SFC Top-Tier

Overview of SFC Regulation

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) was established in 1989 as Hong Kong's independent statutory regulatory body, with comprehensive oversight of the securities, futures, and leveraged foreign exchange markets. As the guardian of one of Asia's leading financial centers, the SFC commands exceptional respect in the international regulatory community and is widely regarded as one of the most credible and enforcement-driven regulators worldwide.

Operating under a model similar to the UK's FCA, the SFC functions as an independent statutory body directly accountable to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is primarily funded through licensing fees and transaction levies charged to regulated entities, a self-financing structure that ensures the SFC's operational independence and objectivity in regulatory enforcement. For forex traders, an SFC-licensed broker signifies operations that must comply with Hong Kong's highest compliance standards, with client fund safety underpinned by robust institutional safeguards.

Hong Kong's status as the world's third-largest financial center, the largest offshore Renminbi hub, and Asia's premier forex trading hub means the SFC's regulatory framework plays an indispensable role in maintaining market order and protecting investor interests. SFC-licensed entities must not only meet stringent capital requirements but also comply with a comprehensive set of obligations under the Securities and Futures Ordinance covering risk management, internal controls, client data protection, and more.

Regulatory Framework and Legal Basis

The SFC derives its regulatory powers primarily from the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO, Chapter 571). The SFO is the core legislative framework for Hong Kong's securities and futures markets, having come into full effect on 1 April 2003. It consolidated several previously scattered regulatory instruments into a unified, modern regulatory system. The SFO grants the SFC extensive regulatory and enforcement powers, including but not limited to:

• Licensing and Approval: The SFC is responsible for approving and administering licenses for all types of securities, futures, and leveraged forex trading activities. It conducts ongoing fitness and propriety assessments of licensed entities and their Responsible Officers (ROs).

• Market Surveillance: Through real-time monitoring systems, the SFC tracks market trading activities to promptly detect and investigate suspicious behavior, including insider dealing, wash trading, and market manipulation.

• Enforcement and Disciplinary Action: The SFC has the authority to take a range of disciplinary actions against non-compliant entities and individuals, including reprimands, fines, suspension or revocation of licenses, and applications to court for injunctions and asset freezing orders.

• Rule-making: The SFC may issue Securities and Futures Rules and Codes as subsidiary legislation under the SFO, detailing specific regulatory requirements.

In addition to the SFO, the SFC's regulatory framework encompasses several subsidiary regulations, including the Securities and Futures (Client Money) Rules, the Securities and Futures (Financial Resources) Rules, and the Securities and Futures (Contract Notes, Statements and Receipts) Rules, which together form a rigorous and comprehensive legal framework for financial regulation.

Investor Protection Mechanisms

Investor Compensation Company (ICC)

The Investor Compensation Company Limited (ICC) is the cornerstone investor protection mechanism within the SFC's regulatory framework. When a licensed intermediary — including a leveraged forex trader holding a Type 3 license — causes investor losses due to default, eligible investors can claim compensation through the ICC of up to HK$500,000 (approximately USD 64,000) per investor.

The ICC compensation fund is financed through annual levies paid by all licensed intermediaries based on their business volume. It is important to note that ICC compensation primarily covers losses arising from fraud, misappropriation of assets, or insolvency of a licensed intermediary. The ICC does not provide compensation for trading losses resulting from normal market fluctuations. Furthermore, ICC protection applies only to transactions conducted through a Hong Kong-licensed entity — investors should confirm that their funds are held under an SFC-licensed Hong Kong entity.

Strict Client Fund Segregation

Under the Securities and Futures (Client Money) Rules, all SFC-licensed leveraged forex traders must hold client funds in trust accounts approved by the SFC, strictly separated from the firm's own money. The SFC requires licensed entities to submit audited client money reconciliation reports on a regular basis, reviewed by independent auditors, to ensure that client funds are not misappropriated under any circumstances. This system is comparable in protective strength to the FCA's CASS 7 rules, eliminating the risk of fund commingling at its source.

Rapid Resolution Mechanism

The SFC has established a comprehensive crisis management framework. When a licensed entity encounters financial difficulties, the SFC can intervene swiftly, including restricting the entity's business activities, freezing relevant assets, and arranging for the orderly transfer of client funds to other licensed entities, thereby minimizing investor losses to the greatest extent possible.

License Types

Under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, the SFC's Regulated Activities are divided into nine categories, each corresponding to a distinct license type:

• Type 1: Dealing in securities

• Type 2: Dealing in futures contracts

• Type 3: Leveraged foreign exchange trading — this is the core license required by forex brokers

• Type 4: Advising on securities

• Type 5: Advising on futures contracts

• Type 6: Advising on corporate finance

• Type 7: Providing automated trading services

• Type 8: Securities margin financing

• Type 9: Asset management

For forex traders, the critical step is confirming that the broker holds an SFC Type 3 Regulated Activity license (Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading). Some larger brokers may hold multiple license categories to provide a more comprehensive range of financial services.

The requirements for a Type 3 license are exceptionally rigorous. Applicants must satisfy the following core criteria:

• Minimum Paid-up Capital: HK$30 million (approximately USD 3.85 million), one of the highest capital requirements for forex regulation globally

• Fitness and Propriety: The company's directors, senior executives, and Responsible Officers must pass the SFC's fitness and propriety assessment, covering integrity, qualifications, and experience

• Sound Risk Management Systems: The applicant must establish comprehensive risk management policies and internal control systems

• Financial Soundness: The applicant must maintain adequate liquidity and capital adequacy at all times

Compliance Requirements

SFC-licensed leveraged forex traders must continuously satisfy a comprehensive set of compliance requirements:

• SFC Code of Conduct: This is the SFC's core behavioral code. Licensed entities must comply with its requirements across all business activities, including client confidentiality, conflict of interest management, and client order handling.

• Financial Resources Requirements: Licensed entities must maintain paid-up capital and liquid capital at or above the prescribed minimum levels at all times, and submit regular financial reports to the SFC.

• Record Keeping: All trading records, client account information, and related documents must be properly maintained for a minimum of 7 years.

• Risk Disclosure: Licensed entities must provide clients with adequate risk disclosure statements, ensuring clients trade with a full understanding of the risks involved.

• Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism: Licensed entities must comply with Hong Kong's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), implementing strict Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures.

• Complaint Handling: Licensed entities must establish effective client complaint handling mechanisms and respond promptly to legitimate client concerns.

• Continuing Professional Training: Responsible Officers must complete the SFC-mandated Continuing Professional Training (CPT) to maintain their professional competence.

How to Verify an SFC License

Verifying whether a broker genuinely holds a valid SFC license is a critical step in safeguarding your funds:

1. Visit the SFC's official public register of licensed persons and registered institutions: www.sfc.hk

2. Enter the broker's Chinese or English name in the search bar

3. In the search results, verify the following key information:

• Confirm the status is "Active"

• Check that the "Regulated Activities" list includes Type 3 (Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading)

• Verify the principal place of business is in Hong Kong

• Note the company's SFC central entity number

4. For further verification, you may call the SFC hotline at +852 2842 7600

Safety tip: Some unethical platforms may be registered in Hong Kong but do not hold an SFC license, or may hold only other license categories (e.g., only a Type 1 securities trading license) rather than the Type 3 leveraged forex trading license. Always verify directly through the SFC website, paying particular attention to the regulated activity categories. Additionally, be careful to distinguish between offshore entities merely incorporated in Hong Kong (not regulated by the SFC) and genuine SFC-licensed Hong Kong entities.

Regulatory Developments and Cross-Border Supervision

In recent years, the SFC has made significant progress across multiple regulatory areas:

• Cross-Border Regulatory Cooperation: The SFC maintains close regulatory cooperation mechanisms with the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) of mainland China, including cross-border regulatory collaboration, information sharing, and joint enforcement under the Shanghai-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect framework. The SFC has also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with regulatory authorities in over 50 jurisdictions worldwide, building an extensive international cooperation network.

• Virtual Asset Regulation: The SFC introduced a regulatory framework for virtual asset fund managers in 2019 and implemented a new licensing regime for virtual asset trading platforms in 2023. Licensed entities providing virtual asset trading services are required to meet higher standards in client suitability assessment, risk disclosure, and asset custody.

• Online Trading Platform Regulation: The SFC has imposed stricter regulatory standards on online brokerage services, requiring licensed entities to ensure the security, stability, and fairness of their electronic trading platforms, with monitoring of algorithmic and high-frequency trading.

• ESG and Green Finance: The SFC actively promotes enhanced ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosure standards and has issued governance guidelines for fund managers to foster sustainable finance development.

• IOSCO Membership: As an active member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the SFC participates in the development and coordination of global financial regulatory standards, ensuring Hong Kong's regulatory framework remains aligned with international best practices.