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Hong Kong Monetary Authority Issues Updated Guideline on Minimum Criteria for Authorization
On February 27, 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued an updated Guideline on Minimum Criteria for Authorization (GLI 1.5). This guideline establishes the foundational requirements that institutions must meet to obtain and maintain authorization as authorized institutions in Hong Kong's banking system.
The guideline addresses a comprehensive range of regulatory expectations across multiple dimensions of banking operations. Key areas covered include governance structures, risk management frameworks, capital adequacy requirements, and liquidity management. The document specifies requirements relating to board composition, senior management qualifications, systems and controls, internal and external audit functions, and the three lines of defence model. It also addresses supervisory cooperation, stress-testing capabilities, contingency planning, and operational continuity arrangements.
The guideline encompasses regulatory reporting and disclosure obligations, including requirements under the Banking (Disclosure) Rules. It establishes expectations for managing various risk categories including credit risk, operational risk, market risk, and country risk. Additional areas covered include large exposures management, connected party exposures, capital buffers (including the countercyclical capital buffer), liquidity coverage ratios, and leverage ratios. The guideline also addresses specific business areas such as private wealth management, retail wealth management, and cross-border activities, alongside requirements for treating customers fairly and managing conflicts of interest.
The updated guideline supersedes the previous version issued on July 22, 2022, and cross-references numerous related HKMA guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Authorized institutions should review this guideline to ensure compliance with the updated minimum authorization criteria and align their operations accordingly.
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Hong Kong Monetary Authority Issues Updated Guideline on Minimum Criteria for Authorization
On February 27, 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued an updated Guideline on Minimum Criteria for Authorization (GLI 1.5). This guideline establishes the foundational requirements that institutions must meet to obtain and maintain authorization as authorized institutions in Hong Kong's banking system.
The guideline addresses a comprehensive range of regulatory expectations across multiple dimensions of banking operations. Key areas covered include governance structures, risk management frameworks, capital adequacy requirements, and liquidity management. The document specifies requirements relating to board composition, senior management qualifications, systems and controls, internal and external audit functions, and the three lines of defence model. It also addresses supervisory cooperation, stress-testing capabilities, contingency planning, and operational continuity arrangements.
The guideline encompasses regulatory reporting and disclosure obligations, including requirements under the Banking (Disclosure) Rules. It establishes expectations for managing various risk categories including credit risk, operational risk, market risk, and country risk. Additional areas covered include large exposures management, connected party exposures, capital buffers (including the countercyclical capital buffer), liquidity coverage ratios, and leverage ratios. The guideline also addresses specific business areas such as private wealth management, retail wealth management, and cross-border activities, alongside requirements for treating customers fairly and managing conflicts of interest.
The updated guideline supersedes the previous version issued on July 22, 2022, and cross-references numerous related HKMA guidelines and regulatory frameworks. Authorized institutions should review this guideline to ensure compliance with the updated minimum authorization criteria and align their operations accordingly.