HKMA refers seven Lehman-Brothers-related cases to the SFC for further action

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has today (Friday) referred to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) seven cases involving complaints of alleged misconduct in respect of investment products related to Lehman Brothers for it to decide whether to take further action. The seven cases, which are the nineteenth batch of Lehman-Brothers-related cases referred in this way, involve alleged misconduct by one licensed bank in Hong Kong.

Since 17 October 2008 the HKMA has referred a total of 356 Lehman-Brothers-related cases, involving 16 banks, to the SFC for further action. These cases have been reviewed by the HKMA, which has determined that there are sufficient grounds for referring them to the SFC.

The HKMA has, up to 5 March 2009, received 20,345 complaints concerning Lehman-Brothers-related products, of which 20,198 complaints have gone through the preliminary assessment process. Apart from the 356 cases referred to the SFC so far, the HKMA has formally opened investigations on 4,876 complaints and is currently seeking further information on 14,363 complaints. Six hundred and three complaints have been found to lack sufficient prima facie evidence to support further action (A table summarising the complaints received so far is attached).

Annex

For further enquiries, please contact:
Thomas Chan, Communications Chief, at 2878 1480 or
Peggy Lo, Manager (Communications), at 2878 1687

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
6 March 2009