Hong Kong Monetary Authority

AML / KYC

HKMA Grades SVF Sector as ‘Medium Risk’ in Latest AML/CTF Assessment

By Manesh Samtani | 22/07/2019

While most of the sector presents low risk, higher risk has emerged in SVF products that allow overseas cash withdrawals, cross border remittances, and person-to-person transfers.

Enforcement

HKMA Delegated Powers to Inspect Banks’ Insurance Business

By Editors | 22/07/2019

The Insurance Authority is delegating inspection and investigation powers to the HKMA in relation to insurance related business conducted by authorised institutions.

Fintech / Regtech

BOT Concludes Project Inthanon’s Second Phase

By Manesh Samtani | 22/07/2019

Phase 2 used smart contracts to automate bond lifecycle events, and introduced pre-validation to reduce error and fraud in funds transfers. Phase 3 will be a joint effort with the HKMA.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong, China Framework Comparison – Conduct and Culture

By Prasanna Venkatesan | 18/07/2019

Synpulse’s Prasanna Venkatesan, Gregory Achache and Marina Mai compare China and Hong Kong’s regulatory frameworks in relation to culture and conduct.

AML / KYC

The Rise of Digital Banks in Asia Raises Compliance Questions

By Claus Christensen | 16/07/2019

The entrance of FinTech and BigTech firms into banking is forcing incumbents to adapt, but it should not come at a cost to compliance obligations, writes Claus Christensen at Know Your Customer Ltd.

Capital / Liquidity

HKMA Asks Banks to Prepare Systems for Revised Leverage Ratio

By Editors | 15/07/2019

Both the revised leverage ratio treatment of client cleared derivatives and the revised disclosure requirements will come into effect in Hong Kong on 1 January 2022, in line with the BCBS timetable.

Big Picture

Open Banking, APIs Will Unlock a Host of Opportunities: NPP Australia

By Editors | 08/07/2019

A new white paper from NPP Australia provides an overview of developments in other real-time payments markets, including opportunities and challenges for the payments sector.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong ‘Greenness’ Assessment Framework for Banks by Year-End

By Manesh Samtani | 02/07/2019

The framework will comprise guiding principles and possible metrics for the greenness assessments, drawing from industry feedback and the HKMA’s participation in the NGFS.

Fintech / Regtech

BIS ‘Innovation Hub’ to Set Up in Hong Kong, Singapore

By Editors | 02/07/2019

The BIS Innovation Hub will foster collaboration between central banks and, by extension, help the private sector fully realise ‘new economy’ opportunities.