Apply for Money Lender Licence

Regulatory agency

Anyone who conducts a money lending business in Hong Kong must obtain a money lender license. The licensing procedures for money lenders and money lending transactions are regulated by the Money Lenders Ordinance (Cap. 163) of the Hong Kong laws.

Application Guidelines

Whether the applicant is an appropriate person for conducting the money lending business (including relevant knowledge, education, and experience related to the money lending business).
Whether the premises involved in the application are suitable for operating the money lending business (such as the land use of the premises and the proof of permission from the owner and tenants).
Whether issuing the license would be contrary to the public interest.

Applicant's identity category

The current directors,
Whether the premises involved in the application are suitable for operating the money lending business (such as the land use of the premises and the proof of permission from the owner and tenants),
Whether issuing the license would be contrary to the public interest
The active participant in the money lending business of the company
Any person who has the power to control the money lending business of the company
The major shareholders (if there are multiple shareholders, only the top 6 major shareholders need to be provided)
The beneficial owner

Application Procedures

"The application form and statement must be submitted to the Companies Registry and the Licensing Office of the Hong Kong Police Force, Money Lenders Licensing Section. Once the documents are received by the respective units, the applicant will be issued a confirmation letter.
The Commissioner of Police may conduct an investigation on the license application and determine whether there are grounds to object to the application. This process may take up to 60 days.
The confirmation notification will be issued within 30 to 60 days after the investigation to inform the applicant whether the money lender license application has been approved or not.
The Licensing Court will hold a hearing and make a ruling on the application. The applicant must provide relevant documents to attend the hearing.
If the application is approved, the applicant can obtain the money lender license.
The processing time is estimated to be 4-6 months.

Supplementary Information

Basic requirements: a locked room, a closed-circuit television surveillance system, one million in cash, an active participant, and a suitable candidate.
Each license is valid for a period of 12 months and can be renewed within 3 months prior to its expiration.

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