The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) introduced the Hong Kong Investor Identification Regime (HKIDR) for the Hong Kong securities market in March 2023. Under HKIDR, Relevant Regulated Intermediaries (RRIs), including IBKR, are required to assign a Broker-Client-Assigned-Number (BCAN) to each client with the capability to trade securities on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK). The RRI must also tag this identifier to all securities orders sent to SEHK.
Without an active BCAN linked to your account, you cannot submit Hong Kong stock orders. You will receive one of these error messages:
- "BCAN CODE not found"
- "Not allowed to open a position: Due to the HKIDR BCAN missing for this account. Visit our FAQ for troubleshooting."
There are two types of BCAN:
- HKIDR BCAN: Required to trade securities on the SEHK Main Board.
- China Connect BCAN: Required to trade Northbound Stock Connect securities via SEHK.
To have a BCAN assigned to your account, you must enable at least one of the following trading permissions:
- Hong Kong Stocks
- Hong Kong Stock Short Selling
- Hong Kong Stock Options
- Hong Kong Bonds
- Hong Kong Warrants
Steps to request or re-enable Hong Kong trading permissions:
- Log in to Client Portal
- Click the User menu (head and shoulders icon in the top right corner) followed by Settings
- Under Account Settings find the Trading section
- Click on Trading Permissions
- Request the Hong Kong trading permission(s) you require
Once any Hong Kong permission is active, IBKR will automatically assign a BCAN to your account.
Please Note
- When you request these permissions, your Client Identification Data (CID) will be shared with the SEHK, as required under HKIDR regulations. The CID includes your full legal name, identity document type, issuing country, and document number (e.g., HKID Card details for Hong Kong residents).
- If you are a RRI or hold a SFC Type 1 license, you are required to provide your BCAN for proprietary trading activities. To do so, contact our Client Services team, who can assist you with the process.
- For other order rejection inquiries, see Why were my orders cancelled or rejected?
If you have already re-enabled permissions but still cannot trade, contact IBKR Client Services and provide a screenshot of any error message for further escalation to the technical team.
Additional Information