Curated items for this range are still being collected. Below, read the related updates already included; items meeting the curation standard will be marked separately.
Carmen Chu, Executive Director (Banking Supervision) of the HKMA, delivered opening remarks at the Finance and AI Forum, introducing the results of the second phase of the GenAI Sandbox, releasing the latest regulatory guidelines on AI applications based on the "ART" framework, and announcing the establishment of an AI training data sharing platform in collaboration with Cyberport and the University of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued a circular on the responsible use of AI on 15 October 2026, addressed to all authorized institutions. The circular is accompanied by six current annexes dated 15 October 2026 and relates to three previously issued current circulars.
The HKMA launched the "ART" framework on October 15, centered on accountability, resilience, and trust, to support the banking sector in responsibly adopting artificial intelligence. The framework is accompanied by the release of the latest regulatory guidelines on the responsible use of AI. It also involves collaborating with Cyberport and the University of Hong Kong to build an AI training data sharing platform, and further testing agentic AI applications through the Generative AI Sandbox++.
On October 13, 2026, the Federal Reserve released the minutes of the discount rate meetings held on August 17, September 9, and September 16, 2026, covering the review and determination of the discount rate offered to depository institutions through the discount window. The process by which the Federal Reserve sets the discount rate is independent of the process by which the Federal Open Market Committee sets the target range for the federal funds rate.
The Chongqing-Hong Kong Cross-Border Data Verification Platform, facilitated by the HKMA, was officially launched. The platform leverages blockchain technology and hash values to verify customer data without the need for cross-border transmission or storage of original documents. Initially, the platform primarily supports cross-border financial scenarios, with banks in Chongqing and Hong Kong advancing applications related to northbound and southbound data flow verification, covering services such as account opening and loan applications.
The HKMA announced on October 14 the Exchange Fund analytical account data as of end-September 2026. External assets of the Exchange Fund decreased by HK$76.7 billion to HK$3,576.0 billion during the month. The monetary base stood at HK$2,090.2 billion, claims on the private sector in Hong Kong at HK$473.0 billion, and external liabilities at HK$135.3 billion. This account is published in accordance with the IMF Special Data Dissemination Standard, and the release schedule for the full year 2027 has been announced simultaneously.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority Deputy Chief Executive Arthur Yuen delivered a speech at the opening and premiere of Standard Chartered Bank's "Anti-Scam Cinema," revealing that Hong Kong lost HK$8.1 billion to fraud last year, with losses exceeding HK$5.2 billion in the first eight months of this year. The HKMA is collaborating with the banking sector and law enforcement agencies to build an anti-fraud ecosystem across four dimensions: within banks, inter-bank, between banks and customers, and through public education. Currently, all 28 retail banks in Hong Kong have joined the Financial Institutions Network against Telecommunications Scams (FINEST).
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority released the current Data Excellence Practices Guidelines on October 12, 2026, applicable to all authorized institutions. The guidelines include supporting appendices and are linked to multiple current circular documents issued on different dates.
On October 8, 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued a circular to all authorized institutions regarding complaints related to debt collection agents engaged by authorized institutions. This circular is linked to multiple previous versions of circulars on the same topic, including documents issued on August 19, 2024, March 26, 2026, and April 10, 2024.
InvestHK announced on October 5, 2026 that Kyrgyzstan commercial bank Bakai Bank has been granted a Hong Kong banking licence by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, becoming the first Central Asian bank to enter the Asia-Pacific region. The bank will establish a restricted-licence bank in Hong Kong under the name Bakai Bank Open Joint-Stock Company (Hong Kong Branch), serving the trade, investment and capital needs of the Central Asia–Asia-Pacific economic corridor. InvestHK will continue to assist the bank in exploring sustainable development financing and RMB-denominated financing business.
The HKMA issued a circular on September 23, 2026, launching a review of the Enhanced Competency Framework for banking practitioners, addressed to all authorized institutions. This review is linked to relevant current circulars issued on June 18, 2020, and December 18, 2015, with supporting attachments updated simultaneously on September 23, 2026.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued a circular on current GS-2 transition planning on September 22, 2026, applicable to all authorized institutions. This circular is directly linked to the current SPM-NGL document, cross-references the CPR document filed on July 20, 2021, and replaces the old version of SPM-NGL and its corresponding circular dated December 30, 2021.
