Hong Kong's market regulator is taking on a role to help investors recover funds, as seen in a case where over HK$1.5 billion is being distributed to shareholders of Giordano International. This marks the largest settlement of its kind.

On a warm Saturday in early May, the kind of day most would choose to spend on a hike or at the beach, hundreds of Hongkongers instead stood for hours in a queue at Edinburgh Tower in Central. But despite the loss of a pleasant weekend afternoon, none would be likely to consider it time wasted. They were there claim their fair share of HK$1.5 billion (US$191 million) owed to independent shareholders of Giordano International in the largest settlement on record by the city’s Securities and...