Charles Li [Photo/Hua Ang (NBD)]

Dec. 20 (NBD) -- Charles Li, chief executive officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX, 00388.HK), on Wednesday sold 650,000 shares of the company at an average price of HKD256.533 (32.7 U.S. dollars) per share, showed an exchange filing on Thursday. 

This marks the first time Li has sold his personal shares in the world's leading operator of exchanges and clearing houses since he took the helm on January 16, 2010, and Li has pocketed approximately HKD166.8 million from the deal. 

The filing didn't reveal the reason for the sale. The offloading trimmed Li's stake in HKEX to 0.03 percent from 0.08 percent. His current CEO contract runs until October 2021.

Shares of HKEX remained flat at HKD255 as of 12:00 on Friday. 

For the first nine months of this year, HKEX reported around HKD12.6 billion in revenue and other income, a 2 percent rise from a year ago, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization jumped 3 percent to about HKD9.7 billion.  

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn