(1) Stored value facilities used within certain premises under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the SVF Ordinance
Stored value facilities issued under an agreement between issuer and another person that can only be used as a means of making payments only for goods or services within a premise occupied by that other person will be exempt from the licensing requirement. A typical example would be membership cards used in staff canteens or restaurants in an organization.
This exemption is subject to the limitation that the total amount of the float of the facility shall not exceed HK$1 million. In cases where the issuer issues more than one facility, the same limitation applies to the aggregate amount of the float of these facilities.
The spending campaigns launched by different malls in Hong Kong are largely similar in nature and cross-spending is usually not allowed. The cash coupons are also only acceptable for payment in certain shops and restaurants that have reached certain consensus with the issuer. One concern is that for most of the spending campaigns, their total issue amount exceeded HK$1 million which potentially render them unfit for such exemption. There might be legal risks for issuer that intends to rely on such outright exemption without making a formal application for exemption (as explained below) if the total amount of the float of its facilities is way beyond the limit.
(2) Stored value facilities used for certain cash rewards under paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the SVF Ordinance
Stored value facilities storing a sum of money paid by the issuer or a person under an agreement with the issuer and used for making payments for goods or services provided by the issuer or such person under the terms and condition of the facility will also be exempt. A typical example would be loyalty program provided by shops which offers cash rewards for customer loyalty.
Such rewards schemes usually do not involve money paid by the user (i.e. no money is stored in advance) and are merely incentives to entice spending. The level of risk, especially of misappropriation of the float of the stored value facilities, is minimal in comparison with the risk posed by the typical stored value facilities. Therefore, it has always been the legislation intention to exclude such cash rewards schemes from the scope of regulation.
Spending campaigns fall within this exemption in the sense that the value of the facilities was not endowed by the user but the issuer (i.e. the malls themselves). No advance payment from the user is required for the coupons to have values for future spending. It is therefore likely that the issuer can enjoy outright exemption under this provision on the assumption that the relevant coupons will not be for sale under any circumstances and can only be exchanged.
(3) HKMA’s discretion
HKMA has the discretion, under section 8ZZZD of the SVF Ordinance, to exempt a stored value facility from being required to obtain a licence if the risks posed by it to the user or potential user are immaterial. Such exemption may be subject to any conditions that HKMA considers appropriate (e.g. a limit on the size of the float).
Factors that HKMA may take into account when deciding the grant of exemption include (but not limited to), among others, whether the facility is to be used only within or within a close proximity to the issuer premises; the range of goods and services for which the facility may be used as a payment; whether the scheme has adequate risk management controls; and if the issuer is financially sound.
Unlike the grounds aforementioned being outright exemptions provided in Schedule 8 to the SVF Ordinance, an application for exemption must be made to HKMA. Indeed, HKMA has historically granted exemption to a cash coupon system provided by a mall in Hong Kong. In other words, in the event where any spending campaign falls outside the realm of any outright exemption under the SVF Ordinance, provided that the issuer can satisfy HKMA that it is financially sound with adequate risk management controls in place, it is likely that such spending campaign would be exempt from the licensing requirement.
Key takeaway
Issuers of spending coupons for use in their malls are reminded to ensure that their schemes remain qualified for the exemption aforementioned, failure of which may not only lead to the exercise of HKMA’s discretion to request the issuer to make an application for a stored value facility licence but also potential criminal liability for contravening the licensing requirements under the SVF Ordinance.
