The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the second link between the mainland and Hong Kong bourses, was launched on Monday.
Ceremonies were held simultaneously at Hong Kong and Shenzhen bourses via video link as Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Chairman Chow Chung-kong and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying jointly beat a gong to mark the launch.
This is the second link of its kind to boost opening up of mainland's capital market after a similar link between the Shanghai and Hong Kong bourses was launched in 2014.
The new scheme is aimed at giving global investors stocks in the tech-heavy Shenzhen market via Hong Kong bourse.
Leung said at the ceremony that the launch indicated the interconnection between capital markets in Hong Kong and Shenzhen "has entered a new stage."
Following the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect will bring more opportunities for both institutional and individual investors in the two bourses, with the advantages of Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" formula, he said. (Updated)