- Inward and outward RMB remittance services which do not involve foreign exchange (including remittances between Hong Kong and mainland China, as well as between Hong Kong and overseas) can be conducted in accordance with the usual banking practices in Hong Kong.
- For RMB remittances to and from the Mainland counterparts, the Mainland authorities and Mainland banks will be responsible for reviewing whether the transaction is in compliance with the relevant rules and requirements of the Mainland authoritiesNote
- For RMB remittances received from the Mainland counterparts, the RMB proceeds can only be credited to customers' RMB Savings Account(s) or RMB Current Account(s).
Note: In order to avoid delayed payments, customers are advised to check the eligibility of their payees on the Mainland for receiving RMB funds before making outward remittance application in Hong Kong
Currency Exchange
- Two-way exchanges between the HKD (or other foreign currencies) and the RMB can be conducted in accordance with the usual banking practices in Hong Kong
- For RMB, the exchange rate will be quoted according to the transaction purposes (i.e. for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose or for general purpose) of the underlying transaction:
1. When customers purchase RMB for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose with the Mainland counterparts, it is necessary to submit relevant cross-border trade documents of merchandise goods when conducting RMB exchange for cross-border trade settlements with the Mainland enterprises. The exchange amount must not be larger than the amount shown on the trade documents of merchandise goods
2. Where customers have RMB proceeds received under cross-border mercantile trade with the Mainland counterparts in the past 3 months, the exchange rate for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose should be applied to any RMB sold by the customers up to the amount of such trade proceeds.
3. For general purpose, there is no restriction on the exchange amount. However, the exchange rate will be quoted by the Bank subject to the changes of the market conditions
Trade Services
- Apart from mercantile trade, service trade can also be settled in RMB, but the exchange rate for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose cannot be applied to such RMB exchange
Lending
- Provision of any type of business loan to any commercial customers (but not personal and Designated Business Customer "DBC" Accounts) in accordance with the usual banking practices in Hong Kong
- RMB funds in an "RMB Account" can be placed under pledge for a loan denominated in the RMB or any other currency
RMB Bonds & Other Wealth Management Products
- Apart from providing RMB bonds subscription services, banks in Hong Kong can provide RMB financing to commercial customers for their bond investments
- Apart from RMB bond investments, banks in Hong Kong can also develop other RMB-related wealth management products to cope with market needs
Currently, the Pilot Program of RMB Settlement of Cross-border Trade Transactions covers 20 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Xizang and Xinjiang.
The MDE qualification remains valid. All enterprises (including MDEs & non-MDEs) in the 20 provinces and cities covered by the Pilot Program of RMB Settlement of Cross-border Trade Transactions are allowed to settle in RMB two-way service trade and imports of goods into the Mainland. Exports of goods from the Mainland have to be conducted in accordance with the procedures applicable to the MDEs if they are to be settled in the RMB under the cross-border RMB trade settlement pilot scheme.
Yes. Commercial customers are eligible to open "RMB Accounts" with Hang Seng Bank in accordance with the normal account opening procedures and requirements of the Bank.
Yes. DBCs can also open an "RMB Account" for general purpose. However due to the different regulatory requirements between DBC Accounts and "RMB Accounts", transfers of RMB funds from "RMB Accounts" to DBC Accounts are not allowed.
Yes. There is no particular restriction on RMB cash deposits and withdrawals for "RMB accounts" of commercial customers. However, it should be satisfied that such cash deposits or withdrawals are reasonable in the context of the customer’s ordinary course of business in Hong Kong.
Yes. When customers purchase RMB for the cross-border mercantile trade settlement with the Mainland counterparts, commercial customers are required to submit RMB Exchange Instruction & Declaration Form and relevant trade documents of merchandise goods in relation to their cross-border trade transactions. Relevant trade documents of merchandise goods include sales invoice, transport documents issued by a third party and any other trade related supporting documents as required by the Bank from time to time. The RMB exchange amount must not be larger than the amount shown on the cross-border trade documents of merchandise goods.
No. RMB exchange for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose is only applicable for direct trade payment to / collection from the Mainland counterparts for merchandise goods.
If the outward remittance does not involve RMB exchange for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose, commercial customers are not required to submit the related trade supporting documents to the Bank.
However, if the outward remittance involves RMB exchange for cross-border mercantile trade settlement with the Mainland counterparts, commercial customers are required to submit RMB Exchange Instruction & Declaration form and the following trade supporting documents: Sales invoices and transport documents issued by a third party in relation to the underlying cross-border mercantile trade settlements and any other trade related supporting documents as required by the Bank from time to time.
In any case, the outward remittance amount of RMB for the RMB cross-border trade settlement must not be larger than the amount of the underlying cross-border trade transaction. Furthermore, to avoid delayed payments, commercial customers are advised to check the eligibility of their payees in the Mainland before making outward remittance applications. Otherwise, such remittance transaction may be rejected by the Mainland authorities or the Mainland banks if the remittance transaction does not fully comply with the relevant rules and requirements in the Mainland.
The Mainland authorities and banks will verify the identity of the remitter and the underlying trade transactions before the outward remittance can be effected. Therefore, participating banks and recipients in Hong Kong are not required to undertake further identity verification with regards to RMB inward remittances.
No. RMB inward remittances received from the Mainland can only be credited to commercial customers' "RMB Accounts". Payments will be rejected if the commercial customers do not have any "RMB Accounts". To avoid rejection of payments, commercial customers are advised to open "RMB Accounts" and ensure a correct "RMB Account number" is given to the Mainland counterparts.
Where commercial customers have RMB proceeds received under cross-border mercantile trade with the Mainland counterparts in the past 3 months, the exchange rate for cross-border mercantile trade settlement purpose should be applied to any RMB sold by the customers up to the amount of such trade proceeds.
Where commercial customers sold RMB to an amount more than its aggregate trade proceeds in the past 3 months, the exchange rate for general purpose should be applied to the excess portion.
For the purpose of calculating the amount of RMB trade proceeds from cross-border mercantile trade in the past 3 months, any RMB trade proceeds from cross-border mercantile trade transferred out of the commercial customer’s “RMB Account” or any non-trade in-flow and out-flow of RMB funds should not be deducted from the customers’ total trade proceeds.
Yes, deposits denominated in either the RMB or any other foreign currency can be pledged for loan financing. Currently, it is not allowed to extend RMB loans to Personal Customers or credit the RMB loan proceeds to the DBC Accounts.
Companies outside mainland China can open a RMB Non Resident Account ("NRA") with the Mainland banks for the purpose of cross-border settlement. Yet, cash withdrawal is not allowed.
Documents required for opening a NRA with the Mainland banks include but are not limited to, Certificate of Incorporation, Identification document(s) of directors & signatories, Memorandum and Articles of Association, etc. Other documents may be required by the respective PBoC local office and the Mainland bank. All documents submitted to PBoC should be in Chinese or translated into Chinese.
Since the account operation is subject to the administration of the relevant local PBoC branch, account opening bank is required to obtain respective PBoC branch's prior approval before account opening.
The above information is for reference only. Customers who are interested in opening an offshore account may contact Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited for updated application details.
Our Macau Branch also offers RMB trade settlement services. Furthermore, Hang Seng Bank (China) Limited is one of our correspondent banks in the Mainland and is a Mainland settlement bank offering RMB trade settlement services to commercial banks outside the Mainland, as well as MDEs in the Mainland.
All the information set out in this web page is provided to the best of the Bank's knowledge and understanding of the relevant laws, rules, regulations, directions and guidelines governing or otherwise applicable to Renminbi Accounts (i.e. Renminbi Savings Account and/or Renminbi Current Account) and/ or RMB Commercial Banking Services. Please refer to any updates which may be published or issued by the Bank at any time and from time to time and any latest guidelines issued by the regulatory authorities governing the same from time to time. Please also visit the Bank's branches or contact the staff of the Bank for the most updated information on the above.
The Bank accepts no liability with respect to the content or the use of this web page.
# 24-hour Business Partner Direct - Mainland (Toll-free) allows you to contact us for free even when staying in mainland China. This hotline is applicable to general enquiries on commercial banking services only, but not enquiries/transactions of investment related matters. The toll-free hotline can be accessed from mobile lines, fixed telephone lines, payphones and call cards. Please note that Hang Seng Bank Limited (the "Bank") assumes no responsibilities for charges by any phone/telecommunications service providers, as well as all claims, disputes and complaints in relation thereto.
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