政府就加强打击洗钱立法建议发表谘询总结 拟就虚拟资产服务提供者设立发牌制度
政府公布加强香港打击洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集规管立法建议发表谘询总结，有关谘询工作在2020年11月3日至2021年1月31日期间进行，就修订《打击洗钱条例》以(1)建立虚拟资产服务提供者发牌制度；(2)建立贵重金属及宝石交易商注册制度；以及(3)作出杂项技术修订的建议，政府在谘询期结束时共收到79份意见书。受回应者普遍支持立法工作的鼓舞，政府会根据谘询总结，着手拟备《打击洗钱条例》修订条例草案，目标是在2021/22立法年度把修订条例草案提交立法会审议。
谘询总结指出，大部分回应者赞同立法建议的整体方向、原则和主要框架，理解规管虚拟资产服务提供者和贵重金属及宝石交易商的需要，以履行香港作为财务行动特别组织(特别组织)成员须肩负的责任，亦同意在进行这次修例工作时，应设立有效制度以减低有关行业的洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集风险，并尽量减低对业界造成的负担和合规成本，在两者中取得平衡。回应者亦就立法建议的详细涵盖范围和细节发表了意见，大致上反映其行业利益或业界背景。
报告指，虚拟资产在香港并非法定货币，一般不获接纳为付款方式，但留意到市面上有不少虚拟资产交易活动。为把握金融创新带来的机遇，同时确保市场健康有序地发展，建议参考特别组织的标准在《打击洗钱条例》下为香港的虚拟资产服务提供者设立发牌制度。任何人士如有意进行经营虚拟资产交易所的受规管活动，须向证监会申请虚拟资产服务提供者牌照，并符合适当人选准则和其他规管要求。
考虑到虚拟资产交易所的有效运作有赖於一个具妥善规模和架构的常设机构，以确保其管治和延续性，政府建议只有在香港成立并有固定营业地点的公司，方会被考虑获发虚拟资产服务提供者牌照。持牌虚拟资产服务提供者须遵守《打击洗钱条例》附表2所载的打击洗钱及恐怖分子资金筹集规定(主要为客户尽职审查和备存纪录方面的规定)，以及其他旨在保障投资者的规管要求。
虽然有不少市场参与者认为应容许散户投资者参与虚拟资产交易所的交易活动，关注此举会带来的风险，特别是考虑到虚拟资产业务属高科技行业并具有高度的投机性。监於虚拟资产行业属新兴行业，其所牵涉的风险较传统金融市场为高，在确保市场妥善有序发展的政策目标下，规定虚拟资产交易所只可向专业投资者提供服务可确保投资者获得适度保障。局方认为至少在发牌制度的初期，实行有关规定做法恰当。证监会会继续留意市场情况，待日後市场更趋成熟时再检讨相关要求。
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