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[d.o.g.]

how do u efficiently buy stocks from HKSE on a low-cost basis?

Most of the local brokers can help you buy HKSE stocks. The brokers will act as nominees to hold the shares, so if you want to sell you have to use the same broker. This way is convenient since you have a local contact if you need help. But there is a custody charge of $2 per month per counter. This is $24 per year, so try to own at least $2,400 worth per counter to keep the holding cost under 1%. Brokerage charges are listed for the various brokers, and range from 0.25% to 0.4%, with minimums ranging from HK50 to HK200.

Alternatively, you can open an account directly with a broker in HK itself. That way you can hold your shares at CCASS (the HK equivalent of CDP) allowing you to buy and sell through any broker. This is slightly cheaper (no custody charge) but you have to make an international call every time there is a problem. And you may need to have a good command of Cantonese.

Personally, I buy HK shares through a Singapore stockbroker. I would rather have a local person to deal with when (not if) there is a problem. The custody charge is annoying, but I can deal with it since I own more than $2,400 worth of each counter.