One size does not fit all when it comes to Anti-Money Laundering (AML), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) reminded banks on April 27. Banks should not make it unnecessarily hard to open accounts. 

There has been a wave of companies opening bank accounts in Hong Kong to take advantage of business opportunities, HKMA deputy CEO Arthur Yuen wrote, and “comments” about the difficulties in the process have ensued. Yuen tied the increased activity to the end of the pandemic.

To the contrary, the Hong Kong government has a policy of promoting development of the virtual asset sector, and there is a regulatory framework in place to protect investors. While some virtual asset businesses pose higher AML risks than others, the Hong Kong banking industry will gain a better understanding of the sector over time. 

Yuen promised that a circular containing guidance and best practices would be released and that a roundtable would be held “for the banking industry and VASPs to exchange views” on April 28.

Hong Kong is making a push to become a world crypto hub and is seen by some as the likely benefactor of the United States’ increasingly virulent anti-crypto crackdown. The region was the first jurisdiction in Asia to provide access to crypto exchange-traded funds. A proposal to license retail crypto exchanges is in its consultation period and guidelines for exchanges are expected in May.(by Derek Andersen)

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