Asia Financial Regulatory Bulletin - July 2026

Last month, Hong Kong continued to develop its derivatives market infrastructure and enforcement frameworks, while Singapore's regulators published an important consultation paper on technology risk management.

This monthly bulletin provides a snapshot of selected regulatory developments in Singapore and Hong Kong. To receive a more detailed list of regulatory developments, please sign up to our monthly newsletter below. To receive a more detailed list of regulatory developments, please sign up to our monthly newsletter below.

Key developments:

Hong Kong SAR:

• Hong Kong is taking further steps to enhance the operational and capital efficiency of the derivatives market. The HKEX and HKMA are exploring the use of e-HKD for advance margin payments during after-hours trading, allowing flexibility for 24/7 payments outside banking hours. The HKEX has announced phased reduction in client margin requirements for derivatives clearing, with the first reduction to take effect from 21 September 2026

• The SFC’s landmark HK$1 billion settlement with PwC to compensate eligible minority shareholders of China Evergrande Group for audit failures is reportedly being challenged by the company’s liquidators. The liquidators are arguing that the agreement unfairly prejudices creditors of the insolvent company, and are challenging the SFC’s statutory authority over a non-licensed entity.

Singapore:

• MAS introduced a revised licensing exemption framework for Single Family Offices, effective 15 June 2026, with a streamlined notification-only approach and a one-year transitional period for existing SFOs.

• MAS published a consultation paper on proposed amendments to its Technology Risk Management Notices, which would require financial institutions to implement enhanced measures across areas including IT asset management, risk assessment and monitoring, cyber resilience, and incident management.

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