IA of Hong Kong to Regulate Insurance Intermediaries from September 23
IA of Hong Kong proposed to take over the regulation of insurance intermediaries from three Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) on September 23, 2019 (commencement date), with the Insurance Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 (Commencement) Notice 2019 to be gazetted in May 2019 to complete the prerequisite. The SROs comprise the Insurance Agents Registration Board (established under the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers), the Hong Kong Confederation of Insurance Brokers, and the Professional Insurance Brokers Association. The takeover will mark a major milestone and a reformatory change for the insurance industry as IA will become the sole regulator of all insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong.
The new regulatory regime for insurance intermediaries will help enhance professional standards of insurance intermediaries, promote a fair and transparent regulatory framework, and encourage a modern and flexible approach to increase regulatory efficiency. On the commencement date, the remaining provisions of the Insurance Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 will come into operation, together with an array of regulatory requirements for implementation of the new regulatory regime. Till now, IA has formulated the two set of rules, which are subsidiary legislation, and is finalizing other codes and guidelines in phases—Insurance (Maximum Number of Authorized Insurers) Rules and Insurance (Financial and Other Requirements for Licensed Insurance Broker Companies) Rules.
IA aims to ensure a successful and smooth transition to the new regime and is working closely with the SROs to prepare for the necessary handover arrangements. Insurance intermediaries that are "validly registered" with the SROs immediately before the commencement date will be deemed as licensees under the new regime. Those who are validly registered as responsible officers of insurance agencies or chief executives of insurance brokers will also be deemed as responsible officers of licensed insurance agencies or licensed insurance broker companies as appropriate under the new regime. Arrangements for online application for formal licences to be made by deemed licensees will be announced by IA after the commencement date. Complaints and disciplinary cases that are unresolved by the SROs before the commencement date will be handled by the IA but with reference to the relevant codes, guidance notes, and guidelines issued by the SROs.
Related Links
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Insurance, Self-Regulatory Organizations, Regulatory Framework, Insurance Intermediaries, IA
Related Articles
EC Adopts Financial Reporting Changes Arising from Benchmark Reforms
EC published Regulation 2021/25 that addresses amendments related to the financial reporting consequences of replacement of the existing interest rate benchmarks with alternative reference rates.
BIS Bulletin Examines Key Elements of Policy Response to Cyber Risk
BIS published a bulletin, or a note, that examines the cyber threat landscape in the context of the pandemic and discusses policies to reduce risks to financial stability.
HMT Updates List of Post-Brexit Equivalence Decisions in UK
HM Treasury, also known as HMT, has updated the table containing the list of the equivalence decisions that came into effect in UK at the end of the transition period of its withdrawal from EU.
EBA Issues Erratum for Technical Package on Reporting Framework 3.0
EBA published an erratum for technical package on phase 1 of the reporting framework 3.0.
APRA Publishes FAQ on Measurement of Credit Risk Weighted Assets
APRA updated a frequently asked question (FAQ), for authorized deposit-taking institutions, on the measurement of credit risk weighted assets.
EBA Publishes Risk Dashboard for Third Quarter of 2020
EBA published the quarterly risk dashboard, along with the results of the Risk Assessment Questionnaire survey among 60 banks and 15 market analysts.
ECB Analysis Shows Privacy as Biggest Concern in Use of Digital Euro
ECB concluded the public consultation on the introduction of a digital euro in EU.
ECB Finalizes Guide on Supervisory Approach to Bank Consolidation
ECB published a guide that sets out the supervisory approach to consolidation in the banking sector.
SRB Chair Outlines Work Priorities for 2021
The SRB Chair Elke König published an article setting out work priorities for 2021.
FDIC Selects Companies to Compete in Final Phase of Tech Sprint
FDIC has selected 11 technology companies—including BearingPoint, Fed Reporter, Inc, and S&P Global Market Intelligence, LLC—for inclusion in the third and final phase of the rapid prototyping competition.
