Exploring the Future of Financial Services in Hong Kong: Blockchain, Digital Currencies, and Open Banking

By Natalie Barkus The financial services industry in Hong Kong has long been recognized as a global leader, characterized by its robust infrastructure, regulatory framework, and investor-friendly environment. As the industry continues to evolve, staying updated on emerging trends and technologies becomes increasingly crucial. There is a clear push to [...]

Protecting Valuable Data: Cybersecurity in the Era of Digitization  

By Natalie Barkus  In the era of digitization, the financial services industry faces complex challenges. With fraud, cyberthreats and attacks on the rise, safeguarding valuable and sensitive data is imperative. With the HKMA regularly publishing alerts to the public regarding fraudulent banking websites and phishing emails, it’s evident that vigilance [...]

The JPEX Scandal and Trust in the Cryptocurrency Sphere 

– By Natalie Barkus The JPEX scandal has rocked Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency sector this month. With multiple arrests made and a projected $1.43 billion worth of assets involved, this insight will focus on the implications of the scandal and the subsequent SFC action. Set up in 2020, Dubai-based cryptocurrency trading [...]

Competence and Ethnics: Lesson Learnt from the Case

– By Wilson Tam The financial or banking industry should be operated on the pillars of competence and ethnics, with professionals expected to adhere to high standards to safeguard client’s assets and interests. Unfortunately, a recent news story on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuohlGRijIM) shed light on the tragedy of a 60-year-old woman, [...]

Regulatory Requirements on Records and the Era of Personal Data Privacy

– By Wilson Tam Records, in both written and electronic form, are essential for the intermediaries and other financial institutions to trace upon themselves and their clients on the financial position and operation of the business. The Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) also establishes a practice of Customer Due Diligence [...]

Sanctions Explained

Sanctions Explained -By Karl Yuen Sanction seems far away from us. However, it is important to comprehend their nature and refrain from being sanctioned or engaging in business with those sanctioned. Sanctions are measures that countries or international organizations take to restrict or prohibit certain activities, transactions, or relationships with [...]

Could Ethics be trained?

Could Ethics be trained? -By Karl Yuen Nowadays, ethics have become more and more important, whether it is in the business areas, medical industry, educational space, or our society. Ethics is different from other knowledge; somebody could be trained their competency, ability, and knowledge. However,  ethics is about your value [...]

2020: A Year Of Listening & Re-Learning For Resilience Under POST COVID-19

By Dr Shirley Yeung To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations South-South Cooperation Day on September 12, 2020, the author organized 14 online transformation seminars in response to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs 3, 4, 8, 9, 17), working closely with industry practitioners to promote innovation [...]

Relearning Strategy in promoting Compliance Awareness

Written by Luke Cheng Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the awareness of compliance has risen. Hence, the whole financial sector committed a huge amount of resources in compliance to ensure corporations abide by the law and the need for compliance thrived thereafter.  After 12 years, the financial [...]

The new norm under COVID-19 – a new dimension of compliance

Luke Cheng Walking across streets in Hong Kong, wearing masks has become a new norm under COVID-19. The government has also imposed measures that wearing masks is compulsory under certain circumstances. Similarly, COVID-19 has affected the ways of doing commerce. Zara has announced early this year of shutting down physical [...]