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- HONG
KONG TABLE OF STATUTES
- HONG KONG MONEY LAUNDERING
LAW
- HONG KONG FINANCIAL SERVICES
LAW
- HONG KONG THE SECURITIES
AND FUTURES COMMISSION
- HONG KONG BANKING LAW
- HONG KONG INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
LAW
Hong
Kong Table of Statutes
This is a non-exhaustive list of the main Hong
Kong statutes affecting international business
and investors. The statutes are listed in alphabetical order – click on the statute for a fuller description of the statute, the legal regime it forms part of, or in some cases the text of the law.
The
Banking Ordinance 1964
The Basic Law
The Business Registration
Ordinance
The Companies Ordinance
1984
The Drug Trafficking (Recovery
of Proceeds Ordinance)
Employees Compensation
Ordinance
Employment Ordinance
Estate Duty Ordinance
Factories & Industrial
Undertakings Ordinance
The Inland Revenue
Ordinance
The Limited Partnership
Ordinance
Mandatory
Provident Fund Ordinance
Occupational Retirement
Schemes Ordinance
Revenue
(Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005
Revenue (Profits
Tax Exemption for Offshore Funds) Ordinance
2005
The Organized and Serious Crimes
Ordinance
The Professional Accountants
Ordinance
The Rating Ordinance
The Composite Securities
and Futures Ordinance 2002
The Securities and Futures
Commission Ordinance
The Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance
The Stamp Duty
Ordinance
The Trustee Ordinance
BACK
TO TOP
In
September, 2005, the Jersey Financial Services
Commission and Hong Kong’s securities and futures
market regulator, the Securities and Futures
Commission, signed a Letter of Intent which
provides a framework for enhanced cooperation
between the two regulatory authorities.
The
Letter of Intent provides a formal basis for
both regulators to work towards several goals,
including:
- equivalence
of regulatory frameworks in place in each
jurisdiction in the areas of regulation,
supervision and marketing of investment
products;
- the
mutual recognition of investment products;
and
- further
strengthening of regulatory cooperation
and assistance in matters pertaining to
cross-border supervision of fund management
activities.
The authorities agreed to establish a bilateral
working group to work towards the achievement
of objectives set out in the Letter of Intent.
Both
the Commission and the SFC are members of the
International Organisation of Securities Commissions
(IOSCO) and signatories of the IOSCO Multilateral
Memorandum of Understanding. The Letter of Intent
is signed in the spirit of mutual cooperation
between securities regulators fostered by IOSCO.
David
Carse, Director General of the Commission noted
that: “I am delighted to sign this Letter of
Intent with the Hong Kong SFC. The Commission
considers that co-operation under the Letter
will facilitate access to Hong Kong’s markets
for Jersey investment products, and also help
to develop the range of products that are available
for distribution in Jersey. It will also provide
a more formal basis for exchanging views with
an important Asian supervisor on matters of
common interest.”
Andrew
Sheng, Chairman of the SFC added that: “The
SFC is committed to facilitating the development
of deeper and broader investment markets globally.
We are delighted to sign this Letter of Intent
with the Jersey Financial Services Commission,
our second non-Asian partner in this endeavour.
Jersey is strategically located and plays an
important role in the European investment products
market, and therefore ideally placed to explore
with the SFC the means of achieving cross-border
distribution of investment products between
our respective markets to our mutual benefit.”
In
May, 2004, Hong Kong's Intellectual Property
Department, the Hong Kong Trade Development
Council, and the Guangdong Provincial Intellectual
Property Office joined forces to stage a one-day
seminar on improving intellectual property (IP)
cooperation between the territory and the Chinese
mainland.
The
seminar looked at the protection of IP with
particular reference to small and medium enterprises
(SMEs), and topics under discussion included
seeking patent protection for new inventions
in the Chinese mainland, trademark protection
issues, and the protection of intellectual property
rights in overseas markets.
Speaking
to attendees, deputy director of Hong Kong's
Intellectual Property Department, Peter Cheung
explained that: "Dongguan (a major city within
the Guangdong Province) is an international
processing and manufacturing base as well as
an important city for foreign export of the
Mainland. Hong Kong enterprises, therefore,
have already established a strong investment
base in the city."
He
went on to add that: "Dongguan was deliberately
chosen for the seminar to allow government officials
from Hong Kong and Guangdong to gather together
to introduce their respective intellectual property
regimes to SMEs in the region. This is a significant
step to deepen our business sector's awareness
on intellectual property protection and management,
and foster co-operation on intellectual property
matters in the Pearl River Delta Region."
IP
provisions were contained in the Supplementary
Agreement V between the Chinese Mainland and
Hong Kong to the Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement, signed in the summer of 2008. According
to the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office:
"The
supplementary agreement of Chinese mainland
and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement
(CEPA) this time includes the content of cooperation
of IPR protection, adding 'brand cooperation'
- a new cooperation field of trade and investment
facilitation."
"The
Supplementary Agreement V clarifies that in
order to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation
in trademark realm, the Trademark Office of
the State Administration for Industry and Commerce
and IP Department of Hong Kong SAR has established
a trademark coordination group as the fixed
bilateral liaison mechanism to strengthen exchanges
and cooperation in areas such as trademark registration
business and trademark protection between the
two regions."
Hong Kong Money Laundering
Law
Hong
Kong has two major pieces of legislation to
control money laundering: the Drug Trafficking
(Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance ("DTRPO");
and the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance
("OSCO")
Since
being enacted, these Ordinances have been amended
in order to:
-
extend
the government's power to attack money laundering
associated with drug trafficking and other
serious offences; and
-
impose
statutory duties on providers of financial
and professional services to disclose and
to make proper inquiries into suspicious transactions.
The
amendments make it an offence for professionals
such as bankers, lawyers or accountants to deal
with property that they know or have reasonable
grounds to believe represents, directly or indirectly,
the proceeds of drug trafficking or other serious
crimes. The maximum penalty for the offence is
14 years imprisonment and/or a fine of HKD5m.
It
is also an offence if a person who knows or suspects
that any property represents the proceeds of drug
trafficking does not report his knowledge or suspicion
to the authorities.
Therefore
the onus is on financial institutions and professionals
to act as watchdogs and control systems have been
established by many companies to ensure that they
are fulfilling their responsibilities under the
new amendments. However, no offence will have
been committed if proper disclosure is made before
the prohibited act occurs and the act is done
with the consent of the authorised officer. Similarly,
if disclosure is made to an authorised officer
voluntarily and soon after the act has been committed,
there is no offence. It is an offence to disclose
anything which is likely to prejudice an investigation
into the suspected money laundering.
The
new amendments ensure that disclosures will not
be treated as a breach of any restriction imposed
by contract (such as a bank's duty of confidentiality
to its customers). Those making any disclosures
will not be liable for any loss arising from the
disclosure even if the suspicion is later shown
to have been unfounded, although reasonable.
Furthermore,
the amendments require money changers and remittance
agents to follow anti-money laundering measures
such as customer identification and keeping transaction
records for transactions over HKD8,000.
This has helped to prevent criminals from using
non-bank financial busineses as conduits for money
laundering.
Informants
are not required to reveal in civil or criminal
proceedings that they have made disclosures under
the legislation.
The
Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Hong Kong Stock
Exchange and Securities and Futures Commission
have also established guidelines for their members
aimed at helping them to avoid facilitating money
laundering.
In
February, 2004, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
(HKMA) urged banks in the jurisdiction to be alert
to the possibility of money laundering as they
geared up to offer yuan-denominated banking services.
"Participating banks are requested to heighten
the awareness of their staff involved in such
business to possible money laundering transactions,"
the regulator announced.
In
order to reduce the possibility of money laundering
activity taking place, the HKMA ordered banks
to record whether yuan deposits are made in cash,
or via the conversion of other currencies. It
also urged the financial institutions to keep
track of multiple accounts opened by the same
customer, and to ensure that the 20,000 yuan per
day exchange limit is not breached by spreading
the transactions across several accounts.
In
June of that year, the HKMA issued a supplement
to the territory's anti-money laundering guidelines,
setting out the latest "Know-Your-Customer" principles,
taking account of the requirements of the paper
on "Customer Due Diligence for Banks" issued by
the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in
October 2001 and the revised Forty Recommendations
issued by the Financial Action Task Force on Money
Laundering in June 2003.
Under
the guidelines, banks and financial service providers
are urged to subject the transactions of higher
risk customers to enhanced due diligence. Those
deemed by the HKMA to fall into the high risk
category include politically exposed persons,
correspondent banks from "non-cooperative jurisdictions",
and offshore companies established in order to
disguise beneficial ownership.
In
February, 2005, Financial Secretary, Henry Tang
revealed that the territory's government was seeking
to raise its game in combating money laundering
and terrorist financing. He said: "We have already
started to put in place the latest recommendations
of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which
will become the new international standard on
anti-money laundering."
The
Financial Secretary also stressed the need for
cross-border cooperation, explaining that: "While
New York, London and Hong Kong must do our best
individually to protect their markets against
money launderers or terrorists, none of us can
really succeed on our own. To be effective, all
jurisdictions around the world must work together
to create a security network so strong and so
tight that criminals cannot breach our defence."
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Hong Kong Financial
Services Law
Until 1964 there were virtually no regulations
governing the financial sector in Hong Kong. A
banking crisis in the 1960s led the authorities
to enact the Banking Ordinance 1964, which introduced
basic standards such as minimum capital requirements
and rudimentary disclosure laws. However, bank
failures, caused by poor management and excessive
investment in the real estate market in the early
1980s, coupled with the stock market crash in
1987, resulted in a complete overhaul of Hong
Kong financial market regulations. The country
now has a transparent legal and regulatory environment
that has facilitated its role as a modern regional
and international financial center.
Under
the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Future
of Hong Kong, Chinese authorities were committed
to enact the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region. The Basic Law is the legal
basis for the "One Country, Two System"
guarantee and provides for the continuance of
Hong Kongs system of common law and free
market economic system after July 1, 1997. The
Law stipulates that the Hong Kong dollar will
remain freely convertible; that markets for foreign
exchange, securities, futures, and other financial
products will remain open; and that no controls
will be placed on the flow of capital into or
out of Hong Kong.
Three
government agencies are responsible for regulating
Hong Kongs financial market: the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Securities and
Futures Commission (SFC), and the Insurance Authority.
In addition to being regulated and supervised
by the HKMA, banks are required to become members
of and adhere to the rules of the Hong Kong Association
of Banks (HKAB).
The
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Hong
Kong has no central bank as such, but the HKMA
does assume many of the responsibilities typically
assigned to a central bank, including ensuring
the safety and soundness of the banking system
and the stability of the currency.
Three
private banksthe Hongkong Shanghai Bank,
the Bank of China, and Standard Charteredare
authorized to issue HK dollars. Under the currency
board system, these banks are allowed to issue
HK dollars only upon depositing US dollars in
the Exchange Fund, which is regulated by the HKMA.
In 1990, the HKMA began to issue Exchange Fund
Bills and, in 1993, Exchange Fund Notes, which
are both HK dollar debt securities. The issuance
of debt securities through open-market operations
provides the HKMA with a mechanism for adjusting
interbank liquidity.
The
clearing and settlements system in Hong Kong changed
in April 1997. Until that time, the Hong Kong
Shanghai Bank managed the Clearing House of the
Hong Kong Association of Banks and settled interbank
payments. The Clearing House is now managed by
Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, which is
jointly owned by HKMA and HKAB. Under the new
system, interbank payments are cleared through
the Exchange Fund.
In
a circular released in July, 2002, HKMA outlined
the principal points of new regulations governing
securities business undertaken by banks.
Currently,
Hong Kong's banks are known as 'exempt dealers',
because their securities departments are not regulated
by the Securities and Futures Commission. However,
under the Banking (Amendment) Ordinance 2002 and
the Securities and Futures Ordinance implemented
in 2003, a raft of new rules governing banks'
securities business have been introduced.
The
main points of the regulations, as outlined in
the HKMA circular are as follows:
-
Banks and any of their staff involved in securities
business must register with the HKMA, and personnel
must meet the SFC's fit and proper person requirements;
-
Banks will need to appoint two senior executives
to supervise the way in which securities activities
are conducted
Under
this regulatory regime, the Monetary Authority
is in charge of the day-to-day supervision of
banks' securities divisions, but cases of suspected
malpractice are handed to the Securities and Futures
Commission for investigation.
"This
is in line with the concept that the SFC remains
the ultimate authority to regulate the securities
and futures industry," the circular explained.
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Hong Kong The Securities
And Futures Commission
The
Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) operates as
a private entity. Thus when the stock market crashed
in 1987, the Securities Commission had no legal
authority to intervene in the affairs of the SEHK.
The regulatory infrastructure for the securities
industry has since been revamped and, in 1989,
the Securities and Futures Commission Ordinance
was enacted. The Ordinance provides the legal
basis for the SFC to supervise and regulate the
securities industry. The SFC now has the authority
to take actions necessary to protect the safety
of the securities market and to prosecute individuals
who breach securities market ordinances and codes.
There
were four stock exchanges in Hong Kong until 1986,
when the four were merged into the Stock Exchange
of Hong Kong (SEHK) in an effort to consolidate
management and control of the market. By the end
of 1996, the SEHK was the second largest stock
exchange in Asia and the seventh largest stock
exchange in the world, with total market capitalization
of USD446 billion. The Hong Kong Futures Exchange
offers futures contracts in finance, properties,
utilities, and commerce and industry.
After
the stock market crash of 1987, the SFC was charged
with overhauling the regulations that govern securities
market participants. Applicants for a license
to deal in securities or operate as an investment
adviser are now required to meet the "fit
and proper person" criterion. Applicants
seeking a dealers license must also have
minimum net capital of HKD5 million. Although
there is no deposit insurance for bank customers,
there is a compensating fund for individuals whose
brokers default on funds owed.
In
1991 the Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance
was amended, resulting in higher penalties for
insider trading. Fraud and misrepresentation are
also punishable by the SFC. Another ordinance
enacted in 1991 calls on a companys directors
and executives, as well as those who acquire more
than 10% of a companys voting shares, to
publicly disclose their dealings. Firms seeking
to list on the SEHK must make a prospectus publicly
available. The SFC has the authority to determine
which clearinghouses are permitted to settle accounts
and their rules of operation in order to ensure
a sound clearinghouse system.
Foreign-owned
financial services firms can engage in securities
market activities in Hong Kong in one of two ways.
Firms that do not deal in the securities market
as their primary business may engage in securities
market transactions through an "exempt"
license. Foreign-owned securities firms are also
free to establish branches or subsidiaries in
Hong Kong subject to approval from the SFC. Securities
firms offer a wide range of services, from managing
portfolios to selling foreign mutual funds to
administering local pension plans.
In
the late 1990's the HKMA conducted a thorough
study of the SAR's banking sector and drew up
a package of policy measures which were installed
over a three-year period beginning in 2000. The
details of these reform measures and the implementation
timetable were contained in the HKMA's Policy
Response to the Banking Sector Consultancy Study.
In
November 2000 the Hong Kong government introduced
the Composite Securities and Futures Ordinance
which combined and replaced all ten pre-existing
pieces of securities and futures legislation.
The law, which was passed in 2002 and came into
effect in 2003 gives the Securities and Futures
Commission (SFC) the power to regulate Internet
trading. In addition the SFC is also able to seize
the working papers of market professionals during
investigations.
An independent non-statutory body, known as the
Process Review Panel, has been established to
ensure that the SFC's internal operations, including
its investigative and disciplinary procedures,
are fair and consistent.
The
Ordinance makes the SFC responsible for regulating
the securities business of banks; their securities
departments were previously regulated by the Hong
Kong Monetary Authority, not by the SFC, which
regulates brokers. The law allows the SFC to penalise
banks if their securities businesses are found
to be in breach of regulations while allowing
the HKMA to continue to operate as the frontline
regulator conducting routine inspections.
In
August, 2005, the SFC released the consultation
conclusions of a review of the territory's Code
on takeovers, mergers and share repurchases, the
main revisions to which took effect on October
1, 2005.
The
main revisions are:
- 'Low-ball'
offers - such offers might be used as a tactic
to frustrate the offeree company’s business
where there is no genuine intention to takeover
the offeree company. The new provisions provide
that a voluntary offer at a discount of more
than 50% to the market price of the shares will
not normally be allowed to proceed.
- Frustrating
actions - the Code has been amended to address
concerns about risks to shareholders arising
from an incumbent board taking deliberate but
lawful action to frustrate a successful offeror
from exercising board control. The revised Code
provides that once a successful offeror calls
a general meeting to appoint directors of the
offeree company, the existing board must co-operate
fully and convene a general meeting as soon
as possible. During this period the existing
board will also be restricted from taking any
frustrating action such as issuing new shares,
or selling or acquiring assets of material amounts
without shareholder approval.
- Telecom
mergers - the Code has been amended to provide
a broad framework for dealing with telecom mergers
that are subject to review by the Telecommunications
Authority under the laws introduced in July
2004. The SFC will keep this area under review
and may amend the Code further in light of experience
in dealing with such takeovers.
The
SFC also consulted the public about whether the
Code should be amended to provide for whitewash
waivers of general offer obligations triggered
as a result of on-market share repurchases.
The
majority of respondents disagreed that such waivers
should be permitted. Some suggested that the uncertainties
as to the price and timing of on-market repurchases
contributed to the undesirability of such an amendment.
One
respondent emphasised that, in light of the prevalence
of the controlling shareholder environment in
Hong Kong, Hong Kong regulations have historically
and justifiably placed greater attention on ensuring
that the interests of minority shareholders are
not unfairly prejudiced than regulations in other
markets.
There
was a concern that minority interests would be
prejudiced in the guise of increasing shareholder
value if the proposal was allowed. The Takeover
Executive agreed with these concerns and believes
that it is in the overall best interests of minority
shareholders not to amend the Code in this respect.
Mr
Peter Au-Yang, SFC’s Executive Director of Corporate
Finance, noted that: "By keeping the Code up-to-date
with market developments and international practice,
the changes help to ensure continued fair treatment
for shareholders who are affected by takeovers
and mergers."
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Hong
Kong Banking Law
The
Banking Ordinance is the basis of the legal framework
governing the banking sector. The Bank Advisory
Committee, which is composed of members of public-sector
and private financial institutions, advises government
authorities on issues concerning the Banking Ordinance.
The
Banking Ordinance was amended in 1986 to authorize
the Commissioner of Banking to regulate the banking
sector, set minimum capital standards, and limit
loans to customers and bank employees. Amendments
to the Ordinance in 1995 gave the HKMA broader
powers, including responsibility for all matters
pertaining to the authorization of banks. The
HKMA can suspend or revoke the license of a bank
found to be in violation of regulations designed
to protect the safety and soundness of the financial
system. It is also authorized, after consultation
with the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, to
take over a financial institution that is unable
to make payments or if it is deemed in the public
interest to take control of the firm.
There
is a three-tier banking system of "authorized
institutions" in Hong Kong: licensed banks,
restricted-license banks, or deposit-taking companies.
Only licensed banks are permitted to accept deposits
of any size and maturity and to offer checking
and savings accounts. They effectively function
as commercial banks. Restricted-license banks
are limited to accepting deposits of more than
HKD500,000 and thus offer investment banking services.
Deposit-taking companies are only authorized to
accept deposits over HKD100,000 that have an initial
maturity of at least three months. Hong Kong adheres
to the Basle principles for bank supervision.
The
approach is one of ongoing supervision and includes
on-site reviews of operations and financial records
and off-site reviews of financial statements and
reports. Banks are required to be incorporated
and publish detailed audit reports as well as
monthly returns showing assets and liabilities.
In addition to information on their balance sheet
and quality of assets, banks are required to disclose
inner reserves, realized profits, and net assets.
Authorities meet annually with internal and external
auditors to review each institutions audit
and determine if the institution is in compliance
with prudential standards and the Banking Ordinance.
The Banking Ordinance, in turn, provides a legal
basis for enforcing the Basle standards. Violation
of the Banking Ordinance is punishable by fines,
imprisonment, or both.
The
Banking Ordinance restricts the use of the word
"bank" to those institutions that are
either licensed or restricted-license banks. In
the latter case, the word "bank" must
be accompanied by either "merchant"
or "investment." Only a "fit and
proper person" can be issued a banking license,
and there exist controls regarding the ownership
and management of an authorized financial institution.
An authorized institution is required to inform
the HKMA if it makes changes to any documents
that outline the institutions procedures.
Approval is also required before there can be
any changes in a banks ownership.
The
Banking Ordinance also sets forth minimum capital
requirements for authorized institutions. Locally
incorporated banks must have paid-in capital equal
to USD388 million and net assets of USD518 million
dollars for authorization to operate a licensed
bank. Applicants for a restricted-license bank
must have paid-in capital equal to USD12.8 million.
Authorized
institutions are not permitted to lend more than
25% of their capital base to a single customer
or group of related customers, nor are they allowed
to hold more than 25% of shares in other companies.
No more than 10% of an authorized institutions
capital base may be used for unsecured loans.
The
HKMA adopted BIS capital-adequacy guidelines in
1989. The minimum standard according to BIS recommendations
is a capital-adequacy ratio of 8 percent. The
national requirement in Hong Kong is also 8%,
although some banks are required to maintain 12%
and some nonbanks at least 16%. The actual risk-based
capital-adequacy ratio at the end of 1995 was
17.5%. In December 1996, the HKMA implemented
reporting requirements that direct banks to address
market risk in calculating their capital-adequacy
ratio.
New
Banking (Capital) Rules came into effect in January,
2007, and are the implementing Rules for Basel
II, the new international standard for banks'
capital adequacy.
They
set out in detail the different approaches that
can be adopted for calculating the capital charge
for credit, market and operational risks.
They
were issued under a new rule-making power provided
under the Banking (Amendment) Ordinance 2005,
and replaced the previous regulatory capital regime
set out in the third schedule to the Banking Ordinance.
This was to be followed by a consultation on the
Banking (Disclosure) Rules.
Foreign-owned
commercial banks can enter the Hong Kong banking
industry by establishing a branch or by acquiring
ownership of a local bank. Foreign-owned firms
must apply for a license to enter the financial
services market. License approval is subject to
four criteria: foreign-owned firms must (1) have
net assets of USD16 billion, (2) be incorporated
in a country that applies the Basle principles
for bank supervision, (3) have approval from their
home country to operate a branch in Hong Kong,
and (4) come from a country that offers reciprocal
access to Hong Kong banks. Of the 224 authorised
institutions in Hong Kong in 2004, 197 were beneficially
owned by interests from over 30 countries. In
addition, there were 89 local representative offices
of overseas banks in Hong Kong. In February 2009
there were 197 authorized institutions and 72
representative offices.
Hong
Kong does maintain restrictions on the number
of branches that foreign banks are permitted to
operate. In 1994, authorities relaxed the one-branch
limit for foreign banks, allowing them to open
one additional office in a separate building from
the location of their main branch; however, the
additional office is to be used only for "back
office" functions such as processing and
settling transactions conducted in the main branch
office. Fully licensed banks (commercial banks)
are allowed to establish operations in Hong Kong
only as a bank branch. Restricted-license banks
(investment banks) are permitted to open branches
or subsidiaries. Licenses for deposit-taking companies
are extended only to locally incorporated subsidiaries.
In
the light of China's accession to the WTO, in
December 2001 the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority reduced
the USD16 billion minimum asset requirement for
foreign banks, bringing the amount needed down
to HKD5 billion, in line with the requirements
for local institutions. As well as encouraging
foreign financial institutions to put down roots
in the SAR, the authorities hope that this move
will encourage the mainland to reduce its minimum
asset requirements - currently set at USD16 billion
- which would make it easier for Hong Kong banks
to establish there.
'These
proposals would further open up Hong Kong's banking
sector to allow a broader range of domestic and
international institutions to participate in the
Hong Kong markets as full licence banks,' explained
the Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, David
Carse, adding: 'We believe these incentives will
help to rationalise the authorisation and market
entry system in Hong Kong and will also enhance
the status of Hong Kong as an international financial
centre.'
Two
accounting standards came into force in Hong Kong
in January 2005 . Hong Kong Accounting Standards
32 and 39 are detailed and prescriptive in nature,
requiring banks to estimate loan provisions based
on future cash flows rather than the current guidelines
issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and
review the basis for general provisioning.
Most
banks hold a general provision of around 1%
of total advances, as required by the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority. The new standard requires
this to be based on an analysis of historical
loss experience and may lead to a significant
write back of general provisions.
The
standards are the Hong Kong Society of Accountants'
final step in achieving full convergence with
International Financial Reporting Standards.
In achieving full compliance Hong Kong banks
will be more comparable with their international
peers, facilitating easier access to cross border
capital markets.
Electronic
Banking
As
a bank regulator, the primary objective of the
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) in respect
of the developments of electronic banking (e-banking)
is to ensure that the regulatory framework for
e-banking keeps up with the industry and technological
developments without stifling innovation.
Since
1997, the HKMA has been issuing a series of circulars
to set out its regulatory approach on e-banking
services and to provide authorised institutions
with recommendations on the risk management for
these activities. While institutions do not need
to seek formal approval from the HKMA to offer
their e-banking services, they should discuss
their plans and risk management measures with
the HKMA in advance.
Among
the issues discussed, the arrangements adopted
by institutions to ensure adequate information
security for their services are one of the key
focuses of the HKMA. While absolute information
security does not exist, institutions are expected
to implement information security arrangements
that are "fit for purpose", i.e. commensurate
with the risks associated with the types and amounts
of transactions allowed, the electronic delivery
channels adopted and the risk management systems
of individual institutions.
Furthermore,
the HKMA expects senior management of institutions
to commission periodic independent assessments
of the information security aspects of their e-banking
services. The HKMA expects such independent assessments
to be carried out by trusted independent experts
before launch of the services, and thereafter
at least once a year, or whenever there are substantial
changes to the risk assessment of the services
or major security breaches. To provide further
recommendations to the senior management of institutions
on information security, the HKMA issued in July
2000 a Guidance Note on Management of Security
Risks in Electronic Banking Services.
Internet
Advertisements for Deposits
Under
the Banking Ordinance, overseas-incorporated institutions
(including virtual banks) intending to solicit
deposits from members of the public in Hong Kong
would not be required to be authorised, provided
that the deposits are placed overseas. However,
section 92 of the Banking Ordinance makes it an
offence for any person, other than an authorised
institution, to issue an advertisement or invitation
to members of the public in Hong Kong to make
a deposit, even if it is made outside Hong Kong,
unless the disclosure requirements in the Fifth
Schedule to the Banking Ordinance are complied
with. They should include a warning in their advertisements
that they are not authorised under the Banking
Ordinance and hence are not subject to the supervision
of the HKMA. The advertisements must also contain
certain specified information about the overseas
institutions and the deposit scheme being advertised.
The objective is to ensure that material facts
are available to enable prospective depositors
to make their own judgement on whether to place
a deposit with the institutions concerned.
The
HKMA say that advertisements placed through the
internet should be governed by the same principles.
Authorisation
of Virtual Banks
A
virtual bank is a company which delivers banking
services primarily, if not entirely, through the
internet or other electronic channels. The term
does not refer to existing licensed banks which
make use of the internet or other electronic means
as an alternative channel to deliver their products
or services to customers.
In
May 2000, the HKMA issued a Guideline on the Authorisation
of Virtual Banks under section 16(10) of the Banking
Ordinance. The Guideline sets out the principles
that the HKMA will take into account in deciding
whether to authorise virtual banks. The main principle
is that the HKMA will not object to the establishment
of virtual banks in Hong Kong provided that they
can satisfy the same prudential criteria that
apply to conventional banks. In summary, virtual
bank applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
-
maintenance
of a physical presence in Hong Kong;
-
maintenance
of a level of security appropriate to their
proposed business;
-
establishment
of appropriate policies and procedures to
deal with the risks associated with virtual
banking;
-
development
of a business plan which strikes an appropriate
balance between the desire to build market
share and the need to earn a reasonable return
on assets and equity;
-
clearly
setting out in the terms and conditions for
their services the rights and obligations
of customers; and
-
compliance
with the HKMA's guidelines on outsourcing
of computer operation.
In
line with existing authorisation policies for
conventional banks, a locally incorporated virtual
bank cannot be newly established other than
through the conversion of an existing locally
incorporated authorised institution. Furthermore,
local virtual banks should be at least 50% owned
by a well-established bank or other supervised
financial institutions. For applicants incorporated
overseas, they must come from countries with
an established regulatory framework for electronic
banking. In addition, they must have total assets
of more than USD16 billion and will be subject
to the "three-building" condition
in respect of its physical offices, but not
in respect of its cyber network.
On
December 31, 2008, the Hong Kong Association
of Banks and the Deposit-Taking Companies Association
(DTCA) jointly announced the launch of a revised
Code of Banking Practice (the Code) which will
took effect from January 2, 2009. The revised
Code has been produced following a comprehensive
review of the existing Code by the Code of Banking
Practice Committee (CBPC), which has representatives
from HKAB, the DTCA and the Hong Kong Monetary
Authority.
The main objective of
the review was to clarify and enhance the provisions
of the Code in the light of recent developments
in the banking sector. Among the major improvements
are:
-
the
introduction of a new section to require Authorized
Institutions (AIs), which include licensed
banks, restricted licence banks and deposit-taking
companies to give reasonable notice, normally
not less than 2 months, to customers before
closing a branch. The notice should be prominently
displayed on the branch premises and should
contain details of how the AI may continue
to provide services to customers and provide
contact information in case of enquiries by
customers;
- the rewriting of the
provisions relating to guarantees and third
party securities to make them more reader friendly.
These provisions were introduced in 2003 to
enhance the protection of guarantors. One of
the requirements is that AIs should offer a
choice between a limited or unlimited guarantee
to any person proposing to give a guarantee
or third party security. In the case of an unlimited
guarantee, AIs are required to notify the guarantor
as soon as reasonably practicable when further
facilities are extended to the borrower;
- the updating of the
chapter on “stored value cards”
to offer more protection to stored value cardholders
through various measures, including the provision
of channels to check previous transactions and
the requirement to reimburse the cardholder
as soon as reasonably practicable where a transaction
cannot be completed successfully but value has
been deducted from the stored value card;
- the enhancement of the
provisions relating to security advice for cards
and e-banking services to provide more guidance
to facilitate compliance by AIs as well as to
make it easier for customers to understand what
they should, and should not, do in order not
to compromise the security of their card and
e-banking transactions;
- the expansion of the
provision in relation to advertising and promotional
materials of AIs to make it clear that where
benefits offered are subject to conditions,
such conditions should be clearly displayed
in the advertisement wherever practicable, or
the advertisement should include reference to
the means by which further information may be
obtained; and
- the expansion of the
provision regarding notice on dormant account
charges to require AIs to also advise customers
of what can be done to avoid such charges or
where they can obtain such information.
AIs were expected to
take steps to comply with the revised provisions
within 6 months from the effective date at the
latest. Another 6 months is allowed for compliance
with those revised provisions which require
system changes.
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Hong Kong Investment Management
Law
The Intermediaries and Investment Products Division
of the Securities and Futures Commission is responsible
for regulating the marketing to the public of
unit trusts, mutual funds and other collective
investment schemes.
The Investment Products Department has regulatory
responsibility for unit trusts, mutual funds,
investment-linked assurance schemes, pooled retirement
funds and immigration-linked investment schemes
as well as other forms of investment arrangements.
These products require authorisation by the SFC
before they can be marketed to the public in Hong
Kong. The Department vets applications for such
authorisation and monitors ongoing compliance
with regulatory requirements. The SFC has issued
numerous sets of Rules and Codes of Practice for
the guidance of the investment management sector,
including:
Fund
Manager Code of Conduct, March 2003
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H207
Code
on Pooled Retirement Funds First Edition pursuant
to Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)
April 2003
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H211
Code
on Real Esate Investment Trusts, June 2005
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H382
Code
on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds, July 2008
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H507
Code
on Pooled Retirement Funds, July 2008
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H510
Code
on Investment-Linked Insurance Schemes, July 2008
http://www.sfc.hk/sfcRegulatoryHandbook/EN/displayFileServlet?docno=H509
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