Check a Hong Kong report basis before thesis review
A Hong Kong listing tells you where an issuer is listed, not which currency or fiscal window its statements use. S01 and S02 need those fields explicitly before any cross-period comparison.
A basis card
| Field | Synthetic DEMO-HK entry | Verify in real reports |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | DEMO-HK, fictional | Legal name and code |
| Window | January 1–June 30 | Full dates, not “interim” alone |
| Currency/scale | HKD millions | Statement header |
| Scope | Consolidated | Group versus segment |
| Publication | Synthetic release 2026-10-30 | Separate from period end |
| Language | Original locations retained | Translation does not change units |
Find originals at HKEXnews. Keep the exact report title, language and release details, then the statement heading and page/section. A results announcement may not contain all notes in the full report.
Worked comparison
Assume revenue rises from 800 to 880 HKD million while operating profit changes from 96 to 79.2 over matching six-month periods. Growth is 10%, while operating margin changes from 12% to 9%. The calculation uses operating profit, not net income or a segment measure.
If the current table instead says RMB thousands, do not compute a percentage until the basis is resolved. Converting currency may be necessary for a separate analysis but does not fix a six-month-versus-full-year mismatch. Document any conversion date and method rather than treating a model’s translation as accounting conversion.
Transfer into a thesis check
Give S02 the basis card, original dated thesis and evidence. Prompt: “Verify period, scope, unit and currency first. If a mismatch remains, mark that condition unknown instead of forcing a comparison.”
Suppose the old condition was margin at least 10%. The fictional 9% challenges it. Customer retention remains unknown if no customer data exists; revenue growth cannot establish it. A proposed explanation about costs must retain its source and attribution.
Next check and limitations
Inspect margin notes and customer information, not just the headline revenue table. Keep old and revised versions when a correction appears. The Hong Kong source guide explains rights and access boundaries. A readable public document does not establish permission for bulk redistribution, real-time prices or model-provider processing. This workflow is not a host compatibility test or ongoing monitoring service.
FAQ
Does an HKD share price mean HKD financial statements?
No. Read the reporting currency in the document.
Can a translation fix inconsistent periods?
No. Align the original windows and basis before comparison.