Hong Kong SFC Launches Key Risk Indicator Platform To Enhance Risk Monitoring.

Last Friday, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular to announce the launch of a key risk indicator (KRI) platform to collect and analyse KRI data from selected licensed corporations (LCs). 

The platform is aimed at facilitating the SFC's supervision of global firms which are exposed to the changing dynamics of global markets. It supplements the SFC's existing monitoring tools and enhances the SFC's information gathering and analytical capabilities to better identify and manage existing and emerging risks. 

Who are the in-scope LCs?

Initially, 22 global financial institutions which are considered as systemically important are in-scope for the purpose of the KRI platform:

The SFC will refine the platform from time to time and may consider including additional LCs to enhance its regulatory oversight.

What do the in-scope LCs need to do?

LCs from in-scope institutions are required to complete KRI surveys on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. 

The monthly survey focuses on liquidity risk, whereas the quarterly and yearly surveys are significantly more detailed and cover areas such as: 

• Financial information, transfer pricing and staff information; 

• Conduct risk (or example, the number of instances of certain types of non-compliance, client complaints, internal whistleblowing incidents, internal alerts, disciplinary actions and regulatory involvement need to be disclosed); 

• Other aspects of prudential risk (in addition to liquidity risk), including credit risk, market risk and operational risk. 

The surveys cover all regulated activities conducted by the LCs and their licensed representatives in Hong Kong, regardless of where the risk positions are ultimately booked. 

In-scope LCs should submit their surveys electronically via the SFC's WINGS platform, which includes a user guide as well as demonstration video. The SFC has conducted soft consultations and pilot tests of the KRI platform with all of the in-scope LCs. 

The first submission of data is required by 31 January 2020 for the reporting period ending 31 December 2019.