HONG KONG -- A pilot platform on cross-border investment and debt-securities settlement will be launched on March 30, the Hong Kong monetary authority said on Tuesday.

The platform will enhance efficiency in cross-border debt-securities settlement, and strengthen capacity in debt-securities issuance activities in the Asian region.

Through the platform, investors in Hong Kong and Malaysia can buy and hold foreign debt securities and settle cross-border transactions on a delivery-versus-payment basis, while local and international bond issuers can issue a wide range of debt securities.

The platform includes a comprehensive debt-securities database of Asian debt securities maintained by Euroclear Bank.