Circular to Licensed Corporations, SFC-licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers and Associated Entities
Anti-Money Laundering / Counter-Financing of Terrorism
Early Alert on United Nations Sanctions
The sanctions committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which administers the sanctions regime for ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida amended details of one individual to its sanctions list1, 2 on 25 April 2024 (New York time). Please refer to the relevant press release issued by the UNSC in Attachment 1.
Licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers and associated entities should update their screening databases with the above changes made by the UNSC sanctions committee for sanctions screening of customers and payments. Licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers and associated entities are reminded to refer to our circular on United Nations Sanctions issued on 7 February 20183. This circular sets out our expected regulatory standards relating to sanctions imposed by the UNSC which are applicable to licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers and associated entities.
Should you have any queries regarding the contents of this circular, please contact Ms Kiki Wong at 2231 1569 who will assist in referring your queries to the relevant officer.
Intermediaries Supervision DepartmentIntermediaries DivisionSecurities and Futures Commission
Enclosure
End
SFO/IS/018/2024
1 An updated list specifying “individuals, groups, undertakings and entities” under section 25 of the United Nations Sanctions (ISIL and Al-Qaida) Regulation (Cap. 537CB), which has reflected the amendment by the sanctions committee of the UNSC, was published on the website of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau on 26 April 2024. The list obtained from the website of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau is attached in Attachment 2.2 Licensed corporations, SFC-licensed virtual asset service providers and associated entities will be alerted when the updated sanctions list, reflecting the amendment by the sanctions committee of the UNSC, is published under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance (Cap. 575) in the Gazette. The website of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will also be updated to provide a weblink to the gazette notice thereof for easy reference.3 The circular on United Nations Sanctions can be accessed on the SFC website (https://apps.sfc.hk/edistributionWeb/gateway/EN/circular/aml/doc?refNo=18EC9).
Supplementary document Attachment 1 Attachment 2
