A television drama series will launch on May 14 to educate the public on the features and the risks of investment products, the Securities & Futures Commission says.

The Cantonese drama series Investment Challenge, jointly produced by the commission and RTHK, is the commission's latest investor-education initiative to meet its regulatory challenge of tackling risks arising from complex and structured products, and mis-selling to retail investors.

Investment Challenge has 10 five-minute episodes, covering investment products including equity-linked instruments, managed funds, bonds, warrants, futures, investment-linked assurance schemes, real estate investment trusts and leveraged foreign-exchange contracts. Interviews with market professionals are intercut into the drama to explain the topics.

The commission's Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Peter Au-Yang said alternative investment products, which are different from stocks, have unique features. Therefore, it is important for investors to do their homework and evaluate whether the product meets their financial needs.

Learn before you invest

"The commission expects licensed investment advisers to assess the risk profiles of their clients and give them suitable product recommendations. At the same time, investors also have a duty to consider whether the recommended products are within their risk tolerance and fit their investment goals, " he added.

Investment Challenge will be aired on 10 consecutive Sundays starting May 14, at 11am on ATV Home and 3.25pm on TVB Jade. Simultaneous webcast will be available on RTHK's website and its Education Television website. The series will be re-screened at 8.55pm on Cable TV's Financial Channel starting July 2 for 10 consecutive Sundays.

An online game will also be launched at www.eTVonline.tv. After the broadcast of each episode, a question referring to its content will be posted on the website. The first 10 participants who score the highest marks out of the 10 questions will each receive a USB memory stick from RTHK. The deadline for participating in the game is July 22.