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Regulatory Update: SFC Expands Remote Onboarding Jurisdictions — What It Means for Your Fund

30 July 2025

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has expanded its list of eligible jurisdictions for remote onboarding of overseas individual clients. This update is a welcome development for both Hong Kong-based intermediaries and offshore funds—including those domiciled in the Cayman Islands—who engage with global investors and service providers across borders.

What’s new:

15 jurisdictions added, including France, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa
Investors banking in these jurisdictions can now be onboarded remotely via SFC-recognised channels
Enhances flexibility for fund flows and investor subscriptions through Hong Kong intermediaries

Why it matters [to Marbury clients]

Whether your fund is Hong Kong-domiciled or offshore, this update may streamline investor onboarding and fund administration in several ways:

For Hong Kong-domiciled funds:

Easier onboarding of overseas investors via remote channels
Expanded access to global capital without compromising compliance
Greater clarity on acceptable banking jurisdictions for fund flows

For offshore funds (eg Cayman):

Many GPs with offshore funds engage Hong Kong-based intermediaries for investor onboarding, management, distribution or banking
The expanded jurisdiction list simplifies onboarding for investors using Hong Kong platforms
Supports smoother fund flows and AML alignment when Hong Kong service providers are involved

How Marbury supports multi-jurisdictional fund operations

Marbury helps fund clients navigate the complexity of cross-border onboarding and compliance through:

Jurisdictional mapping & guidance Clear assessments of onboarding eligibility, AML requirements, and investor documentation standards across Cayman, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the EU
Intermediary coordination Seamless collaboration with Hong Kong-based distributors, placement agents, and banks to ensure compliant onboarding and fund flows
Tailored compliance frameworks Custom onboarding processes based on jurisdictional constraints, FATCA classifications, and source-of-wealth documentation
Cybersecurity-first infrastructure Secure platforms and risk-based controls to protect investor data and meet regional data governance standards
Regulatory monitoring Ongoing tracking of updates from SFC, CIMA, MAS, and other regulators to keep fund operations aligned with best practices

As global investor strategies evolve, Marbury remains committed to delivering efficient, compliant, and investor-friendly solutions—whether your fund is anchored in Hong Kong or offshore. Contact Allie Braithwaite at allie.braithwaite@marburys.com for more information.

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