The High Court of Australia has denied special leave to appeal the decision of the New South Wales Supreme Court of Appeal in HDI Global Speciality SE v Wonkana No 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 296, bringing to an end at least one element of confusion which has gripped policyholders and insurers since last year.
Insurance
Insurance Authority takes first disciplinary actions against licensed insurance brokers


The Insurance Authority (IA) has taken its first disciplinary actions against two licensed insurance broker companies for failure to submit their audited financial statements and auditor’s reports within required timeframes. One of the broker companies has had its licence suspended, and both companies have been fined. The enforcement actions are the first of…
Insurance Authority consults on draft rules for insurance-linked securities regulatory regime


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…
Insurance Authority extends the validity of temporary facilitative measures to 31 December 2020


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 Authority consults on the proposed capital rules for insurance groups


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…
Insurance Authority extends Phase 2 of temporary facilitative measures implemented in light of COVID-19


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…
Insurance Authority issues circular on application of certain guidelines in response to COVID-19


In recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on the insurance industry and taking into account a request made by the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, the Insurance Authority (IA) has issued a circular, announcing that it will modify the approach for bringing certain guidelines into effect.
In relation to the following guidelines (which…
Insurance amendment bills to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global risk management centre and regional insurance hub


The bills amending the Insurance Ordinance (Cap.41) (the IO) which are expected to help Hong Kong grow its insurance sector have now been published in the Gazette.
The bills – namely, the Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020 (the First Bill) and the Insurance (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2020 (the Second Bill), seek to (i)…
Insurance Authority implements Phase 2 of temporary facilitative measures in light of COVID-19


Further to the Phase 1 temporary facilitative measures (TFMs) introduced by the Insurance Authority (IA) on 21 February 2020, the IA has announced the second phase of TFMs in view of the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to reduce the risk of infection from in person meetings during the…
Insurance Authority issues guidance on licensing requirements for banking sector dealing with insurance under new insurance intermediaries regime


The Insurance Authority has issued an explanatory note to provide guidance on the extent to which certain banking activities involving insurance would be regarded as regulated activities under the new regulatory regime for insurance intermediaries (to read further on the new regime which came into operation on 23 September 2019, please refer to our blog…