New Control Measures on Hong Kong Investment Accounts of Mainland Individual Investors

On 22 May 2026, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and multiple Mainland authorities launched a rectification plan targeting illegal cross-boundary securities activities. In parallel, the Hong Kong SFC and HKMA issued circulars strengthening controls over Mainland individual investor accounts.

Three key measures apply only to Mainland individual clients:

• Retrospective review of forged documents – Institutions must conduct look-back reviews (when requested) to identify accounts opened with questionable or forged documents since January 2023 and close such accounts promptly.
• Clean-up of zero-balance dormant accounts – Mainland individual accounts with zero balance as of 22 May 2026 and no activity in the prior 12 months must be reviewed, suspended, and closed unless reactivation requirements are met.
• New account declaration requirement – New Mainland individual investors must declare in writing that investment funds originate from lawful sources outside Mainland China.

These measures reflect strengthened coordination and collaboration between Mainland and Hong Kong financial regulators, reinforcing oversight of Mainland individual investors’ overseas investment activities. They also enhance compliance management and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements in relation to cross-border and offshore fund flows, thereby improving transparency and regulatory discipline in cross-boundary financial activities.

https://www.csrc.gov.cn/csrc/c100028/c7634326/content.shtml

https://brdr.hkma.gov.hk/chi/doc-ldg/docId/getPdf/20260522-10-TC/20260522-10-TC.pdf

https://apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/circular/intermediaries/supervision/doc?refNo=26EC29