第一章: The Hong Kong banking system – an introduction+ _. \' L3 I Q
1)The main features of the three-tier system# ?$ O* D% D. D" Z& N* V
The essential feature of the change in the system is that the old categories of the Licensed Deposit –Taking Companies (LTDS) and the Registered Deposit-taking Companies (RTDS) were replaced by two new categories, the restricted licensed banks (RLBs) replace the LTDS and the deposit taking companies (DTCS) replace the RDCs.
% Y! W2 m4 j8 i6 P- | V There is no change in respect of Licensed Banks except that the minimum paid-up share capital for locally incorporated banks is increased from HK$100 million to HK$150 million.
: o/ h: L) {7 f4 u The minimum paid-up shares capital requirement is now HK$25 million instead of HK $10 million as before.% Z! ]8 d2 |2 S. K" H. C
2)The implications of the system
# Q! B$ m( M5 ]4 i7 p7 k Sound overseas banks, even though they do not meet the approval criteria for a full license, are now allowed to branch into HK as RLBs, as an alternative to setting up a subsidiary here.
* }' G5 L5 \( A9 A 1. Direct entry to the tier of RLB is allowed.+ S! W: \1 S: ~7 v) h1 G4 t" U
2. The status of RLB is superior to that of the LDTC where a RLB is incorporated overseas.
; e8 s6 E8 h" ^. P$ i 3. Overseas banks are newly –authorized RLBs in branch form are allowed to operate only from offices in one building$ P. _+ i* Y. ^* @6 ^5 v+ R; B' [. k
4. Local banks traditionally operate in the retail market whereas overseas banks authorized as RLBs are mainly carrying on merchant banking business.
# V& N$ }: g+ z, t" o. ^0 N( N 3)HK monetary authority:
! c6 n0 T1 @* M9 D0 n { 1. Established in 1 April 1993
3 a7 Q: R1 ^0 `$ S$ Q 2. Merging the office of the Exchanged Fund with the Office of the Commissioner of Banking.
/ |. G) `7 O# x' V1 F$ u0 g1 C 3. Purpose: to maintain the continuity and professionalism in HK’s monetary and reserves management and banking supervision, in a way which commands the confidence of the people of HK and the international financial community. |