HKEX Enhances Central Asia Market Connectivity with AIFC, Astana International Exchange MOUs

On 2nd June 2026,Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has strategically expanded its Belt and Road footprint by signing two separate Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Authority and the Astana International Exchange (AIX). This dual-track initiative is specifically engineered to bolster bilateral capital [...]

Circular to licensed corporations: Expected controls for account opening and maintaining relationships with clients

On 22nd May 2026,The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) recently conducted a review of 12 licensed securities brokers, uncovering severe deficiencies in account opening practices and the oversight of cross-border correspondent relationships (CBCR) with overseas intermediaries. Specifically, several brokers accepted questionable or forged documentation during client onboarding and failed to [...]

Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework and Amended Common Reporting Standard) Bill 2026 to be gazetted

On 20th May 2026,The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be gazetted on May 22 and introduced to Hong Kong’s Legislative Council on June 3, aiming to implement the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and amended Common Reporting Standard (CRS), requiring crypto-asset service providers to register with the IRD and [...]

Cross-Agency Steering Group welcomes first sector-based operational guide on transition finance

On 15th May 2026, the Hong Kong Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group officially released its “Transition Finance Operational Reference Guide – Phase 1 Report,” which is specifically designed to mobilize capital for the technology sector. In alignment with the Steering Group’s 2026–2028 strategic priorities, this operational toolkit enables [...]

SFC warns against fraudsters claiming access to Investor Compensation Fund

On 19th May 2026,The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a regulatory alert regarding sophisticated secondary fraud schemes exploiting the name of Hong Kong’s Investor Compensation Fund (ICF). Latest cases showed that syndicated fraudsters are targeting individuals who previously incurred investment losses, falsely promising asset recovery under the ICF. Impersonating [...]

HKSAR Government’s Institutional Green Bonds and Infrastructure Bonds Offering

On 8 May 2026The HKSAR Government successfully priced a multi-currency bond offering totaling approximately HK$27.6 billion, spanning green and infrastructure tranches. Denominated in HKD, RMB, USD, and EUR, the issuance attracted HK$239 billion in orders, resulting in a robust 8.6x subscription ratio across more than 30 global markets.The significant tranches [...]

HKMA launches Cargox Pilot Programme

On 7th May 2026,The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) officially launched the Cargox Pilot Programme, a collaborative digital initiative involving 21 participating banks to modernize trade finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Utilizing the Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) infrastructure, the program will execute 20 recommendations across data, infrastructure, and [...]

Survey on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)’ Credit Conditions for First Quarter 2026

On 4 May 2026,The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released its Q1 2026 survey on SME credit conditions, revealing a landscape of broad stability and incremental improvement in liquidity access. Market sentiment regarding credit approval stances turned more favorable; approximately 73% of respondents characterized the current banking stance as “similar” [...]

HKMA and banking sector introduce new round of measures to support SMEs

On April 29 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in conjunction with the banking sector’s Taskforce on SME Lending, unveiled a comprehensive suite of measures designed to bolster small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) amid heightened global economic volatility.Firstly,The 18 participating banks in the Taskforce have further expanded the size [...]

SFC launches official Rednote account to strengthen public outreach and education

On 29 April 2026,The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) officially launched a presence on Rednote (Xiaohongshu) to bolster its digital outreach and public communication. This strategic expansion addresses the escalating complexity and volume of investment fraud; in 2025, the SFC recorded 898 scam reports—a 39% year-on-year increase. This trend persisted [...]