Banking Industry Integrity Charter — HKMA — HK

55th Floor, Two International Finance Centre, 香港中環金融街 8 號國際金融中心 2 期 55 樓 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong 網址：www.hkma.gov.hk Website: www.hkma.gov.hk Our Ref: B1/15C G12/238C 15 April 2025 The Chief Executive All Authorized Institutions Dear Sir/Madam, Banking Industry Integrity Charter I am writing to provide an update on the latest developmentsrelating to the Banking Industry Integrity Charter (BIIC) and share with you the benefits of joining the BIIC in strengthening your institution’s integrity culture and anti-corruption capability. The BIIC was launched in October 2024 by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) with the full support of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks. Up to now, 48 Authorized Institutions (AIs) have joined the BIIC, and the first training course for their Integrity Officers was held in March 2025. Through this training course, the ICAC officers updated the participants on the latest corruption trends in the banking sector. The HKMA representative also gave a regulator’s perspective on the importance of establishing a sound corporate culture. The highlight of the training was a scenario-based learning workshop for the participants to discuss emerging corruption risks facing the banking industry and share good practices among themselves. The participants found the training invaluable in enhancing their knowledge of and ability to manage corruption risks. The Integrity Officers were also updated on the full suite of training materials, including Online Integrity Training Workshops, developed by the ICAC to help bank staff understand anti-corruption laws and relevant requirements. The HKMA strongly recommends AIs to join the BIIC if they have not already done so. Details of the BIIC and the enrolment procedure can be found here.

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Taking this opportunity, I would like to remind AIs to pay attention to the following:
a) Prompt reporting of suspected corruption activities – AIs should report any suspected corruption to the ICAC as soon as practicable. It is important to note that full evidence is not required when making a report. AIs should familiarize themselves with the Guide to Reporting Corruption issued by the ICAC, which provides detailed guidance on lodging a report. A copy of the Guide can be found here. b) Providing full assistance to assist ICAC’s investigations – the ICAC may request AIs to provide information or records under specified powers, or render any other assistance for investigation purposes. As investigation is a race against time, AIs should deploy sufficient resources to handle these requests and provide the relevant materials or assistance without delay. Should you have any questions related to this circular, please feel free to contact Mr Frank Leung on 2878 8111 or Mr Eric Wong on 2878 7504. Yours faithfully, Raymond Chan Executive Director (Enforcement and AML)