How to Apply for a
Money Lenders Licence
1. What should I do if I want to apply for a money lenders
licence?
Step 1 Download the application form, statement form
and the relevant supplementary information
sheets (SISs) at www.cr.gov.hk (Note 1).
Step 2 Complete three sets each of the application
form and statement form and one set each of the
relevant SISs. (Each form must be manually
signed)
Step 3 Prepare a business plan for the money-lending
business (Note 2).
Step 4 Deliver the following documents to the
Information Counter of the Money Lenders
Section on the 13th floor of Queensway
Government Offices together with the
application fee (Notes 3 to 7) -
(a) two sets each of the application form and
statement form, one set each of the relevant
SISs and a business plan; and
(b)(i) evidence of authorisation (if the
applicant is a limited company); or
(b)(ii) a character or business reference (if the
applicant is an individual or a partner of
a firm).
Step 5 Deliver one set each of the application form
and statement form to the Money Lenders
Licensing Section, Licensing Office, Hong
Kong Police Force on the 12th floor, Arsenal
House, Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street,
Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
(Please note the other supporting documents as
required by the Commissioner of Police as set out in
the “Guideline on Application for New Issue/
Renewal of and Endorsement on Money Lenders
Licence” issued by the Police overleaf.)
2. What can I get?
The licensing court will grant a money lenders licence
valid for 12 months if it thinks fit.
3. How long does it take?
Normally, a licence will be granted in 3 to 4 months’
time from the date of delivery of the application.
Notes :
1. Please use the relevant forms for the application.
Form
No.
Description of Form
Application for a licence – by individual / partnership
2
Application by an individual for a licence for himself or
for a partnership
4
Statement in support of an application by an individual
for a licence for himself or for a partnership
SIS-2
Supplementary Information Sheet - Application by an
individual for a money lenders licence for a sole
proprietor or for a partnership
SIS-2A
Supplementary Information Sheet - Fit and Proper
Criteria - Application by an individual for a money
lenders licence for a sole proprietor or for a partnership
Application for a licence – by company
3
Application by a company for a licence
5
Statement in support of an application by a company for
a licence
SIS-1
Supplementary Information Sheet - Application by a
company for a money lenders licence
SIS-1A
Supplementary Information Sheet - Fit and Proper
Criteria - Application by a company for a money lenders
licence
2. Applicants for a money lenders licence are required to submit a
business plan with their application to show that the applicants have
comprehensive understanding of the money-lending business and are
ready to carry on the business. Key items of information that should
be included in the business plan are set out in the “Guideline on
Submission of Business Plan by Applicant of a Money Lenders
Licence” which can be downloaded at www.cr.gov.hk.
3. Service hours of the Money Lenders Section -
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. & 1:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
4. Shroff hours –
Monday to Friday
8:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. & 1:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
5. For information on application and other fees, please refer to the
information pamphlet “Fees Payable under the Money Lenders
Ordinance” which can be downloaded at www.cr.gov.hk or
obtained from the Information Counter of the Money Lenders
Section on the 13th floor of the Queensway Government Offices.
6. You may send your application and cheque to the Money Lenders
Section of the Companies Registry by post. Cheques should be made
payable to the “Companies Registry”.
7. For delivery of documents to the Companies Registry outside office
hours on Monday to Saturday (except public holidays), you can
make use of the Registry’s Drop-in box provided near the
Information Counter on the Deck Floor, High Block, Queensway
Government Offices.
公 司 註 冊 處
COMPANIES REGISTRY
Important
This pamphlet is intended to provide a general guide. It
should be read in conjunction with the provisions of the
Money Lenders Ordinance (Chapter 163 of the Laws of Hong
Kong) and should not be regarded as a substitute for reading
it. You can purchase a hard copy of the Money Lenders
Ordinance from the Online Government Bookstore
(www.bookstore.gov.hk) or call the Publications Sales Unit of
the Information Services Department at (852) 2537 1910.
You can also read the full text of the Ordinance at
www.elegislation.gov.hk. You are advised to seek
independent professional advice as you see fit.
Guideline on Application for New Issue/ Renewal of and Endorsement on Money Lenders Licence
The Money Lenders Ordinance (Cap. 163) specifies the factors that the licensing court shall consider in processing an application for a money lenderslicence. The factors include:
(i) whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to carry on business as a money lender (e.g. the general knowledge, qualification and experience in relation to money
lending business etc);
(ii) whether the premises to which the application relates are suitable for the carrying on of the business of money-lending (e.g. usage of the premises and permission from the
landlord and tenant etc); and
(iii) whether the grant of such licence is contrary to the public interest.
To facilitate the investigation to be carried out in respect of an application for the purposes of determining whether, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Police (CP), there are
grounds for objecting the application in accordance with the Money Lenders Ordinance, the CP may require the applicant to produce the following documents for processing the
application:
Required Documents
Contents
Documentary proof to support the applicant's capability in managing
the money lending business
Reference letter of previous working experience in money lending business, relevant certificate, etc.
(Resumes are not accepted).
Documentary proof to show the financial situation of the applicant
Bank statements of the company, directors or shareholders.
Tenancy agreement
Tenancy agreement for premises intended to be used for money lending business.
General permission from the landlord
Written consent from landlord and tenant, if the premises is sublet, for the intended use of premises for
money lending business.
"Permit to occupy a new building" issued by the Buildings
Department
Specifying the use of premises for “office” or “shop” purposes.
If the permit does not allow the use of premises for the above purposes, permission from the Buildings
Department, District Lands Office and/or Town Planning Board for the change of use is required.
Land Register obtained from the Land Registry by conducting land
search
Specifying the ownership of premises.
Floor plan inside the premises
Showing the partitions and equipments inside the premises.
Annual return if the applicant is a company
Showing the directors and shareholders of the applicant.
The above list is not exhaustive. The CP may require the applicant to produce other documents to assist the processing. Please prepare TWO sets of the abovementioned documents.
When an application for Money Lenders Licence (including new issue, renewal and endorsement) is made, the applicant shall send a copy of the application form to the CP. For
enquiries, please contact the Licensing Office (Money Lender Licensing Section), Hong Kong Police Force, during office hours at 2860 3574.
Licensing Office(Money Lender Licensing Section)
Hong Kong Police Force
(10/2016)