Hong Kong Monetary Authority

Market Infrastructure

HKMA Proposes Mandatory Reference Checks to Stop Rolling Bad Apples

By Manesh Samtani | 08/05/2020

Under the scheme, prospective employees would be required to disclose employment records to recruiting AIs before a new employment relationship is established.

Enforcement

SFC Fines Mega International Commercial Bank Over Sales Practices

By Editors | 07/05/2020

Mega did not properly assess clients’ investment objectives, risk tolerance levels and knowledge of derivatives, or ensure the suitability of its fund recommendations for clients.

Hong Kong Set to Commence Fixed-rate Mortgage Pilot

By Editors | 06/05/2020

Under the six-month pilot scheme, participating banks will offer fixed-rate mortgage loans, capped at HK$10mn per loan transaction, and subject to a total aggregate cap of HK$1bn.

Market Infrastructure

HK Regulators Establish Green and Sustainable Finance Steering Group

By Editors | 05/05/2020

Initiated by the HKMA and SFC, the Steering Group will coordinate across other agencies and sectors to position Hong Kong as a global leader in green and sustainable finance.

Hong Kong Records Higher Negative Equity Mortgage Loans

By Editors | 30/04/2020

The negative equity loans are related to housing loans provided to bank staff or under mortgage insurance programmes, which tend to have higher loan-to-value ratios.

AML / KYC

Digital Identification in a Post-COVID World

By Editors | 28/04/2020

Social distancing has put KYC into sharp focus, with regulators reiterating their support for digital onboarding to ensure financial transactions are possible.

Capital / Liquidity

Hong Kong Gazettes Banking Rule Amendments to Implement SA-CCR

By Editors | 25/04/2020

The final Basel III standards on SA-CCR and on capital requirements for CCP exposures will come into operation in Hong Kong on 30 June 2021, subject to negative vetting.

Market Infrastructure

HKMA Survey Highlights LIBOR Transition Challenges

By Editors | 23/04/2020

About HK$1.4tr in assets, HK$0.5tr in liabilities, and HK$14.7tr in derivatives still referencing LIBOR will mature after end-2021 and don’t have fallbacks in place.

Capital / Liquidity

Banks Sufficiently Capitalised to Pay Dividend, says RBA Governor

By Manesh Samtani | 22/04/2020

Australian banks are well-capitalised and have the ability to pay dividends, says RBA governor Philip Lowe. ANZ, Westpac and NAB are reportedly engaging with APRA on the issue.