CityLinkers provide comprehensive solutions for obtaining and maintaining your Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) licence in Hong Kong.
What SFC Licenses does CityLinkers help with?
We provide comprehensive licensing support for financial institutions seeking SFC Type 1, Type 4, and Type 9 licenses in Hong Kong. Our team handles the entire application process — from pre-application strategy and document preparation to submission, SFC query response, and post-licensing compliance setup. With over 14 years of experience and more than 5,000 corporate cases handled, we understand exactly what the SFC expects. Our team also offers ongoing regulatory support, including filings, renewals, policy updates, and day-to-day compliance monitoring, enabling your licensed corporation to operate with confidence and in full compliance with Hong Kong’s regulatory standards.
Who Needs an SFC License in Hong Kong?
Any corporation that conducts regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) must obtain a licence from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) before commencing business. The most common license types include: • Type 1 (Dealing in Securities) — For brokerages and securities trading firms • Type 4 (Advising on Securities) — For investment advisory firms • Type 9 (Asset Management) — For fund managers and asset management companies If your firm deals in securities, provides investment advice, or manages assets for clients in or from Hong Kong, you need the appropriate SFC licence.
What are the key SFC Licensing requirements?
The SFC evaluates applicants across several critical dimensions:
Financial Resources:
The capital requirements depend on whether the licensed corporation holds client assets. For Type 9 (Asset Management) and Type 4 (Advising on Securities), if the firm does not hold client assets (the most common setup), there is no minimum paid-up share capital requirement, and the minimum liquid capital is only HK$100,000. If the firm holds client assets, the minimum paid-up share capital is HK$5,000,000 and the minimum liquid capital is HK$3,000,000. For Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), the standard requirement is HK$5,000,000 paid-up share capital and HK$3,000,000 liquid capital; firms providing securities margin financing must maintain HK$10,000,000 paid-up share capital. Type 6 requirements vary depending on whether the firm acts as a sponsor.
Competent Personnel:
Each licensed corporation must have at least two Responsible Officers (ROs) who meet the SFC's competence and experience requirements. ROs must hold relevant industry qualifications and have a minimum of three years of relevant experience in the past six years.
Compliance Infrastructure:
Applicants must demonstrate robust internal controls, compliance procedures, risk management frameworks, and anti-money laundering (AML) systems before the licence is granted.
Business Premises:
The SFC requires a physical office in Hong Kong with appropriate security measures for storing client records and confidential information.
How long does the SFC licensing process take?
The typical SFC licence application starts from 3 to 6 months from submission to approval, depending on the complexity of the application and the responsiveness of the applicant. Pre-application preparation — including drafting business plans, compliance manuals, and RO applications — usually requires an additional 1 to 2 months. CityLinkers works to streamline this timeline by ensuring all documentation is complete and accurate before submission.
What Post-licensing support does CityLinkers provide?
Obtaining the licence is only the beginning. CityLinkers provides ongoing compliance support including:
- Annual compliance review and audit preparation
- Semi-annual FRR (Financial Resources Rules) submissions for licensees not holding client assets; monthly FRR submissions for licensees holding client assets
- Quarterly SFC compliance reporting
- AML/CFT compliance monitoring and training
- RO and licensed representative renewal applications
- Incident reporting and SFC correspondence management
- Internal policy updates aligned with regulatory changes
Why Choose CityLinkers for SFC Licensing?
CityLinkers combines deep regulatory knowledge with practical operational experience. We have successfully guided numerous fund managers, brokerages, and advisory firms through the SFC licensing process. Our integrated approach — covering licensing, audit arrangement, tax, and corporate services — ensures that your firm meets all regulatory obligations from day one.
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