[LME Considers Relaxing Rules to Enhance Hong Kong's Position as a Metals Hub] According to four industry insiders, the London Metal Exchange (LME) is considering relaxing its rules to enhance Hong Kong's status as a metal storage hub. Two of the sources revealed that executives from LME's owner, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx), had asked storage companies what obstacles needed to be removed to make Hong Kong a viable storage location. In a consultation paper released in March this year, LME proposed outdoor storage of aluminum as an option based on 'location-by-location assessment.' The four sources stated that this proposal is primarily aimed at Hong Kong, where space suitable for storage is limited. The exchange briefly allowed outdoor storage of aluminum in the mid-1990s but later discontinued the practice due to concerns over weather damage and security issues.