We are honoured to announce that Partner and Head of the Corporate Finance Department, Hank Lo, has once again been named one of “The A-List Elite Lawyers” by the prestigious legal publication, China Business Law Journal (CBLJ).

This distinction marks the sixth consecutive year that Mr. Lo has received this accolade. Following his inclusion in 2024, he has once again been listed in the highest tier, the “Visionaries” category, underscoring his exceptional professional expertise and leadership within the industry.

The CBLJ “The A-List Elite Lawyers” list aims to honour top lawyers who have made significant contributions to the China market and China-related business. The selection process is based on extensive market research, incorporating thousands of nominations and independent evaluations from in-house counsel, company executives, and legal professionals.

The list is divided into three categories: “Visionaries,” “Growth Drivers,” and “Rising Stars.” The “Visionaries” category specifically celebrates senior legal leaders who excel both within their firms and across the broader industry. These elite individuals typically hold pivotal roles such as managing partners or department heads, leveraging their strategic foresight to contribute to the advancement of the legal profession.

Mr. Lo possesses over three decades of extensive experience in capital markets, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate compliance. Recently, he has been admitted to practise as a solicitor in the United Arab Emirates and actively expanding the firm’s legal services into the UAE and the Middle East to facilitate Chinese enterprises with their “going global” strategies and international expansion.

We extend sincere gratitude to CBLJ for this recognition and offer most heartfelt thanks to our  clients for their unwavering trust and support.

For further details, please contact our Partner, Hank Lo, or view the official report on the CBLJ website here.

自2022年10月香港政府发布首份《有关香港虚拟资产发展的政策宣言》起，香港在虚拟资产监管方面驶入快车道，先后推出了虚拟资产交易平台牌照、以及稳定币发行牌照制度。2025年6月，港府发布《香港数字资产发展政策宣言2.0》，并就虚拟资产交易服务提供商及虚拟资产托管服务提供商的发牌机制进行公众咨询。2025年9月30日，证监会与金管局联合发布《有关中介人的虚拟资产相关活动的补充联合通函》，正式允许为客户进行虚拟资产交易的中介人可向客户提供虚拟资产质押（Staking）服务。[1] 2025年11月3日，证监会又颁布了新的指引，以便利持牌虚拟资产交易平台连接全球流动性和扩展多元化产品及服务，其中包括取消了在虚拟资产交易平台上向专业投资者发售的虚拟资产（包括稳定币）须先具备12个月往绩纪录的要求。香港持续不断地推出支持虚拟资产生态的政策，目标是打造“值得信赖、可持续且深度融入实体经济的数字资产生态圈”。[2]这些政策的推行，必将吸引越来越多的虚拟资产生态圈的从业者在香港展业。

在香港开展虚拟资产相关业务，必须要了解其监管思路与法律框架。在香港现行的法律下，对包括加密货币在内的虚拟资产的监管框架可以概括为“证券型”与“非证券型”虚拟资产双轨并行模式，证监会与金管局为主要的监管机构。本文将通过梳理现行的监管制度和牌照类别，帮助读者把握香港虚拟资产监管体系全貌。

• 证券型虚拟资产监管机制

 作为国际金融中心，香港拥有一套完善的证券监管体系，其核心法律为香港法例第571 章《证券及期货条例》（下称“SFO”），主要监管机构为证监会，而金管局则负责银行金融机构的证券活动监管。在SFO的监管体系下，与证券或期货相关的业务需要取得相应的许可或牌照。

• 监管原则

 当任何虚拟资产的性质符合“证券”的定义，其发行及相关的各种中介活动均会与传统证券一样落入SFO的监管范围，触发相应的发行许可、中介牌照与其它合规要求。例如，包装为虚拟资产的代币化证券的发行，仍然需要受与传统证券发行一样的监管。当前备受关注的RWA（真实世界资产）的代币化，如果其属性与传统证券相同，例如代币赋予持有人分享公司利润或参与管理的权利，则无法避免证券监管的适用。证监会尤其强调“透视（see-through approach）”的监管方式和“相同业务、相同风险、相同规则”的监管原则，即不会单纯依据产品名称或表面“包装”，而是会透过实质来判断虚拟资产的法律属性。同样地，开展证券型虚拟资产的中介业务也需要取得相应的证券牌照，例如证券交易（第1类）、就证券提供意见（第4类）、提供自动化交易服务（第7类）与提供资产管理（第9类）牌照。

• 传统证券牌照的虚拟资产业务升级

 若传统证券持牌机构拟涉及虚拟资产，则应向证监会申请将牌照升级以涵盖虚拟资产业务。例如，持9号牌的基金管理人如果计划将其管理投资组合中超过10%的资产投资于虚拟资产，就需要申请9号牌的“升级”（Licence Uplift）。升级后，必须遵循证监会为虚拟资产制定的特定条件，涵盖资产托管、风险管控以及反洗钱。再如，涉及证券型虚拟资产的交易平台，则需要持有升级的1号牌和7号牌。

证监会对不同的提供虚拟资产服务的牌照会施加不同的额外发牌条件，这些条件包括但不限于财务稳健性、负责人员的能力与经验、客户虚拟资产保管、风险控制系统、反洗钱措施等。

• AMLO体系下的虚拟资产交易平台牌照

 适用范围

2022年12月修订的香港法例第615 章《打击洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集条例》（下称“AMLO”）引入了对虚拟资产服务提供者（VASP）的新发牌制度，自2023年6月1日起，凡在香港运营中心化虚拟资产交易平台（VATP），须按AMLO申请VATP牌照。实践中，VATP主要覆盖非证券型代币，例如比特币。鉴于虚拟资产代币属性常常变化，证监会建议虚拟资产交易平台应同时申请SFO和AMLO制度下的牌照（即双重发牌制度），以避免违反许可制度并确保业务连续性。截至2025年10月30日，市场上同时持有“双重牌照”的虚拟资产交易平台营运者仅11家[3]。

• VATP牌照申请基本要求

在港从事VATP业务，申请人须满足适当人选与胜任力、本地实体与治理架构、财务稳健、客户资产托管与客户处理、市场操纵防范、反洗钱/记录保存与持续申报等方面的硬性与持续性要求；如同时涉及证券型代币，还需并行遵从SFO中的持牌要求。AMLO及《适用于虚拟资产交易平台营运者的指引》中的基本要求包括但不限于：

• 本地实体：申请人须是香港本地法团且在港有常设营业地点，或是海外法团但已于香港根据香港法例第622 章《公司条例》注册；
• 适当人选与胜任能力：持牌人须在财政状况或偿付能力，学历或其他资历或经验，是否有能力称职、诚实而公正地进行有关活动，信誉、品格、可靠程度及在财政方面的稳健性四个方面符合SFO、AMLO中的适当人选标准；证监会将依据个案判断持牌法团与相关人士是否具备胜任能力进行持牌活动[4]；

就申请成为负责人员（RO）的个人而言，证监会设有三种主要方式以符合胜任能力要求：

选项A： 申请人持有指定范畴（会计、工商管理、经济、金融或法律）学位，或其他学位但在指定范畴至少两科取得合格，或持有国际认可的专业资格（如CFA、CIIA、CFP）；同时需于过去六年内具备至少三年相关行业经验、两年管理经验，并通过本地监管框架考试。

选项B： 申请人持有其他学位（无须在指定范畴取得两科合格）；同时需于过去六年内具备至少三年相关行业经验、两年管理经验，取得认可行业资格或完成相关额外持续进修，并通过本地监管框架考试。

选项C： 申请人于香港中学文凭考试取得英文或中文及数学第二级成绩或同等学历；同时需于于过去六年内具备至少三年相关行业经验及取得认可行业资格（或过去八年内具备至少五年相关行业经验及完成相关额外持续进修） 、两年管理经验，并通过本地监管框架考试。

此外，若申请人未具备上述学历或专业资格，但于2022年1月1日前已为持牌人，且于过去11年内累积至少八年相关行业经验，并符合管理经验及本地监管框架考试要求，证监会亦可考虑其申请。

针对相关的“行业经验”，由于拟出任的负责人员需要双重牌照申请，而目前市场缺乏兼具虚拟资产及证券相关经验的人才，因此证监会采取务实的做法，现时将会视只具备虚拟资产或证券相关的其中一项经验的负责人员申请人的经验为符合另一套牌照规定的经验，但会在其牌照上施加额外的限制条件。

• 财务稳健：平台营运者应时刻在香港维持具有充分流动性的资产（非虚拟资产，其金额应相等于其按持续基准计算至少12个月的实际营运开支）、不少于5,000,000港元的缴足资本及规定速动资金；依规按时呈交财务申报表并及时通知证监会指定的事项。
• 代币纳入及检讨委员会：设立代币纳入及检讨委员会，订立、实施及执行平台虚拟资产买卖准则，并负责披露、记录和向董事会汇报。
• 尽职审查：平台运营者应对任何将纳入平台买卖的虚拟资产事先进行所有合理的尽职审查。
• 预防市场操纵与违规监测：平台营运者应建立监测、违规识别与市场监察的内部政策和措施，至少能识别及侦测异常情况，监察及预防违规交易，发现操纵或违规活动后立即采取措施以限制或暂停买卖；平台营运者应采用由信誉良好的独立供应商所提供的有效市场监察系统。
• 与客户进行交易：确保其作出的任何陈述、邀请和提供的任何资料、广告都是准确、及时、完整及不具有误导性的，并保存可审计记录。
• 认识客户的要求：平台营运者应在客户开户时采取一切合理步骤获取客户真实和全部的身份、财政状况、投资经验及投资目标，以便进行风险承受评估、客户分类与限额管理。
• 保管客户资产要求：客户资产与自有资产严格分离，由关联实体以信托形式持有；建立及落实线上及线下的分层储存（至少98%的客户虚拟资产应以线下方式储存）、确保安全地产生, 储存及备份所有加密种子及私人密钥、客户资金及利息入账、常设授权指示等书面内部政策及管治程序。
• 反洗钱与记录保存/报送：依规履行尽职审查/持续汇报/记录保存与可疑交易监测；持牌人、平台营运者、关联实体的所有董事及员工均应熟悉AMLO的规定并遵从廉政公署发出的有关指引。

• 稳定币发行人牌照监管

• 适用范围

香港法例第656 章《稳定币条例》已于2025年8月1日生效。根据《稳定币条例》，凡在香港发行“指明稳定币”（specified stablecoin），或在香港以外地区发行以港币为参考的指明稳定币，都属于受规管稳定币活动，必须向金管局申请牌照。“指明稳定币”是指锚定一种或多种官方货币，或其他金管局指明的计算单位或经济价值储存形式以维持稳定价值的数字代币。具体来说，以下情况均需申请稳定币发行牌照：

1. 在香港发行以一种或多种官方货币为参考的稳定币；
2. 在香港以外发行以港币为参考、且在商业运营中的稳定币；
3. 任何被金管局指定为需受规管的其他稳定币活动。

此外，积极在香港或其他地区向公众宣传稳定币相关业务，也被视为“持牌活动”，同样需要申请牌照。未获得牌照而进行上述稳定币发行活动，属于违法行为，可能被处以罚款和刑事处罚。

• 稳定币发行牌照申请基本要求

 稳定币发行与相关服务的牌照门槛采用“牌照先行”的事前监管模式，金管局及证监会在2025年8月14日发布的联合声明中明确强调将以金融稳定+消费者保护为核心目标，采取严格及审慎的态度审批稳定币发行人的牌照申请，门槛甚高。除《稳定币条例》，稳定币监管还需关注金管局在2025年7月29日发布的配套文件：《持牌稳定币发行人监管指引》，《打击洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集指引（持牌稳定币发行人适用）》，与发牌制度及申请程序相关的《稳定币发行人发牌制度摘要说明》，《原有稳定币发行人过渡条文摘要说明》。纵观上述文件可得稳定币发牌基本要求包括如下要点：

• 申请主体：申请者须是在香港成立的公司或在香港以外成立为法团的认可机构。
• 最低实缴股本或财务资源：申请人必须始终保持不少于港币25,000,000的实缴股本，或以其他可自由兑换为港币的货币（经金管局批准）等值金额；或经金管局批准的其他财务资源达到或超过上述金额。该部分财务资源仅可用于稳定币相关业务，不得与关联公司、股东、董事或高级管理层进行交易或挪用。
• 储备资产管理：每种拟发行的稳定币类型都必须有独立的储备资产池，并与其他资产池分隔。储备资产需由合资格托管人（如持牌银行或经金管局认可的资产托管人）保管。储备资产的市值必须始终不少于流通中稳定币的面值，并建议适度超额抵押以应对风险。储备资产应为高质量、高流动性、低投资风险的资产，并通过信托安排与发行人其他资产分隔，确保稳定币持有人在发行人破产时可优先索偿。
• 风险管理与审计：申请人需建立完善的储备资产风险管理政策和程序，确保储备资产能及时满足赎回请求。储备资产需定期由合资格且独立的外部审计师进行核查和审计，并向公众披露储备管理政策、风险评估、储备资产组成及市场价值，以及独立审计结果。
• 赎回机制：稳定币持有人有权按面值赎回稳定币。赎回请求应在一个工作日内处理，不得收取不合理费用或附加过度苛刻条件。
• 利息与收益：发行人不得向持有人支付利息等类存款性质的回报。储备资产管理产生的收益或损失归发行人所有。
• 适当人选：申请人及其高管（包括首席执行官、董事、稳定币经理、控权人等）必须是“适当人选”，即具备良好品格、声誉、诚信、专业能力和相关经验，并须获得金管局的同意方可担任该职位。
• 科技风险管理：申请人还应配套完善的科技风险管理，包括建立完善的私钥生命周期管理制度、智能合约审计等。
• 业务持续与退出计划：申请人需制定业务恢复和有序退出计划，确保在重大运营中断时能及时恢复关键功能，并有详细的业务退出程序。
• 合规与反洗钱要求：申请人需建立健全的信息与会计系统、信息披露与报告机制、个人资料保护措施及投诉处理机制。还需进行机构风险评估，确保业务符合反洗钱及反恐怖融资法规。

• 虚拟资产交易及托管服务商牌照（公众咨询中的新框架）

2025年6月，香港财经事务及库务局和证监会联合发布了公众咨询文件，分别就虚拟资产交易服务提供者和虚拟资产托管服务提供者设立新监管制度的立法建议征询意见。

• 拟议监管范围

《有关规管虚拟资产交易的立法建议》公众咨询文件中建议，凡是在香港从事涉及虚拟资产与任何金钱之间的转换的现货交易服务，均须向证监会申请牌照或注册。如业务过程牵涉法定货币汇款服务，持牌人除须持有虚拟资产场外交易牌照外，亦须持有金钱服务经营者牌照。这一涵盖范围非常广泛，适用于通过实体店或在线平台提供的各类虚拟资产交易服务，包括：简单的兑换买卖，以及更复杂的服务（例如经纪活动、大宗交易活动和顾问或资产经理从事的其他相关活动）。这意味着过去许多无需牌照的场外交易商、兑换店、自助柜员机运营商等灰色地带都将被纳入监管。

《有关规管虚拟资产托管服务的立法建议》公众咨询文件将虚拟资产托管服务定义为“以业务形式代客户保管 (i) 虚拟资产；或 (ii) 能转移客户虚拟资产的工具，包括但不限於私人密钥”。就监管职责而言，其发牌制度的监管架构与虚拟资产交易服务一致。简言之，证监会管标准和发牌及注册，金管局作为银行及储值支付工具的虚拟资产托管活动的前线监管机构。

• 申请牌照的基本要求

拟监管对投资者保障、风险管理与市场发展的关注贯穿始终。申请成为虚拟资产交易服务提供者或虚拟资产托管服务提供者所需满足要求的具体口径还应以后续规则为准，两份咨询文件中的拟议监管要点如下：

结语

综观香港虚拟资产监管框架，从证券型虚拟资产的监管，到AMLO体系下的交易平台牌照，再到新近推出的稳定币发行人牌照以及正在咨询中的虚拟资产交易及托管服务商牌照制度，香港正在构建一个全方位、多层次的虚拟资产监管体系。

我们在下表对目前已经生效的监管机制进行简要的对比，以便利读者的理解。

鉴于香港虚拟资产监管体系的专业性和复杂性，我们建议任何计划在香港开展虚拟资产相关业务的机构或个人，都应当在业务规划初期即寻求专业法律顾问的协助。在香港这样一个强调法治和合规的国际金融中心，专业的法律支持是虚拟资产业务成功落地的重要保障。

本文由合伙人劳恒晃律师﹑张源辉律师﹑曾浩贤律师﹑刘砚枫律师﹑谢庆伦顾问律师和黄虹博士共同合著。若阁下想了解更多详情，请联络我们的合伙人劳恒晃律师﹑张源辉律师﹑曾浩贤律师﹑刘砚枫律师或谢庆伦顾问律师。

本新闻简讯更新仅供参考。其内容不构成亦不应视为法律咨询意见。史蒂文生黄律师事务所不会就任何因倚赖本处所载资料而作出的决定丶采取的行动或不采取的行动所引致的或与之有关的任何特别丶间接或相应而生的损失或损害向阁下承担法律责任。

[1] 虚拟资产质押（Staking）服务是指持牌法团或注册机构代其客户进行涉及承诺或锁定客户虚拟资产的过程的任何活动，以便根据权益证明共识机制参与区块链协议的验证程序，并享有因参与该程序而产生及分派的回报。

[2] 参见《香港数字资产发展政策宣言2.0》<https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202506/26/P2025062500847_500091_1_1750909590100.pdf>。

[3] 参见《虚拟资产交易平台名单》< https://sc.sfc.hk/TuniS/www.sfc.hk/TC/Welcome-to-the-Fintech-Contact-Point/Virtual-assets/Virtual-asset-trading-platforms-operators/Lists-of-virtual-asset-trading-platforms>。

[4] 适用于法团的判断标准包括但不限于其业务、企业管治、内部监控、营运审查、风险管理及合规，以及其高级管理层及其他员工所具备的总体胜任能力；适用于个人的判断标准包括但不限于其具备所需的学历、专业或行业资格，拥有足够的相关行业及管理经验（如适用），对监管架构（包括规管虚拟资产行业的法例、规则及有关守则）有充足的认识，熟悉金融从业人员应具备的职业道德操守。

We are thrilled to announce that our Partner, Rodney Teoh, Deputy Head of Corporate Finance and Co-Head of Fintech, has been recognised by Asia Legal Business (ALB) as one of the Top Greater Bay Area (GBA) Dual-Qualified Lawyers for 2025. This esteemed accolade highlights Rodney’s exceptional legal expertise and his pivotal role in shaping the rapidly evolving legal landscape within the Greater Bay Area.

Rodney is among the first cohort of Hong Kong lawyers to successfully pass the GBA legal professional examination (GBA Examination). In addition to his qualifications in Hong Kong and the PRC (GBA), he is also qualified in Australia (NSW) and England & Wales. His impressive quad qualification, combined with extensive experience in equity and debt capital markets and private investments, enables him to adeptly handle cross-border matters involving Hong Kong, the PRC, and Southeast Asia.

The GBA Examination, launched in 2021, aims to accelerate the development of the Greater Bay Area and foster closer collaboration among legal professionals within the GBA legal services market. Following the successful completion of the examination and the acquisition of the relevant practice certificate, Hong Kong legal practitioners with the requisite years of accumulated legal practice experience are now permitted to provide legal services in the nine Mainland municipalities of the GBA for specified civil and commercial matters.

Congratulations to Rodney on this well-deserved accolade!

For more information, please see here for ALB’s report on the November issue or contact our Partner Rodney Teoh.

We are pleased to announce that our Partner, Gordon Tsang, has once again been recognized as one of the winners of the LexisNexis 40 Under 40 awards for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement serves as a testament to his solid expertise and contributions to the legal profession. Gordon’s recognition underscores his dedications to his clients and his active support for mentoring initiatives and legal education.

The LexisNexis 40 Under 40 awards celebrate 40 outstanding young professionals, aged 40 and under, across various legal disciplines. Winners are selected based on their exemplary work ethic, dedication to clients, partners, and colleagues, as well as their exceptional passion for fostering growth and leadership within the legal sector.

Gordon Tsang | Partner
Practice Areas: China Practice, Corporate Commercial Law, Corporate Services, Corporate Finance

Gordon has experience handling a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including pre-IPO restructuring and financing, Hong Kong and U.S. IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, loan and financing transactions, corporate governance and general compliance for listed companies as well as private enterprises.

Gordon has also been recognized by the China Business Law Journal as an A-list lawyer for 2024-2025, the IFLR1000 Asia Pacific Guide in Capital Markets-Equity from 2023 to 2025, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific in Capital Markets-Equity from 2024 to 2025, and ALB as a Hong Kong Rising Star for 2024-2025. His inclusion in the LexisNexis 40 Under 40 list spans from 2022 to 2025.

In addition to his legal practice, Gordon serves as the Company Secretary of 1957 & Co. (Hospitality) Limited (Stock Code: 8495), Mabpharm Limited-B (Stock Code: 2181) and Sundy Service Group Co. Ltd (Stock Code: 9608).

For any enquiries, please visit LexisNexis’s website here or contact our Partner, Gordon Tsang.

The proliferation of digital platforms has led to a significant and quantifiable increase in retail investing. A 2022 review by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) found that just 50 online-focused brokers opened over 3 million new client accounts in a single year, with 96% of these being onboarded digitally.[1] This expanding base of retail investors now constitutes 58% of the general public aged 18-69 according to a 2023 study by the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC),[2] is increasingly influenced by a new class of financial commentators known as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) or ‘finfluencers’.

Broadcasting to large followings on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and Telegram, these individuals analyse market trends and share investment strategies, often including recommendations of individual stocks and bonds. According to the IFEC study, nearly half (49%) of stock investors now use social media platforms as a source for investment information. More significantly, one in three (33%) admit to making investment decisions based directly on tips and information gathered from these online sources. While this has democratised access to financial information, it has also created a complex regulatory environment. The Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”), with a sharpened focus on investor protection in the digital era, is now increasing its scrutiny of such activities.

Recent enforcement actions, which now include a licence suspension and the first-ever custodial sentence for providing paid investment advice on a social media group without a licence, signal that the SFC is actively policing this area, even ahead of its anticipated formal guidance on the topic. This creates a more hazardous regulatory environment for both the influencers themselves and any licensed corporations that engage with them.

The regulatory framework

The SFC’s enforcement powers are grounded in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (the “SFO“). Schedule 5 of the SFO defines “advising on securities” as a Type 4 regulated activity, which requires a licence from the SFC when conducted as a business. Under sections 114(1)(a) and 114(8) of the SFO, it is a criminal offence to carry on a business in a regulated activity without such a licence, with penalties up to a fine of $5,000,000 and imprisonment for 7 years.

While Part 2 of Schedule 5 of the SFO provides an exemption for advice given in publications “generally available to the public,” such as newspapers or public broadcasts, this was not designed to cover modern interactive platforms; the relevant provisions of the SFO were drafted back in 1999 to 2000. The SFC’s position is that this exemption may not apply to some scenarios where investment-related content is provided on social media and other online platforms,[3] for example, where investment-related content is provided to a select group of paying subscribers through private chat groups.

Recent enforcement actions

The SFC has recently demonstrated its willingness to use its full range of powers, pursuing both disciplinary sanctions against licensees and criminal prosecution against unlicensed individuals.

1. Criminal conviction followed by disciplinary sanction: the case of Mr Wong Ming Chung

In March 2025, the SFC took disciplinary action against Mr Wong Ming Chung, a finfluencer also known as Franky Wong. Although Mr Wong was an SFC-licensed representative of Tse’s Securities Limited[4] at the time, he had been operating a paid Telegram group in his personal capacity, providing specific investment advice to subscribers without the knowledge or approval of his accredited firm.

For this conduct, Mr Wong was first criminally convicted by the Eastern Magistrates’ Court for carrying on an unlicensed business of advising on securities. Following that conviction, the SFC determined that Mr Wong was not a fit and proper person to remain licensed and, in separate disciplinary proceedings, suspended his licence for 16 months. This case illustrates that a licensed individual acting outside the scope of their employment can face both criminal and regulatory consequences.

The SFC’s announcement can be viewed here.

2. FIrst-ever imprisonment of an unlicensed individual: The case of Mr Chau Pak Yin

In a landmark development, the criminal prosecution against Mr Chau Pak Yin, an unlicensed individual known on social media as “Futu大股東” or “富途大股東”, has recently concluded with a conviction and the first-ever custodial sentence for the offence involved. On 7 November 2025, Mr Chau was convicted by the Eastern Magistrates’ Court for carrying on a business in Type 4 regulated activity without a licence. The Court heard that Mr Chau hosted a paid Telegram group where he provided commentaries and recommendations on securities, charging subscribers a monthly fee of approximately HK$1,560 and earning over HK$43,000.

In a significant escalation, the Eastern Magistrates’ Court sentenced Mr Chau to six weeks’ immediate imprisonment and was remanded in custody after his bail application pending appeal was rejected. This case demonstrates not only the SFC’s readiness to prosecute but also the Court’s view on the seriousness of the offence, setting a stark precedent for unlicensed finfluencers.

The SFC’s announcement can be viewed here.

Implications for licensed corporations

The SFC’s focus extends beyond individual finfluencers to the licensed corporations that engage them. In a June 2025 news publication, the SFC confirmed it had commenced a thematic inspection in April 2025 to assess how securities brokers comply with regulatory requirements when using finfluencers and digital platforms for marketing. The scope of this inspection specifically includes reviewing the firms’ due diligence processes on these individuals and their ongoing monitoring to prevent any involvement in unlicensed activities or improper practices.[5]

Consequently, any engagement with a finfluencer could be scrutinised by the SFC for breaches of the Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the Securities and Futures Commission, including:

• Paragraph 2.3 (Advertising): Failing to ensure that the finfluencer’s statements and advertisements on behalf of the licensed corporation are not false, disparaging, misleading or deceptive.
• Paragraph 4.1 (Fit and proper staff): Failing to ensure that any person it appoints to conduct business, including finfluencers, is fit and proper and otherwise qualified to act.
• Paragraph 4.2 (Staff supervision): Lacking effective resources for the proper ongoing supervision of finfluencers.
• Paragraph 4.3 (Internal control): Lacking effective internal control procedures and financial and operational capabilities to protect its clients from financial loss arising from dishonest acts, professional misconduct or omissions.
• Paragraph 12.4 (Responsibility for acts of employees and agents): Being held responsible for the acts or omissions of a finfluencer deemed to be its agent in respect to the conduct of its business.

As part of these supervisory efforts, the SFC has also emphasised its plan to issue guidance to licensed corporations outlining the expected standards when engaging finfluencers and digital platforms for marketing purposes.

Key takeaway

The regulatory landscape for online financial commentary in Hong Kong is clearly shifting. The SFC’s recent actions show that reliance on the exemption provided in the SFO is a high-risk strategy. Both individuals operating as finfluencers and licensed corporations considering collaborations must now proactively assess their activities to ensure full compliance with the SFO and the SFC’s codes. In particular, finfluencers or licensed corporations should ask themselves questions such as:-

1. Can finfluencers avoid liability even if they remain anonymous on social media platforms?

2. Can finfluencers avoid detection by SFC by providing their advice through private instant messaging groups requiring payment for access?

3. Does it matter if the finfluencers are located outside Hong Kong?

4. What amount to giving advice to the public? Could disclaimers exempt the finfluencers or the licensed corporations from potential liability?

5. What fundamental steps and precautions must licensed corporations take when engaging finfluencers?

There are no straight-forward answers to the above questions and each case will be assessed and determined by the SFC on a case-by-case basis. That said, it is now vital for finfluencers and licensed corporations to revisit their operation models, ensuring that behind the huge potential and benefits of the digital platforms, they will not shoot themselves in the foot.

At Stevenson, Wong & Co., our regulatory and compliance team has extensive experience advising clients on their obligations under the SFO and the codes and guidelines from the SFC. To learn more about our services, please contact our Ms. Rainbow Ip at 2533 2655, Mr. Kenneth Leung at 2533 2670, Mr. Alex Tsang at 2533 2541 or Mr. Ronnie Tse

[1] https://www.sfc.hk/-/media/EN/files/COM/Reports-and-surveys/Report-on-review-of-LCs_Eng_20220831.pdf

[2] https://www.ifec.org.hk/web/common/pdf/about-ifec/retail-investor-study-2023.pdf

[3] SFC suspends finfluencer for 16 months, https://apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/news-and-announcements/news/enforcement-news/doc?refNo=25PR35

[4] Tse’s Securities Limited is licensed under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) to carry on business in Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities. Wong was licensed under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) to carry on business in Type 1 (dealing in securities) and Type 4 (advising on securities) regulated activities.

[5] https://apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/news-and-announcements/news/doc?refNo=25PR82