The Hong Kong gold exchange has teamed up with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to launch gold trading services in the Qianhai free trade zone in September, providing custodial and physical settlement service targeted at commercial users and precious metals traders, according to the exchange head.

The local gold bourse plans to build a HK$1 billion permanent gold vault facility, including a bonded warehouse, trading floor and related offices areas in Qianhai, however the project will take two years before completion, according to Cheung.