Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Cloud & Infrastructure

HKMA Reports on Open API Implementation Progress

By Editors | 01/08/2019

Phase I Open APIs provide information on banking products and services. Phase II will allow banks to process applications for such products and services by end-October.

Structural Regulation

Hong Kong Names Eddie Yue as New HKMA Chief

By Manesh Samtani | 26/07/2019

Yue is the “person best suited for this position”, said Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan announcing the appointment on Thursday.

Anti-Money Laundering

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.

Structural Regulation

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.

CBDCs

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.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

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.

KYC & CDD

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 Adequacy

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.

Payments & Settlements

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.