This study examines the first-day returns of initial public offerings listed on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) of Hong Kong from its inception until the year of 2005. Results show that GEM, operating under a relaxed set of listing requirements, exhibits a higher underpricing level than that of the Main Board. Such a higher level can be explained by the ex-post volatility of after-market returns, the timing effects and the geographic location (i.e. ‘H’ SHARES). Both the reputation of underwriters and the signalling role of underpricing show no effect on initial excess returns.