The head of the Hong Kong stock exchange has called for a market consultation on alternative shareholder rights after the city missed out on the $60bn-plus listing of Alibaba because of concerns about its corporate governance that arose from management demands to nominate a majority of board directors.

Charles Li, chief executive of Hong Kong Exchanges, said the public interest involved promoting the long-term competitiveness of Kong Kong as an international financial centre as well as protecting investors and the rule of law.

“Losing one or two listing candidates is not a big deal for Hong Kong; but losing a generation of companies from China’s new economy is. And losing it without a proper debate is even more unacceptable,” he wrote in his blog.