Hong Kong regulator says mainland clients can still open accounts with licensed firms
The Securities and Futures Commission said mainland China investors may open and maintain accounts with licensed firms if onboarding rules are met and services are not provided within mainland China.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission said licensed firms may continue opening new accounts for mainland China investors using Chinese resident ID cards and/or Chinese passports, provided all account-opening requirements are met. Existing mainland clients may also continue to be served if services are not provided within mainland China and firms comply with Hong Kong and applicable jurisdictional laws and regulations. The clarification expands on the SFC’s May 22 circular and comes after mainland authorities issued a joint notice on May 22, 2026 that the SFC said applies to financial institutions in other jurisdictions as well. The update signals that access to Hong Kong brokerage and related licensed services remains available for mainland clients, while cross-border compliance obligations and restrictions on where services are delivered remain central to firms’ operations.
- licensed firms: Financial businesses authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission to provide regulated services in Hong Kong.
- Securities and Futures Commission: Hong Kong’s securities regulator, which oversees licensed intermediaries and market conduct.