Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC): Overview and How to Search
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)
1. What is the SFC?
The SFC is Hong Kong’s independent statutory regulator for securities and futures markets. It enforces the relevant laws and regulates licensed corporations, individuals and market activities within its remit. Banking, insurance and other financial sectors have separate regulators.
2. Key responsibilities
- Licensing and regulating securities and futures intermediaries.
- Overseeing conduct relating to market trading, product sales and disclosures.
- Maintaining fair and orderly markets and protecting investors.
3. How to check a licensed person
SFC Public Register of Licensed Persons and Registered Institutions: SFC Public Register
- Search by corporation name, Central Entity Number (CE No.) or individual name.
- Check licence status, permitted regulated activities, representative relationships and licence conditions.
- Use contact details in the register to verify the other party’s identity, with particular care to confirm the website domain and payment account.
4. Important points
An SFC licence applies only to the regulated activities authorised. It is not an endorsement of an issuer or product and does not mean an investor will necessarily receive compensation.
5. Official information
SFC website: https://www.sfc.hk/
Refer to the SFC Public Register and latest announcements.
6. Practical items to verify in the Public Register
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Ordinance defines different types of regulated activity. A licensed corporation may be authorised for one or more activities, but do not assume it has every permission. In the Public Register, check the corporation’s Central Entity Number, licence status, permitted activities, responsible officers, representatives and licence conditions. If it offers leveraged foreign exchange or asset-management services, confirm that the specific permissions cover those activities and check for restrictions on client types, products or business.
The addresses, phone numbers and websites in the register can help identify clone firms. Compare the domain, email address and payment recipient provided by the salesperson against the official details. If the name is similar or the URL differs by only a few characters, contact the listed corporation directly to verify. An SFC licence held by another group company does not automatically authorise the entity currently signing the contract. SFC licensing does not mean that it endorses a product, guarantees returns or ensures that customers will receive compensation in every circumstance.
Public Register checklist before opening an account
After searching, note the corporation’s Central Entity Number, licence status, permitted regulated activities, responsible officers, representatives and any conditions, then compare them with the entity providing services in the account agreement. Each Hong Kong regulated activity has its own scope: a licence for securities dealing does not mean the firm is also authorised for futures, asset management or other services. An individual representative’s record should also show a current relationship with the licensed corporation.
Next, open the company’s website independently from the register and verify its phone number, email address and office address. Clone firms may copy a genuine corporation’s information, so pay particular attention to the domain, payment recipient and contracting company. Do not use a suspicious customer-service number to verify the identity of that same customer service. An SFC licence is not a product endorsement and does not automatically mean the Investor Compensation Fund applies. If anything does not match, stop the transfer and verify through official SFC channels.