Hong Kong to Expand ‘Name and Shame’ List to IPO Lawyers

Hong Kong plans to expand its “name-and-shame” regime for sloppy listing applications to include law firms and auditors, stepping up a campaign to improve the quality of initial public offerings in the city.

Under a new Enhanced Return Mechanism proposed by Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. on Friday, all professional parties involved in a deal will be publicly identified if a listing application is rejected for being “not substantially complete.”

The proposal, unveiled in a market consultation paper, marks an escalation in regulatory pressure as IPOs have boomed in the city, making it the world’s biggest listing venue ...