Announced policies, laws and officials’ explanations of public affairs.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
財政司司長在網誌指疫情打擊環球經濟，OECD將今年環球經濟增長預測下調0.5個百分點至2.4%。預算案1200億元逆周期措施包括向年滿十八歲香港永久居民每人派發一萬元，目前時間表為七月初接受申請、暑假期間派發現金。申請截止日期為明年12月31日。
Why read this: 網誌交代了每人一萬元現金派發計劃的申請與發放時間表，並列出OECD與IMF下調的全球增長預測數字供讀者核對。
The Insurance Authority announced a series of temporary facilitative measures to reduce the risk of insurance intermediaries contracting the novel coronavirus when meeting clients. The measures cover only qualifying deferred annuity policies and voluntary health insurance products. During sales, after clearly disclosing key information, there is no need to conduct a financial needs analysis. The cooling-off period is extended to no less than 30 days, and the measures will run until the end of the current year of assessment on 31 March 2020.
Why read this: The measures cover only the two tax-deductible products and specify cooling-off periods and implementation deadlines, allowing readers to check whether they are affected.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
保監局自2019年9月23日起接替三個自律規管機構，直接規管全港約11萬名保險中介人，並舉行交接儀式。新制度下保監局修訂基本學歷、持續專業培訓、操守守則及經紀公司最低股本等要求，並處理中介人操守投訴及違規調查；銀行作為持牌保險代理機構的投訴由金管局負責。
Why read this: 新聞稿交代由哪三個自律規管機構交接、涉及全港約11萬名中介人，讀者可核對新規管制度的覆蓋範圍。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
保監局就持牌保險中介人「適當人選」準則及持續專業培訓指引發表諮詢總結，新持牌人士須於香港中學文憑試五科達到2級或以上（包括中文或英文及數學）。持續專業培訓時數由每年10小時增至15小時，兩份指引於2019年9月23日生效，新增時數要求於2021年8月1日生效。
Why read this: 諮詢總結列出新持牌人士的最低學歷門檻、每年培訓時數及兩項生效日期，可據此判斷新要求何時適用。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
保監局就《保險業條例》（第41章）下《有關向受規管人士行使施加罰款權力的指引》發表諮詢總結，指引將在憲報刊登，並於新保險中介人法定規管制度在2019年9月23日實施時生效。指引建議罰款應有效、相稱而公平，公眾諮詢於2018年10月26日至12月27日進行，回應者普遍歡迎引入統一罰款標準。
Why read this: 諮詢期與生效日期都寫明，可核對新罰款制度何時落地、回應者主要反應為何。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
政府宣布暫緩逃犯移交草案修訂的審議工作，財政司司長撰文指將在不設時限的基礎上繼續與各界溝通及聽取意見。網誌列出港元一個月期同業拆息曾比6月初高出60個基點達2.6%、港元匯率由7.84兌1美元升至7.81，並指證券及期貨市場運作暢順有序。
Why read this: 網誌逐一列出港元拆息、匯價、銀行流動性及賣地情況的具體數字，可核對社會氣氛緊張期間金融與樓市的實際表現。
The Insurance Authority will replace three self-regulatory organisations from 23 September 2019 and comprehensively regulate insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong, including licensing approval, inspections and investigations, and disciplinary sanctions. Two sets of rules are planned to take effect on the same day, subject to the progress of scrutiny by the Legislative Council. Intermediaries with valid registrations immediately before the effective date will be treated as licensed persons for three years; unresolved cases will be handled under the pre-handover rules, and new requirements will not apply retrospectively.
Why read this: The announcement sets out transitional arrangements: insurance intermediaries registered with the three self-regulatory organisations will be treated as licensed persons for three years, allowing readers to check whether they are affected.
The Insurance Authority published consultation conclusions on two sets of rules required for the new statutory regulatory regime for insurance intermediaries, deciding that the cap on authorised insurers that an insurance agent may represent will remain at four, rather than being raised to five. The Insurance Authority also extended the transition period for licensed insurance broker companies by one year to slightly more than four years, and shelved the proposal to raise the minimum indemnity limit for professional indemnity insurance; the two sets of rules will be submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny and will take effect on the day the new regime is implemented.
Why read this: The conclusions state that the cap on insurers an agent may represent remains at four, and that the transition period for insurance brokers will be extended by one year, allowing the two final decisions to be checked against the original proposals.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
保監局公布2019年4月1日起保費徵費率調整至每保單年度保費的0.06%，人壽保險保單上限$60、一般保險保單$3,000。除法例豁免的保單外，徵費適用於所有新造或現行保單。徵費率由2018年1月1日的0.04%逐步上調，2021年4月1日達到0.1%目標水平。
Why read this: 公布列出新費率、兩類保單的徵費上限，以及由0.04%逐步上調至0.1%的時間表，方便對照自己的保單開支。
The Insurance Authority welcomes the proposed measures concerning the insurance sector in the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, announced by the State Council on 18 February 2019, including promoting cross-boundary renminbi reinsurance business, supporting the joint development of cross-boundary motor and healthcare insurance products, exploring the establishment of an international marine insurance product trading platform, and facilitating cross-boundary underwriting, survey and claims handling. Chairman Dr Joseph Chan said the measures could deepen cooperation among the insurance sectors of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and that the Insurance Authority would communicate and discuss implementation with mainland ministries, commissions and the industry.
Why read this: This press release sets out a number of proposed measures for the insurance sector under the Outline Plan, and explains that the Insurance Authority will discuss implementation arrangements with mainland ministries and commissions, allowing readers to grasp the policy direction.
The Financial Secretary said in a blog post that the HKSAR Government has no intention of relaxing the three property market cooling measures, namely the Special Stamp Duty (SSD), the Double Stamp Duty (DSD) and the Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD), as members of the public still face difficulties in purchasing homes. He said that, without affecting the risk of the banking system, the Government would explore solutions for first-time buyers who are capable of servicing a mortgage but lack sufficient down payments, and would conduct continuous dynamic assessments taking into account property prices, transaction volumes, residential supply and the overall economic situation, without setting a rigid deadline.
Why read this: The blog post breaks down the policy objectives of each of the three property market cooling measures and sets out four factors to be assessed when considering relaxing mortgage rules, allowing readers to compare and understand the Government's stance.
The Financial Secretary announced that the tax deduction cap for qualifying deferred annuity premiums and MPF tax-deductible voluntary contributions would be raised from the originally proposed $36,000 to $60,000, representing the maximum total deduction available to each taxpayer. An amendment bill will soon be submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny, and it is hoped that the relevant deductions can take effect from 1 April next year once passed, after which the Insurance Authority will publish a list of qualifying deferred annuity products on its website.
Why read this: The blog sets out the arrangements for raising the deduction cap from $36,000 to $60,000, its effective date and how to apply, allowing readers to check the deductions they may claim.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
轉數快今日正式啟動，提供跨銀行、跨電子錢包的全天候即時轉帳，支援港元和人民幣。P2P及P2B小額交易可於手機完成，商戶只須一個二維碼即可適用所有電子錢包。金管局至今收到約三十份虛擬銀行牌照申請，存款保障上限50萬元，最快今年底批出首批牌照。
Why read this: 司長網誌列出轉數快啟動首日的服務範圍，以及約三十份虛擬銀行牌照申請與50萬元存款保障上限，可核對金融科技政策進度。
The Insurance Authority has launched a two-month public consultation on the "fit and proper" criteria and continuing professional training guidelines for licensed insurance intermediaries, closing on 30 November 2018. Individual licensees must attain grade 2 or above in five subjects in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (including Chinese or English and Mathematics), continuing training hours will rise from 10 to 15 hours per year, with at least 3 hours in ethics or regulatory disciplines.
Why read this: The consultation paper sets out minimum academic qualifications, 15 hours of training per year and three-year transitional arrangements, allowing verification of the new system's specific requirements for practitioners.
The Insurance Authority and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission have reached consensus that, under the "China Risk Oriented Solvency Testing System" (C-ROSS, commonly known as "C-ROSS II"), capital requirements for mainland insurance companies ceding business to qualifying professional reinsurers in Hong Kong will be reduced. The preferential measures are based on the framework agreement signed by the regulators of the two places on 16 May 2017, under which each other's solvency regulatory effectiveness is temporarily recognised as equivalent or similar during a transitional period of four years pending completion of the assessment work. For details, please refer to Notice CBIRC [2018] No. 34.
Why read this: The announcement explains that the preferential measures are based on the framework agreement signed in 2017 and the transitional period of four years for mutual recognition of equivalence, allowing readers to understand the prerequisites for the reduced capital requirements.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
政府公布六項房屋政策新措施，建議就空置一手私人住宅徵收應課差餉租值兩倍的額外差餉，並規定發展商每次推售單位不得少於同意書總數的20%。空置以入伙紙發出後12個月未售且逾6個月未作居住或出租計算，財政司司長指措施目標並非要遏抑樓價。
Why read this: 文章列出未來五年落成量平均每年約21,000個、發展商可售貨量18,500個，並解釋空置計算以入伙紙為起點的理由。
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
財政司司長聯同羅致光局長公布「關愛共享計劃」，向合資格市民發放一筆四千元款項。申請人須今年12月31日或以前年滿十八歲、通常居港、未領津貼且在港沒有物業。初步估計約二百八十萬人合資格、發放約一百一十億元，爭取明年二月或之前接受申請。
Why read this: 網誌逐一列出合資格與不合資格的具體條件，並提供受惠人數約二百八十萬、發放約一百一十億元等可核對數字。
The Insurance Authority will levy a premium charge on policyholders in accordance with the law from 1 January 2018, at an initial rate of 0.04% of the premium per policy year, rising gradually to 0.1%. In the first phase, the cap for life insurance is $40 per policy year and $2,000 for general insurance; failure to pay the maximum amount in accordance with the law may result in a fine of up to $5,000.
Why read this: The press release sets out the levy rates and caps in four phases from 2018, allowing policyholders to check the maximum amount payable per policy year according to policy type and premium amount.
The Insurance Authority will replace the Insurance Companies Ordinance regulator, the Insurance Authority office, a government department, in regulating insurers from 26 June 2017, and the Insurance Authority office will be dissolved on the same day. The new regime will widen the scope of regulation of insurers, and the Insurance Authority plans to implement a statutory licensing regime for insurance intermediaries within two years. The Insurance Authority will charge authorisation fees to insurers from the same day, and plans to levy a premium on policyholders from 1 January 2018; the subsidiary legislation has been submitted to the Legislative Council for scrutiny.
Why read this: The press release sets out the effective date, staffing establishment and fee schedule, allowing readers to check the transition arrangements and the progress of the premium levy.
Translation is not available yet. Showing the Traditional Chinese version.
保監局將由二零一七年六月二十六日（交接日）起取代保險業監理處規管保險公司，保監處同日解散。政府將於四月二十一日在憲報刊登《2017年〈2015年保險公司（修訂）條例〉（生效日期）公告》及八項附屬法例，並於四月二十六日提交立法會先訂立後審議。保監局日後將接手三個自律規管機構規管保險中介人的職能。
Why read this: 公布列明交接日期與將同步刊憲的八項附屬法例，讀者可核對規管權責何時由保監處轉移到保監局。