On 2 February 2021, the Singapore Steering Committee for SOR & SIBOR Transition to SORA (SC-STS) set out key steps to further advance the industry transition to a SORA-centered SGD interest rate market by end-2021. It also published an updated SC-STS Transition Roadmap 2021/22 with priorities for 2021/2022. The SC-STS noted that whilst the recent ICE Benchmark Administration … Continue Reading
Yesterday, the ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA) which compiles and oversees LIBOR, announced its impending consultation on what it is effectively a proposed extension of most (and the more widely used) US dollar (USD) LIBOR tenors until 30 June 2023. This is hugely significant for the markets in Asia where USD is by far the most … Continue Reading
The Financial Services and Treasury Bureau (FSTB) issued a consultation paper on 3 November 2020 seeking comments on its proposal (the New Regs) to amend Hong Kong’s anti-money laundering legislation to bring exchanges that offer virtual assets (VAs) that are not securities within the regulatory remit of Hong Kong’s securities regulator, the Securities and Futures … Continue Reading
We are pleased to announce that the Regulation Tomorrow Podcast is now available on the Apple Podcasts app (and also on iTunes). Please click here to listen and subscribe to the podcast. Episode 1 focusses on Brexit, featuring interviews with Jonathan Herbst, Imogen Garner and Hannah Meakin.… Continue Reading
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has launched a three-month consultation on proposals to amend its anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) guidelines for licensed corporations (LCs) and associated entities (AEs).[1] The proposed amendments aim to align the AML/CTF guidelines with the Guidance for a Risk-based Approach for the Securities Sector (RBA Guidance) issued … Continue Reading
On 4 September 2020, the Insurance Authority (IA) launched a six-week consultation on the proposed Insurance (Special Purpose Business) Rules (SPB Rules). The consultation ties in with the introduction of the new regulatory regime for the issuance of insurance-linked securities (ILS) which is expected to come into operation in 2021. The SPB rules will be added … Continue Reading
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has published FAQs to provide additional guidance on the licensing obligations of single family offices and multi-family offices under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO). The FAQs follow the SFC’s circular issued on 7 January 2020 relating to the licensing obligations of family offices which conduct business in Hong … Continue Reading
In September 2020, SWIFT (a global member-owned cooperative and provider of secure financial messaging services) published a report to support market participants in understanding the money laundering techniques which underpin large-scale cyber-attacks. The report sets out the end-to-end journey commonly used by criminals to launder funds obtained through illicit cyber-crime related activities, and focusses on … Continue Reading
The Insurance Authority has issued a circular today extending Phase 2 of the temporary facilitative measures (TFMs), introduced in March 2020, by another three months (i.e. to 31 December 2020) in light of the current COVID-19 situation. The Phase 2 TFMs permit insurers and intermediaries to use non-face-to-face distribution methods for selling certain insurance products … Continue Reading
The Hong Kong Insurance Authority (IA) has published a consultation paper on the proposed Insurance (Group Capital) Rules (Group Capital Rules), marking the launch of a six-week public consultation which will end on 30 September 2020. The consultation ties in with the implementation of the new supervisory framework for multinational insurance groups, which is due … Continue Reading
Webinar on 2 September 2020 at 8:45am to 10:00am (BST) We are evolving our successful 40 minute briefings into webinars for financial services professionals. This includes senior management and those in legal, compliance and risk teams who have or are developing financial services expertise. The webinars will be led by senior members of our financial … Continue Reading
Following the recent publication of a white paper setting out the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) initial thoughts on supervisory expectations for the management of climate risks (to read our blog post on this, please click here), the HKMA has issued a circular to provide greater detail on the relevant practices adopted by major banks … Continue Reading
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (the HKMA) has published a white paper outlining its initial views on the supervisory expectations for authorized institutions (AIs) in addressing climate-related issues. The development of the supervisory expectations forms part of the work envisaged under phase 2 of the three-phased approach introduced by the HKMA in May 2019, which … Continue Reading
On 28 May 2020, Flex Ltd (“Flex”), a Singapore-based electronics manufacturer listed on the NASDAQ, disclosed in its 2020 US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing that it had initiated a voluntary self-disclosure to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) on 14 February 2019. The initial disclosure related to possible non-compliance with US … Continue Reading
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has issued, by notice in the Gazette, revised versions of the Supervisory Policy Manual (SPM) modules CA-G-1 and RE-1 as statutory guidelines under section 7(3) of the Banking Ordinance.[1] CA-G-1 “Overview of Capital Adequacy Regime for Locally Incorporated Authorized Institutions” The changes incorporated in the revised SPM module CA-G-1 … Continue Reading
Further to the introduction of the Phase 2 temporary facilitative measures (TFMs) on 27 March 2020, the Insurance Authority (IA) has released a circular announcing that Phase 2 of the TFMs will be extended by three months in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phase 2 TFMs (amongst other things) permit insurers and intermediaries to … Continue Reading
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has published its consultation conclusions on the proposed refinements to the scope of regulated activities and competence requirements relating to the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives licensing regime (the Consultation Conclusions) contained in its consultation paper dated 20 December 2017 (the Consultation Paper), following feedback from industry associations, market participants, professional … Continue Reading
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has published a circular setting out key observations and good practices relating to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) control measures applicable to remote customer on-boarding initiatives. The feedback is based on recent thematic reviews, engagement with authorized institutions (AIs) and technology firms in the Fintech Supervisory … Continue Reading
Following the deferral of the implementation of Basel III announced by the Group of Central Bank Governors and Heads of Supervision on 27 March 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued additional guidance[1] to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on the global banking system on 3 April 2020. In light of this, the … Continue Reading
In May 2019, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) introduced a three-phased approach to support the development of green and sustainable banking in Hong Kong. The HKMA has now released the common assessment framework under Phase 1, following feedback received from the banking industry. The common assessment framework will be used to assess the “greenness” … Continue Reading
Earlier this month, a joint statement was issued in relation to the establishment of the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (the Steering Group). This follows a number of recent announcements aimed at supporting the development of sustainable finance in Hong Kong and highlights that tackling climate change remains a top priority for the … Continue Reading
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has announced that the introduction of the initial margin (IM) requirements for non-centrally cleared OTC derivative transactions, initially scheduled to be phased-in from 1 September 2020, will be deferred by one year. To read our previous blog post on the SFC’s consultation conclusions on margin requirements for non-centrally cleared … Continue Reading
The Securities and Futures Commission (the SFC) has issued a circular to provide guidance to licensed corporations (LCs) on managing cybersecurity risks associated with remote working arrangements. The circular sets out some examples of controls and procedures that LCs can implement to protect their internal networks and data under remote working arrangements. The SFC expects … Continue Reading
Amid concerns about extreme market conditions caused by volatility in the crude oil futures markets, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a circular directed at management companies of SFC-authorized exchange traded funds (ETFs) and intermediaries, reminding them of their regulatory obligations, particularly in relation to activities involving futures-based ETFs. A separate circular directed … Continue Reading
