Focused comparison
Hong Kong research vs United States research
A focused comparison for research businesses choosing between Hong Kong and United States.
| Question | Hong Kong | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Likely route | SFC Type 4 if research amounts to advising on securities | Investment adviser, publisher, solicitor, and broker-dealer analysis depending on compensation and personalization |
| Key people | Licensed representatives for regulated functions At least two responsible officers for each regulated activity | Investment adviser representatives may require state registration depending on facts Broker-dealer registered representatives require firm sponsorship, CRD filing, exams, and registration |
| Corporate evidence | People and competence; Compliance framework; Governance and accountability; Complaints and conduct; Regulatory reporting; Official-source route memo; Public register verification plan; Questions log for qualified advisers | People and competence; Compliance framework; Governance and accountability; Complaints and conduct; Regulatory reporting; Official-source route memo; Public register verification plan; Questions log for qualified advisers |
| Capital/resources | Capital and liquid capital expectations depend on regulated activity, whether client assets are held, and other SFC financial resources requirements. | Adviser capital rules are usually state-specific or tied to custody and other facts; broker-dealers face SEC net capital and FINRA membership expectations. |
| Timeline | Typically 4 to 8+ months after a serious application pack is ready. | SEC adviser registration can become effective in about 45 days if complete; FINRA new member review may run up to 180 calendar days for substantially complete applications. |
| Common bottlenecks | Responsible officers without enough authority, availability, local experience, or activity-specific competence Business plans that do not match the regulated activities requested | Broker-dealer issues hidden inside compensation, solicitation, placement, or transaction workflows Custody, private fund audit, and fee deduction arrangements not fully analysed |