Upgraded legislation creates an enhanced regulatory framework for the new age of payments, including e-money and digital payment tokens. 

By Farhana Sharmeen and Simon Hawkins

After much anticipation, and following consultations with the industry at large, the game-changing Payment Services Act 2019 (PSA) has finally become operational.

The PSA, which came into effect on 28 January, is the omnibus legislation dealing with payment services and systems, which adopts an activity-based licensing framework and risk-based regulatory structure. The new legislation has been designed in recognition of the different kinds of payment services that are currently available, and with a view to anticipating the types of payment services that are likely to develop in the future.

The HKMA has issued three virtual banking licenses as part of its broader initiatives to develop the local banking industry.

By Simon Hawkins and Kenneth Hui

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) recently announced the issuance of the first virtual banking licenses to three entities.

Virtual banks in Hong Kong are banks that primarily deliver retail banking services through the internet or other electronic channels, instead of through physical branches.

The HKMA previously issued a press release on 7 December 2018 announcing that there had been around 30 virtual banking applications as of the end of August 2018, and the HKMA had shortlisted a third of the applications for the next stage of assessment.