On 6 November 2019, Hong Kong's Security and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a position paper setting out a new regulatory framework for the licensing of centralised virtual asset trading platforms, following the SFC’s conceptual framework issued last year. Read more

On 31 October 2019, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published a circular (Circular) on the use of electronic data storage providers (EDSPs) by licensed corporations (LCs). In the Circular, the SFC has reminded LCs of their obligation to ensure the preservation and integrity of those records or documents they are required to keep under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (collectively, Regulatory Records) – and stressed that this obligation continues to apply even where LCs rely on EDSPs either exclusively or in conjunction with on-site data hosting. Read more

Every quarter our financial services regulatory team publishes the Financial Services Regulatory Timeline, a look ahead at key regulatory milestones in the coming months and years in a range of areas, created for our clients in financial institutions. Three areas covered in the Timeline are Financial Crime, Enforcement, and Market Abuse. For the readers of our corporate crime e-bulletins, we have produced these sections as a Calendar of key developments in Financial Crime, Market Abuse and Enforcement which can be accessed here. Read more

In a circular issued to authorised institutions (AIs) on 23 October 2019, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) indicated that it will conduct a regular survey to collect information on AIs’ exposures referencing interbank offered rates (IBORs) and their progress in preparing for transition to alternative reference rates (ARRs). Depending on the survey results, the HKMA will take appropriate follow up action. Read more

Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of our corporate crime update – our round up of developments in relation to corruption, money laundering, fraud, sanctions and related matters. This bumper edition covers a number of jurisdictions, and includes content from the summer break. Read more

On 4 October 2019, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) published proforma terms and conditions which will apply to virtual asset fund managers that meet specified criteria. This follows the SFC’s statement of 1 November 2018 regarding the regulatory framework for virtual asset fund managers, fund distributors and trading platform operators (see our e-bulletin of 2 November 2018 for further details), in which the SFC indicated (among other things) that it would impose terms and conditions on certain virtual asset fund managers. Read more