The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has released its long awaited FAQs regarding its 31 October 2019 circular on the use of external electronic data storage providers (EDSP Circular). While there are some aspects of the FAQs which we anticipate will create practical challenges and will require some careful analysis to implement, we generally consider the FAQs to be a significant step forward and to provide much needed flexibility for the industry. Continue reading
Tag: licensed corporations
Hong Kong SFC’s new electronic data requirements place MICs and cloud services in the spotlight
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).
Hong Kong SFC launches key risk indicator platform to enhance risk monitoring
Last Friday, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular to announce the launch of a key risk indicator (KRI) platform to collect and analyse KRI data from selected licensed corporations (LCs).
The platform is aimed at facilitating the SFC’s supervision of global firms which are exposed to the changing dynamics of global markets. It supplements the SFC’s existing monitoring tools and enhances the SFC’s information gathering and analytical capabilities to better identify and manage existing and emerging risks.
SFC publishes AML/CFT inspection findings and urges intermediaries to ensure compliance
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular on 31 August 2018 highlighting both deficiencies and good practices observed in relation to anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance by licensed corporations (LCs) and associated entities (AEs). The observations were made over the past year from the SFC’s review of AML/CFT measures, policies, procedures and controls (AML/CFT systems) belonging to 13 LCs during thematic inspections and around 270 LCs during routine inspections. This follows on from the SFC’s circular issued on 26 January 2017, setting out its observations relating to AML/CFT compliance from inspections conducted in 2016 (see our earlier bulletin here). Continue reading
HONG KONG SFC PROVIDES UPDATE ON MIC REGIME AND ANNOUNCES THEMATIC REVIEW OF LICENSED CORPORATIONS’ GOVERNANCE
In the latest issue of its SFC Compliance Bulletin: Intermediaries published on 16 May 2018, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) provides an update on the implementation of the Manager-in-Charge (MIC) regime and announces that it will conduct a thematic review of licensed corporations’ (LC) management structure and effectiveness. Continue reading
HONG KONG SFC RELEASES THEMATIC REVIEW REPORT ON ALTERNATIVE LIQUIDITY POOLS
Earlier this week, the SFC released a circular and a report in relation to its thematic review to assess compliance with the regulatory requirements for Alternative Liquidity Pools (ALPs, commonly known as “dark pools”) by licensed corporations (LCs) and to gather information on the latest market developments.
SFC ISSUES GUIDANCE ON BEST EXECUTION FOLLOWING THEMATIC REVIEW
On 30 January 2018, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular to set out its guidance on the standards expected of licensed corporations on best execution (Circular). The SFC also provided further detailed guidance in its Report on the Thematic Review of Best Execution (Report). Continue reading