
  23.4 Any written confirmation sent out by the Bank, in the form of a contract note or monthly statement, shall (save in the case of manifest error) be conclusive as to the price at which any particular order has been executed and shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Customer if not objected to in writing by the Customer within the period (if any) stipulated in such statement for this purpose. The Customer acknowledges that any statement given over the telephone or by SMS or email message or other electronic means as to the status of the Settlement Account or any particular transaction is provided for information only and is not binding on either the Bank or on any Broker.
     
24. Liability and Indemnity
  24.1 In the absence of fraud, negligence or wilful default, neither the Bank nor any of its officers, employees or agents shall be liable to the Customer for any loss suffered by the Customer arising out of or connected with any act or omission in relation to the operation of the Securities Services, the establishment or maintenance of the Accounts and/or transactions effected thereunder.
  24.2 In particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Customer acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) the Bank shall not be liable to the Customer for any loss suffered as a result of or connected with any act or omission on the part of the Brokers or the Nominees, CCASS or any other Securities Depositary, or other agents, including custodians and sub-custodians, including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any incorrect or incomplete information or advice supplied or published by the Brokers, CCASS, or the Nominees, any other Securities Depositary to the Bank and subsequently communicated to the Customer;
(b) The Customer agrees that it shall be jointly and severally liable with the Bank to any Broker for all obligations to be performed by the Bank in respect of any transaction in Securities conducted by the Bank as agent for and on behalf of the Customer.
(c) the Bank shall not be obliged to give any advice as to the selection of Securities to the Customer or to provide discretionary management services to the Customer under these terms and conditions, and each instruction to effect transactions in Securities shall be decided upon and issued by the Customer in reliance only upon his own judgement and the Bank does not and will not hold out itself or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents as having the ability to advise or provide information (other than information and advice of the type referred to in clause 24.2(d) to the Customer on transactions in Securities or any other matter connected herewith; in the absence of fraud, negligence or wilful default, the Bank shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever in respect of any such advice or information given to the Customer whether or not such advice was requested by the Customer;
(d) notwithstanding clause 24.2(c) any written or oral information or advice communicated from the Bank to the Customer shall be limited to information or advice provided to the Bank by the Brokers or other third parties for the purposes of communication to the Customer and the Bank shall have no responsibility or liability whatsoever to the Customer in respect of any such information or advice;
(e) the Bank shall not be responsible for any failure, delays, errors or inaccuracies in the transmission or communication of instructions due to the breakdown or failure of transmission or communication facilities or to any other cause or causes beyond its reasonable control including (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) government restrictions, contract market rulings or suspension of trading;
(f) the Bank shall not be liable to the Customer for or in respect of any losses or failure to comply or delay in complying with its obligations under these terms and conditions which is caused directly or indirectly by force majeure, Act of God, war, terrorism, industrial disputes, natural disaster, adverse weather conditions, failure of communication systems or any other causes, event or circumstances beyond the Bank's reasonable control;
(g) where instructions are given via the Dealing System, the Bank has no responsibility for any delay, failure, error, interruption or suspension in the transmission or communication of instructions or information on prices, or the mistaken receipt of any instructions by any other party;
(h) Brokers and Nominees are authorised to act upon any instructions received by them (regardless of any delay, error, interruption or suspension as aforesaid) and none of the Bank, the Brokers or the Nominees shall be liable for any losses or costs suffered or incurred by the Customer as a result of the Brokers or the Nominees acting upon the same; and
(i) the Bank shall not be required to take any legal action unless fully indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction (as a prerequisite to taking such action) for all costs and liabilities by the Customer.
  24.3 The Customer agrees to indemnify the Bank against all claims and liabilities arising, and all costs and expenses (including legal fees and costs on an indemnity basis) which are of reasonable amount and were reasonably incurred by the Bank, whether directly or indirectly, out of or in connection with:
(a) the performance or exercise of their duties or discretions under these terms and conditions; or
(b) arising out of or in connection with any breach by the Customer of the obligations of the Customer to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate; or
(c) any representation or warranty by the Customer being or becoming untrue or inaccurate; or
(d) any costs incurred by the Bank or any Bank Affiliate in the collection (whether by it or any third party agent engaged by it for such purpose) of debts owed by the Customer to the Bank or any Bank Affiliate; or
(e) as provided in clause 5.2.
25. Confirmation
  The Customer agrees to do such acts and things and to execute such documents as are necessary or are in the opinion of the Bank desirable to ratify or confirm anything done by the Bank in the proper exercise of any right or power conferred by these terms and conditions or any other agreement entered into pursuant to these terms and conditions or relating to the Securities Account, the Settlement Account or the Securities Services.
     
26. Accuracy of Information
  26.1 The Customer represents and warrants to the Bank that all information provided by the Customer from time to time in connection with the establishment and operation of the Securities Services (including without limitation information provided in the Application and changes thereto notified by the Customer) are true and accurate in every respect. The Customer acknowledges that they constitute representations in reliance upon which instructions from the Customer shall be accepted, and shall be treated as part of the agreement constituted by these terms and conditions. The Customer shall notify the Bank forthwith of any material change in such information.
  26.2 The Bank shall notify the Customer of any material change in the information on the Bank provided hereunder.
     
27. Joint Liability
  27.1 In circumstances where two or more persons have jointly subscribed to the Securities Services by designation of the Securities Account and the Settlement Account together:
   
(a) the Bank may act on the instructions of either person acting singly but each such person shall be jointly and severally liable with the other person for any obligation or liability incurred by either of them to the Bank in connection with the Securities Services, the Securities Account or the Settlement Account or otherwise under or in connection with these terms and conditions;
(b) upon the death of any person, any Securities, deeds and property of any description held in the joint names of the Customer shall be held by the Bank to the order of the survivor or survivors of the Customer subject to compliance with the provisions of the Estate Duty Ordinance, but without prejudice to the Bank's rights in respect thereof arising out of any lien, charge, pledge, set-off, counterclaim or otherwise or to any step which the Bank may deem fit to take in view of any claim by any person other than such survivor or survivors; and
(c) the Bank shall be at liberty to release or discharge any of such persons from their liability hereunder or to accept any composition from or make other arrangements with any of such persons without releasing or discharging the other or others or otherwise prejudicing or affecting the rights and remedies of the Bank against the other or others, and none of them shall be released or discharged by the death of any one of them.
     
28. Further Assurance
  The Customer hereby undertakes to the Bank to do and/or execute any act, deed, document or thing which the Bank shall require the Customer to do in connection with the implementation, execution and enforcement of the agreement constituted by these terms and conditions, including without limitation the rights referred to in clause 21 and the Charge referred to in clause 22, and the Customer hereby constitutes the Bank the lawful attorney of the Customer to do or execute all such acts, deeds, documents or things on behalf of the Customer as the Bank considers necessary or desirable in connection with such implementation, execution and enforcement.
     
29. Compliance with Laws, etc.
  29.1 The Customer shall not instruct the Bank to do anything in relation to the Securities Services, the Settlement Account or the Securities Account which is a breach of or would involve or result in the Bank, any Bank Affiliate, the Broker, the Nominees or any other person being in breach of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the Rules of the Exchange, the Codes on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Repurchases or any other laws, rules or regulations in force or applicable to the conduct of the business of dealing in securities in Hong Kong or elsewhere or otherwise binding on the Bank, any Bank Affiliate, the Brokers or the Nominees (whether or not having the force of law).
  29.2 The Customer acknowledges that he shall be solely responsible for compliance with all obligations of disclosure under the relevant provisions of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the Codes on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Repurchases, and any other applicable laws, rules or regulations relating to disclosure of interests in securities in Hong Kong or any other relevant countries, each as amended from time to time. The Bank shall not be obliged to give notice of holdings to the Customer in any form or by any time limit for such purpose save any notice or statement to be issued as expressly set out in these terms and conditions. The Customer acknowledges that neither the Bank nor any Bank Affiliate, their respective directors, officers or employees shall be liable for any loss, cost or expense of the Customer from any failure or delay by the Customer or any other person to disclose in accordance with any such obligation nor any delay or default in notification to the Customer as to the carrying into effect of instructions and shall indemnify the Bank for any loss, cost or expense arising from any such failure.
  29.3 The Customer undertakes to the Bank that the Customer will not engage or attempt to engage, and that the Customer has proper safeguards in place to prevent the Customer from engaging, in any activity which may constitute market misconduct under the Securities and Futures Ordinance and further agrees to inform the Bank immediately if the Customer becomes aware of any activity by any person that may result in the Customer being involved in market misconduct.
  29.4 Due to money laundering or other requirements operating within the relevant jurisdiction, the Bank may require identification documentation or other information before the Customer is entitled to enter into any transaction or before the Bank provides the Customer with the Securities Services. The Customer acknowledges that it may be so required and undertakes to provide the Bank promptly with information or documentation as so requested.
     
30. Disclosure
  30.1 The Customer agrees that all personal data relating to the Customer collected by the Bank from time to time may be used and disclosed for such purposes and to such persons (whether in or outside Hong Kong) as may be in accordance with the Bank's policies on use and disclosure of personal data set out in statements, circulars, terms and conditions or notices made available by the Bank to its customers from time to time and such data may be (a) used in connection with matching procedures (as defined in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance), and (b) disclosed (by way of bank references or otherwise) to any financial institution with which the Customer has or proposes to have dealings to enable such financial institution to conduct credit checks on the Customer; and (c) disclosed by the Bank in the event that such disclosure is required by any securities exchange or regulatory or governmental body having jurisdiction over it (including without limitation the Exchange and the Securities and Futures Commission) whether or not the requirement has the force of law.
  30.2 Without limiting the Bank's rights under clause 30.1, the Customer authorises the Bank to disclose to the Brokers and the Nominees any information regarding the Customer and the Customer's account relationship with the Bank, including without limitation the Customer's security access codes, balances on the Securities Account and the Settlement Account, any information provided in the Application and changes therein notified by the Customer, and such other information as the Bank, the Brokers or the Nominees may deem necessary from time to time for the purposes of the Securities Services, the transmission, verification or execution of the Customer's instructions or any purpose ancillary thereto.
  30.3 The Customer's information may be provided to a location which does not have the legal protection of information equivalent to Hong Kong. By accepting the Securities Services, the Customer consents to the use of its confidential information in accordance with this clause.
     
31. Representations by Customer
  31.1 By applying to the Bank for the provision of the Securities Services, the Customer hereby represents and warrants to the Bank that:
(a) he is not a U.S. Person;
(b) he has not been nor does he anticipate or expect to be present in the United States for 183 or more days in aggregate during a calendar year;
(c) the gains from his subscription, purchase, sale or other transactions carried out pursuant to the Securities Services are not effectively connected or related to any U.S. Person or any US trade or business which the Customer is engaged in or plans to engage in during the calendar year;
(d) the Securities are not being acquired or held beneficially by or for a U.S. Person, or in violation of any applicable law;
(e) unless he advises the Bank otherwise, no instructions given by the Customer will be on behalf of a plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any similar statute.
(f) he will not acquire or hold Securities beneficially by or for any other person, or in violation of any applicable law but he will be the beneficial owner of the Securities Account;
(g) he is the person(s) ultimately responsible for originating the transactions to be made on the Securities Account and no other person stands to gain the commercial or economic benefit or bear the commercial or economic risk thereof;
(h) he is fully aware of, and understands fully the market and the financial instruments being traded, in accordance with his instructions given pursuant to these terms and conditions, on the Exchange or any overseas stock exchange, and he is familiar with and understands all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to his trading operations including (without limitation) those relating to insider dealing and other criminal offences. In particular, the Customer represents and warrants that he is fully aware of the Rules of the Exchange, and will familiarise himself with and comply with all guidelines posted on the Exchange's website (as amended from time to time).
(i) he acknowledges the Securities Services Risk Disclosure Statements set out in these terms and conditions and fully understands and accepts the risks (including the risk of loss) described thereunder;
(j) it is his independent judgement and decision without reliance on the Bank or its employees to enter into any dealings in Securities ("Transactions" and he fully understands the risks and consequences of his doing so and agree to bear all consequences of Transactions. The Bank and its employees shall have no liability whatsoever in respect of the Customer's entering into any or all of the Transactions;
(k) he acknowledges that the Bank may require further information from him or a third party on his financial standing and investment objectives or to verify the same and agrees to provide the same on request;
(l) he has full power and authority to enter into these terms and conditions and to exercise the Customer's right and perform the Customer's obligations hereunder; and
(m) all the representations and warranties made by the Customer remain true and accurate at all times.
     
32. Authorisation for Credit Enquiry
  The Customer authorises the Bank and any Bank Affiliate to contact from time to time such credit reporting agencies, credit bureaus and other information sources (both in Hong Kong and overseas) as it deems necessary or desirable for the Bank to open and to maintain the Securities Account and request them to conduct a credit enquiry or check on the Customer for the purpose of ascertaining the Customer's financial situation and investment objectives.
     
33. Applicable Rules and Regulations
  33.1 Every transaction in Securities made for or on behalf of the Customer in Hong Kong or elsewhere and concluded through and recognized by the Exchange or any overseas stock exchange is subject to the relevant provisions of the constitutions, rules, regulations, bye-law, customs and usages of the Exchange or the relevant overseas stock exchange, HKSCC or the relevant overseas clearing agency and of the laws of Hong Kong or the jurisdiction in which the relevant overseas stock exchange is located, each as amended from time to time.
  33.2 The rules of the Exchange and HKSCC or, as the case may be, the rules of the relevant overseas stock exchange and clearing agencies, in particular those rules relating to trading and settlement shall be binding on both the Bank and the Customer in respect of transactions concluded on the Customer's instructions.
  33.3 The Customer acknowledges that, where required by the Exchange or any other regulatory authority, the Bank shall provide all relevant information concerning Customer's orders transmitted and/or executed by whatever means. The Customer further acknowledges and agrees that it will co-operate fully and promptly with all requests by the Bank for the provision of any other information in the Customer's possession, custody or control which the Bank may be required to produce to the Exchange or any other regulatory authority.
     
34. Investor Compensation Fund
  In the event of a default (as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance) committed by the Bank, the Customer is entitled to claim against the Investor Compensation Fund, as the same may be amended from time to time, established under the Securities and Futures Ordinance for pecuniary loss suffered by the Customer thereby to the extent provided for in the Securities and Futures Ordinance. The Customer acknowledges that the extent of such claim will be restricted as provided in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and there can be no assurance that any pecuniary loss sustained because of such default will be recouped from the Investor Compensation Fund in full, in part or at all.
     
35. New Issues of Securities
  In the event that the Customer gives instructions to the Bank to apply for Securities in a new issue of Securities for listing on the Exchange, the Customer:
(a) authorises the Bank to make such application on behalf of the Customer;
(b) warrants that such application is solely for the benefit of the Customer;
(c) warrants that the application for Securities to be made by the Bank is and will be the only application made or intended to be made for the benefit of the Customer and no other application will be made by the Customer;
(d) authorises the Bank to represent and warrant to the Exchange (or other relevant stock exchange) on the application form that no other application is being made or is intended to be made by the Customer itself or for the benefit of the Customer by any other person;
(e) authorises the Bank to disclose that the application made by the Bank on the Customer's behalf is the only application made or intended to be made for the benefit of the Customer or by or for the benefit of the Customer;
(f) acknowledges that the representations, warranties and disclosure referred to above will be relied upon by the Bank in making the application and by the issuer of the Securities in deciding whether or not to allot Securities to the Bank on behalf of the Customer;
(g) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Bank and its directors, employees and agents in full against any and all losses, damages, claims, liabilities, costs or expenses arising out of or in connection with any breach of the warranties given in this clause 35 or any authorisation being incorrectly given.
     
36. Event of Default
  36.1 Any one of the following events shall constitute an event of default ("Event of Default"):
(a) any liabilities becomes overdue;
(b) the Customer's failure to pay any purchase price of Securities or other payments under these terms and conditions when due;
(c) the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of other analogous proceedings against the Customer and in the case where there are two or more persons as the Customer any such filing, or proceedings in respect of or against any one of them;
(d) any attachment, execution or similar process is levied against an Account;
(e) default by the Customer in the due performance or observance of any of these terms and conditions;
(f) any representation or warranty made in these terms and conditions or in any document delivered to the Bank pursuant to these terms and conditions being or becoming incorrect;
(g) any consent or authorisation required by the Customer to open an Account in accordance with these terms and conditions being wholly or partly revoked, suspended, terminated or ceasing to remain in full force and effect; or
(h) the occurrence of any event which, in the sole opinion of the Bank, might jeopardise any of the rights of the Bank or any Bank Affiliate under these terms and conditions.
  36.2 If an Event of Default occurs, the Bank may at its sole discretion:
(a) cancel any or all outstanding orders or any other commitments made on behalf of the Customer;
(b) close any or all contracts between the Bank and/or any Bank Affiliate and the Customer;
(c) cover any short position with the Bank through the purchase of Securities on an exchange or liquidate any long position with the Bank through the sale of Securities on an exchange;
(d) call upon any securities which may have been issued in favour of the Bank and/or any Bank Affiliate as security for the obligations of the Customer in respect of an Account;
(e) exercise any right of set-off or combination of Accounts conferred by these terms and conditions or otherwise; and/or
(f) immediately close the relevant Account(s).
  36.3 Any determination of whether an Event of Default has occurred shall be made by using reasonable judgement. The Customer undertakes to notify the Bank immediately in writing of the occurrence of any such event which shall constitute an Event of Default (although any failure to so notify the Bank will not prevent an Event of Default from having occurred).
     
37. Termination and Suspension
  37.1 The agreement set out in these terms and conditions may be terminated at the Bank's sole discretion at any time by the Bank and may be cancelled by the Customer giving to the Bank not less than 14 days notice in writing. Any such termination shall not affect any right or liability in respect of services provided by the Bank, transactions already effected by the Bank or any instruction given by the Customer under these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions will continue to apply until all services, accounts and transactions have been closed or completed and the outstanding amounts and liabilities have been paid in full.
  37.2 The agreement set out in these terms and conditions shall forthwith terminate upon the death or upon a legally recognised declaration of incapacity or incapability of the Customer but all acts performed by the Bank, the Brokers and/or the Nominees prior to receiving written notice of such death, incapacity, incapability, shall be valid and binding upon the Customer and the successors in title or permitted assigns of the Customer.
  37.3 Where the Customer consists of more than one person, and one of the events described under clause 37.2 occurs in respect of one of those persons (the "Affected Person", from the time of the occurrence of such event the Customer shall consist of the other persons previously constituting the Customer prior to such event. The Affected Person shall remain liable as part of the Customer under these terms and conditions in respect of Liabilities incurred up to the occurrence of the relevant event.
  37.4 The Bank may at any time by giving notice to the Customer and without disclosing any reason therefor, suspend the services provided pursuant to these terms and conditions and the operation of the Securities Account until further notice.
  37.5 Without prejudice to the generality of clause 37.1, the Bank may in its absolute discretion close the Securities Account if there is a zero balance on the Securities Account for such period as the Bank may determine from time to time.
     
38. Procedures on Closure of the Accounts
  38.1 Upon termination of these terms and conditions pursuant to clause 37 the Bank will close the Account in accordance with the standard procedures as may be adopted by the Bank from time to time.
  38.2 These terms and conditions shall apply until all Securities have been transferred from the Securities Account, all sums due to the Customer and all obligations of the Customer to the Bank fulfilled.
  38.3 On termination by either party, the Bank shall be entitled to receive from the Customer all fees, costs, charges, expenses and liabilities accrued or incurred under these terms and conditions up to the date of termination including any additional expenses or losses reasonably and properly incurred in terminating these terms and conditions.
     
39. Notices
  39.1 Any Communications or notices required or permitted to be given by or on behalf of the Bank to the Customer may be given in writing and sent by mail (postage prepaid) or facsimile addressed to the Customer at the last mailing address or facsimile number on record with the Bank.
  39.2 All Communication and documents so sent under clause 39.1 shall be deemed to have been received by the recipient:
(a) if sent by letter: 24 hours after posting if mailed to an address in Hong Kong, or 7 days after posting if mailed to an address elsewhere, save that in the case of legal process these periods shall be increased to 7 and 21 days respectively; and
(b) if sent by facsimile: when dispatched.
  39.3 Each of the other joint applicants (if any) irrevocably appoints the person named as "Primary Applicant" in the Application as his agent for the purpose of service by the Bank of such notices, demands or other communications as well as any legal process arising in connection with the agreement constituted by these terms and conditions or the Securities Services. Any notice to the "Primary Applicant" will be deemed effective notification to all joint applicants.
  39.4 Any communication from the Customer to the Bank shall be irrevocable and shall not be effective until actually received by the Bank at its designated address and/or in the designated manner.
     
40. Governing Law and Submission to Jurisdiction
  40.1 These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong.
  40.2 The Customer hereby:
(a) irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong and of any country where the Customer has assets now or in the future;
(b) waives any objections on the grounds of venue, forum non convenient or similar grounds; and
(c) consents to service of process including any writ, judgment or other notice by mail to the Customer's address on the Bank's records or to such other address as may subsequently be notified in writing to, and received by, the Bank.
  40.3 The Customer hereby acknowledges that if any dispute or difference of any kind whatsoever shall arise between the Customer and the Bank in connection with or arising out of these terms and conditions, then the Bank may refer such dispute or difference to arbitration in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Arbitration Ordinance or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force and any such reference shall be deemed to be a submission to arbitration within the meaning of such Ordinance.
     
41. Miscellaneous
  41.1 These terms and conditions supersede all prior agreements or arrangements between the Bank and the Customer relating to the Bank effecting transactions in investments or holding investments for the Customer and any such arrangements or agreements are hereby terminated and shall be of no further force and effect.
  41.2 The Bank shall be entitled at any time by giving reasonable notice to amend or supplement any or all of these terms and conditions (subject to the provisions of clause 16.1 in the case of any revision to the level of fees and charges).
  41.3 The Customer may not vary, amend or supplement these terms and conditions without the prior written consent of the Bank.
  41.4 The Bank may, in its absolute discretion, extend the services provided under these terms and conditions to cover securities listed or traded on any other stock exchange or market outside Hong Kong in which case the Bank may supplement these terms and conditions in accordance with clause 41.2.
  41.5 If any of these terms and conditions is held or deemed to be void or unenforceable, the other terms will remain in full force and effect.
  41.6 The authorised signatories for the Settlement Account shall be the authorised signatories for the Securities Account with the same limitation (if any) on signing authority, and the signature(s) of the Settlement Account shall be the Customer's specimen signature(s) for operating the Securities Account.
  41.7 The failure of the Bank to exercise or delay in exercising a right or remedy provided by these terms and conditions or by law does not constitute a waiver of the right or remedy or prevent further exercise of the right or remedy or another right or remedy.
  41.8 The Customer may not assign, transfer, charge or otherwise dispose of rights or obligations in respect of the Account or pursuant to these terms and conditions without the prior written consent of the Bank.
  41.9 The Bank may assign all or a part only of its rights and obligations under these terms and conditions without the prior consent of the Customer.

 

COPYRIGHT © 2009 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK (HONG KONG) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Back to top