香港法例第615章《打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集(金融機構)條例》已於2018年2月作出修訂,易名為《打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集指引(金錢服務經營者適用)》 並於2018年3月1日起實施。按照打擊洗錢條例,任何欲經營匯款及/或貨幣兌換服務(即打擊洗錢條例所界定的金錢服務)的人士必須向海關關長(關長)申領牌照。在沒有關長發出的牌照情況下經營金錢服務,即屬犯罪,一經定罪,可罰款100,000元及監禁6個月。
金錢服務是指貨幣兌換服務或匯款服務:
貨幣兌換服務是指在香港作為業務經營的貨幣兌換服務,但不包括附帶於主要業務的該等服務,例如在交易中接受外幣的零售業務或由管理酒店的人如此經營的、符合以下說明的服務
(a) 該服務在該酒店的處所經營,主要為方便入住該酒店的顧客;及
(b) 只包括該人以港元貨幣作兌換的購入非港元貨幣的交易。
匯款服務指在香港作為業務經營的、提供以下一種或多 於一種交易的服務
(a) 將金錢或安排將金錢送往香港以外地方;
(b) 從香港以外地方或安排從香港以外地方收取金錢;
(c) 安排在香港以外地方收取金錢。
根據條例,金錢服務經營者必須委任一名合規主任及洗錢報告主任,主要職責是審查客戶身份以及監管客戶交易,以確保洗錢及恐怖分子籌集資金風險減至最低。
- Licence-related Ordinances and Information
The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance, Chapter 615 (AMLO) came into operation on 1 April 2012, and amended as The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance in February 2018. Under the AMLO, a person who wishes to operate a remittance and / or money changing service (i.e. money service as defined under the AMLO) is required to apply for a licence from the Commissioner of Customs & Excise (CCE). Operating a money service without obtaining a money service operator licence from the CCE is an offence and liable to conviction of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months. Under the AMLO, CCE is the relevant authority to regulate Money Service Operators (MSOs) (i.e. Remittance Agents and Money Changers) and supervise licensed MSOs’ compliance with the customer due diligence and record-keeping obligations and other licensing requirements, as well as combating unlicensed operation of money service.
Money service refers to currency exchange service or money transfer service:
Currency exchange services mean currency exchange services operated as business in Hong Kong, but do not include such services that are incidental to the main business, such as retail operations that accept foreign currency in transactions or services operated as such by the person who manages the hotel and meet the instructions set out below
(a) The Service is operated on premises of the Hotel and is primarily for the convenience of guests staying at the Hotel; and
(b) include only transactions in which the person purchases non-Hong Kong dollar currencies in exchange for Hong Kong dollar currencies.
Remittance services refer to services that operate as a business in Hong Kong and provide one or more of the following transactions
(a) sending money or arranging for money to be sent outside Hong Kong;
(b) collect money from or arrange for the collection of money from outside Hong Kong;
(c) Arrange for the collection of money outside Hong Kong.
Under the Ordinance, money service operators are required to appoint a Compliance Officer and a Money Laundering Reporting Officer whose primary duties are to review the identity of customers and supervise customer transactions to ensure that the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing is minimized.
申請條件
*海關於 2021年8月26日公佈最新的牌照指引,詳情可致電我們查詢。
申請人必須將經營金錢服務的每一處額外處所加入牌照申請或牌照續期申請書內,並須就需要加以登記的每多一個營業處所繳交費用。不論牌照其後是否獲批准或遭拒絕,已收取的牌照申請費用,概不發還。所批給的牌照的有效期為兩年。持牌人如欲繼續經營金錢服務, 必須在有效期屆滿前提出續牌申請。
根據條例第30(3)條,關長僅可在信納有以下的情況,才向申請人批給經營金錢服務的牌照或將其所持牌照續期
(a) 如該申請人屬個人,該名個人及每名最終擁有人均屬經營金錢服務的適當人選;
(b) 如該申請人屬合夥,該合夥的每名合夥人及每名最終擁有人均屬經營金錢服務的適當人選;
(c) 如該申請人屬法團,該法團的每名董事及每名最終擁有人均屬與經營金錢服務業務有聯繫的適當人選。
就牌照申請人或持牌人屬法團而言,最終擁有人是
(a) 直接或間接地擁有或控制(包括透過信託或持票人股份持有)該法團 已發行股本的不少於25%;
(b) 直接或間接地有權行使在該法團的成員大會上的投票權的不少於 25%,或支配該比重的投票權的行使;或
(c) 可行使對該法團的管理最終的控制權。
如不同金錢服務經營者在同一處所經營獨立的金錢服務業務,共用同一處所的各金錢服務經營者必須將各自用以經營業務的地方及儲存業務和交易紀錄的地方清楚區分,讓進入處所的訪客清楚知道他們是與哪位金錢服務 經營者進行交易。申請人應能向關長顯示他們的業務不會與共用同一處所 的其他金錢服務經營者的業務混合。
如申請獲批,香港海關將正式發出金錢服務經營者牌照,牌照上會清楚訂明
- 持牌人可經營金錢服務的每個處所地址
- 根據打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集(金融機構)條例所施加或修改的發牌條件及牌照有效期
- 牌照持有人的名稱及處所地址亦會載於香港海關的持牌人登記冊
*根據打擊洗錢條例,比特幣或其他類似虛擬商品並非「金錢」,不在海關所執行規管制度的範圍。海關所批給的金錢服務經營者牌照並不賦予比特幣或類似虛擬貨幣商品的相關業務形式的准許或許可。
APPLICATION REQUIREMENT
*The latest licence guidelines have announced on 26 August 2021, please contact us for details.
The applicant must add each additional premises operating monetary services to the licence application or licence renewal application and must pay a fee for each additional premises that need to be registered. Regardless of whether the licence is subsequently approved or rejected, the licence application fees already charged will not be refunded. The licences granted are valid for two years. If a licensee wishes to continue to operate the Money Service, he/she must apply for renewal before the expiry of the validity period.
According to section 30(3) of the Ordinance, the Director of Customs and Excise may grant a licence to operate a monetary service to an applicant or renew his licence only if he is satisfied that he or she has the following circumstances
(a) If the applicant is an individual, the individual and each of the ultimate owners are suitable persons to operate the money service;
(b) If the applicant is a partnership, each partner and each ultimate owner of the partnership is an appropriate person to carry on a pecuniary service;
(c) If the applicant is a corporation, each director and each ultimate owner of the corporation is an appropriate person to be associated with the operation of the money services business.
Where the licensee applicant or licensee is a corporation, the ultimate owner is
(a) directly or indirectly own or control (including through trusts or bearer shares) not less than 25% of the issued share capital of the corporation;
(b) the exercise of not less than 25 per cent of the right to vote, or the exercise of the right to vote in that proportion, directly or indirectly, at the general meeting of the members of the Corporation; or
(c) may exercise ultimate control over the administration of the corporation.
If different money service operators operate independent money service business in the same place, each money service operator sharing the same place must clearly distinguish between the place where they use to operate their business and the place where the business and transaction records are stored, so that visitors entering the premises clearly know which money service operator they are dealing with. Applicants should be able to show the Customs Officer that their business is not mixed with the business of other money service operators who share the same premises.
If the application is approved, the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong will formally issue a Money Service Operator Licence, which will be clearly stated on the licence
- Licensees may operate each premises of the Money Service
- Licensing conditions and licence validity period imposed or modified under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance
- The name and address of the licensee will also be included in the Register of Licensees of the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong
*Under the Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance, Bitcoin or other similar virtual goods are not “money” and are not covered by the regulatory regime enforced by Customs. The money service operator license granted by the Customs does not grant permission or permission to the relevant business forms of Bitcoin or similar virtual currency goods.
我們的服務內容包括:
- 協助客戶申請牌照或續牌事宜
- 為客戶申請香港金錢服務經營者牌照作出建議
- 編制牌照申請文件及準備申請所需文件
- 評核申請人資格
- 協助申請人準備能力評核考試
- 提供評核考試模擬試題
- 協助客戶制定及撰寫打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集政策
- 協助客戶制定及撰寫業務計劃書
- 擔任客戶與監管機構的中間聯絡人,實時跟進牌照申請的過程及進度
- 安排客戶篩查系統
- 安排交易紀錄儲存系統
- 安排董事及相關員工合規培訓
申請流程:
公司註冊 (需時約10個工作天)
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安排店鋪 / 辦公室
準備申請文件 (視乎申請人提交資料之時間而定)
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專人上門繪畫平面圖
撰寫業務計劃書及打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集政策(需時3-4星期)
↓
正式遞交申請 (海關確認收到申請書通知)
安排董事出席牌照能力評核考試
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海關會面 (需時約4-8星期起計)
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經營地點視察
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等待覆核文件及審核結果 (需時約6-8星期起計)
申請時間一般為4-6個月,惟處理時間會因各種因素而異,包括向申請人收集所需文件、在營業處所進行實地視察,以及向其他機構取得適當人選的判定紀錄所需的時間。
- Service Content and Application Process
Our services include:
- It is advisable to assist customers in applying for a licence or renewing a licence
- Advised clients on applying for a Hong Kong Money Service Operator Licence
- Prepare licence application documents and prepare the required documents for application
- Qualifications of Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer
- Assist clients in formulating and drafting anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies
- Assist clients in formulating and writing business plans
- Act as an intermediary liaison between clients and regulators to follow up on the process and progress of licence applications in real time
- Arrange relevant computer systems, compliance systems (customer screening system, transaction record storage system).
- Arrange compliance training for directors and related employees
Application Process:
Company registration (takes about 10 working days).
↓
Arrange shops / offices
Preparation of application documents (depending on the time of submission of information by the applicant).
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Someone came to the door to paint the floor plan
Write a business plan and a policy on combating money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (3-4weeks).
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Formal submission of the application (Customs confirms receipt of the application notification).
Arrange for directors to attend the licensing proficiency assessment examination
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Customs meeting (approximately 4-8 weeks from the beginning of the month).
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Inspection of place of business
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Wait for the review of documents and audit results (take about 6-8 weeks from the beginning).
The application period is generally 4-6 months, although the processing time will vary depending on various factors, including the time required to collect the required documents from the applicant, conduct on-site inspections at the premises of business, and obtain records of suitable candidates from other organisations.
1. 董事及股東資料,以及其相關證明文件
2. 公司註冊文件
3. 有關申請表格
4. 公司銀行戶口證明
5. 每一個經營金錢服務處所的
i) 已加蓋釐印租約或業權記錄
ii) 處所平面圖
iii) 業主同意書
6. 授權書
7. 業務計劃書
8. 打擊洗錢及恐怖分子資金籌集政策
9. 合規主任身分證明文件,住址証明及僱用合同
10. 洗錢報告主任身分證明文件,住址証明及僱用合同
11. 交易紀錄儲存系統
12. 客戶篩查系統
III. Documents Required for Application
- Information on directors and shareholders, as well as their relevant supporting documents
- Company registration documents
- Relevant application form
- Company bank account certificate
- Every premises that operates money services
i) A sealed lease or title record has been affixed
ii) Floor plan of the premises
iii) Employer Agreement
- Power of Attorney
- Business Plan
- Policies to combat money laundering and counter-terrorist financing
- Compliance Officer Identity Card Document, Proof of Address and Employment Agreement
- Identification documents of the Money Laundering Reporting Officer, proof of address and employment contract
- Transaction record storage system
- Customer screening system