Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)
The territory's principal AML/CTF regulator for financial institutions, responsible for maintaining the financial system and enforcing AML/CTF obligations.
East Asia · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Hong Kong
Hong Kong regulates AML/CTF through the HKMA and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Hong Kong
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUHong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA); Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU)
FATF statusFATF member
Primary legislationAnti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO, 2012)
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong pairs its role as an international finance and trade hub with a developed AML/CTF regime. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is the main regulator for financial institutions, enforcing the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) and the Banking Ordinance, while the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit receives suspicious transaction reports.
Institutions must conduct customer due diligence to confirm identity and beneficial owners, apply due diligence proportionate to each customer's risk, and monitor transactions for suspicious patterns and transfers to high-risk jurisdictions. Suspicious activity must be reported to the JFIU, and CDD and transaction records must be kept for at least five years, with penalties for breaches of the AMLO.
MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.
Regulation
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO)
The core AML statute enforced by the HKMA, setting customer due diligence, record-keeping, and reporting duties for financial institutions and money service operators.
Banking Ordinance (BO)
Works alongside the AMLO as part of the regulatory framework the HKMA applies to authorised institutions.
Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU)
Receives Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) from institutions that suspect activity in breach of the AMLO.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Conduct customer due diligence to confirm identity and beneficial owners
- Apply risk-based, simplified, or enhanced due diligence by customer risk
- Run transaction monitoring for suspicious or high-risk transfers
- File Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with the JFIU
- Keep CDD and transaction records for at least five years
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Hong Kong?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is the main AML/CTF regulator for financial institutions. Suspicious Transaction Reports are filed with the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit.
What is the main AML law in Hong Kong?
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), alongside the Banking Ordinance, sets customer due diligence, monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting obligations.
Is Hong Kong a member of FATF?
Yes. Hong Kong, China is a member of the Financial Action Task Force and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF standards.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Hong Kong?
MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.
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