Trade Controls

The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), Chapter 615(Opens a new window) came into operation on 1 April 2012.

Money Service Operators (MSOs) and the Postmaster General as well as other specified financial institutions.

A person who or an institution which operates a money changing service or a remittance service is a Money Service Operator.

The Commissioner of Customs & Excise (CCE) is the relevant authority under the AMLO.

Under the AMLO, any person who wishes to operate a money service must apply for a licence from the CCE.

MSOs should submit application for a licence to the CCE commencing on 1 April 2012.

The application can be submitted in paper or through e-platform.

The application form can be downloaded from the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) website at https://www.customs.gov.hk or obtained at the C&ED office. After completion, the application form together with copies of supporting documents should be submitted by post or in person to the CCE (i.e. Money Service Supervision Bureau at Units 402-403, 4/F, Centre Parc, 11 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon).

The application form can be completed and submitted with relevant supporting documents through the C&ED website at https://www.customs.gov.hk.

The conditions that CCE will consider in granting a licence are set out in section 30(3) and (4) of the AMLO. In brief, the applicant (or any partner / director / ultimate owner) must not have been convicted of an offence specified at section 30(4), or is an undischarged bankrupt, and the premises for operation of the MSO business is considered by CCE to be suitable. For easy reference, the said offences under section 30(4)(a)(i) – (iv) and other provision under section 30(4)(b) – (e) are listed at this tableA10 PDF.

Premises situated in a wholly residential building are not considered to be suitable for registration to operate money service. Where particular premises are situated in a mixed commercial and residential building (i.e. situated in domestic premises), the applicant has secured the written consent of every occupant of the premises for any authorized person of C&ED to enter the premises to conduct inspection. Please refer to paragraph 4.6 of the Licensing Guide for more details on suitability of premises.

MSOs have to pay fees for a licence. (seeA12 PDF)

The licence will be valid for 2 years and a licensee should apply for renewal not later than 45 days before the licence is due to expire.

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The Customs & Excise Department may answer their enquiries which can be made via :-