Securities and Futures Commission

About SFC

The Securities and Futures Commission is Hong Kong’s independent statutory regulator for the securities and futures markets. It was officially established in May 1989 and operates independently of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, with funding primarily derived from transaction levies and licensing fees. The SFC licenses and supervises securities brokers, futures dealers, asset managers, investment advisers, leveraged foreign exchange traders, virtual asset trading platform operators and other intermediaries conducting regulated activities in Hong Kong. Its responsibilities include licensing, ongoing supervision, market surveillance, product authorisation, rulemaking, enforcement, investor education and action against unlicensed entities and market misconduct. The SFC may investigate suspected breaches, impose disciplinary sanctions and refer appropriate cases for criminal prosecution. Leveraged foreign exchange trading is a regulated activity under Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Ordinance. Firms conducting this activity generally require the relevant Type 3 licence unless a statutory exemption applies. Users should verify the corporation’s exact legal name, central entity number, regulated activities, licence conditions and approved representatives through the SFC’s official public register. The SFC accepts complaints concerning misconduct by licensed firms, unlicensed activities, market manipulation, unauthorised investment products and other regulatory matters. However, it does not resolve private civil disputes or directly order a firm to compensate an individual complainant.