We deployed the mass media considerably to reach out to as wide a range of target audiences as possible. During the year, we used approximately 1,800 airtime spots on television, another 90 on radio and 1,600 on public transport channels to broadcast our investor education messages.

• ‘Outsmart II’: Riding on the success of the “Outsmart” television quiz show, we sponsored the production of the 10-episode sequel for broadcast on TVB Jade in February 2012. Programme host Dodo Cheng Yu Ling quizzed celebrities and artistes on their knowledge of various topics, including, investor protection, product risks and trading procedures. The correct answers were given by academic experts. Interested members of the public also could try answering the questions through a mobile application.
• ‘ATM’: We also sponsored 20 investor education-related questions to be asked in the interactive quiz aired on now TV during the third quarter of 2011.
• ‘Pointers for Investing’: In March 2012, we launched the brand new three-minute-per-episode series on now TV, Cable TV and various popular news Web sites to explain the features and risks of popular investments. Topics covered included renminbi products, ETFs, derivative warrants and margin trading. Investors also were reminded of the importance of placing clear order instructions and tracking trading documents.
• ‘InvestTalk’: From November 2011 to January 2012, the 13-episode radio interview programme was broadcast on Metro Finance, featuring celebrities sharing their investment experience and an SFC representative explaining some dos and don’ts of investing.
• Programmes on renminbi products: In light of the emergence of RQFII funds, we explained the new product class on Commercial Radio Hong Kong (CRHK) in January 2012. Earlier in April 2011, we also helped investors understand the trading and clearing arrangements of listed renminbi securities over the financial programmes on CRHK and Radio Television Hong Kong. In addition, interviews with market professionals were aired on now TV and published in Hong Kong Economic Journal from April to May 2011 to shed light on how to invest wisely in renminbi securities.
• ‘Smart on Bonds’ webcast: From April to May 2011, we placed five interview clips on the Ming Pao Web site to feature market professionals discussing topical issues on bond investing. The topics include interest rate risk and liquidity risk common to bond as an asset class, key features and risks of renminbi bonds, and the additional risks of investing in bond funds.
• Other infomercials and videos: We continued to run the 20-second infomercial series “Know the Protection Measures” hosted by To Kit to explain the new measures relating to sale of investment products on various television channels. On an ongoing basis, we also broadcast timely investor educational messages to help the public keep up with key features and risks of popular products and IPO investing.

Besides using the mass media and online platforms, we also send staff into the community to reach out to different segments with the mission of fostering a proper investing attitude. In the process, we also aim to enhance the public’s understanding of the working of the securities and futures markets.

In the past year, we hosted a total of 57 seminars and workshops serving 8,465 public participants. Our audience included various community groups, students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions, the police force and civil servants.

We continued to explore new ways to provide investor education to the community. We approached the salaried class by arranging seminars for the staff of participating companies. By collaborating with the Elder Academy of The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) and the Elder Academy of Lingnan University, we also extended our reach to more mature citizens.

Our annual Investor Day held in February 2012 featured “market focus” as its theme. Jointly organised with OUHK, the full-day seminars attracted over 700 public participants. Academics and market professionals discussed hedging strategy in a volatile market, points to note when investing overseas, and how the new HSI Volatility Index works. Attendees also were reminded to adopt a proper attitude when investing in stock and bond markets.

Earlier in June 2011, we co-organised the fifth annual seminar with the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts (HKSFA), attracting over 300 members of the public. Representatives from the industry and the HKSFA shared their views on how investors should read the prospectus of an IPO, investment strategies to combat inflation as well as popular topics such as REITs and the outlook on renminbi.