SFC prohibits Aaron Ko Wai Lun from re-entering the industry for 10 years

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has prohibited Mr Aaron Ko Wai Lun from re-entering the industry for 10 years from 24 September 2009 to 23 September 2019 as a result of a disciplinary action taken against him following the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) investigation into allegations against Ko¹.

On the evidence gathered by HKMA, the SFC found that Ko:

• effected two investment transactions involving over $3.5 million in the investment account of a client at Hang Seng Bank Limited (HSB) without the client's knowledge and authorization on 11 July 2007;
• deceived his former employer HSB by preparing and providing false information on bank documents, including two order forms for investment products and a Risk Profiling Questionnaire (RPQ), purported to have contained information about the client, all dated 11 July 2007;
• forged the signature of the client on the RPQ; and
• asked the client to lie to HSB that the client had authorised him to conduct the relevant transactions, with a view to concealing his misconduct.

Mr Raymond Li, the Executive Director of the HKMA responsible for Securities Enforcement, said "Relevant individuals are expected to act with honesty and integrity in carrying out their business activities, and we take any misconduct seriously. The HKMA thanks the SFC for taking prompt action on this case on the basis of the HKMA's findings, and will continue to work closely with the SFC in taking enforcement action on regulated activities in the banking industry."

For further enquiries, please contact:
Thomas Chan, Communications Chief, at 2878 1480 or
Natalie Wu, Officer (Communications), at 2878 8246

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
24 September 2009

¹ At the relevant time, Ko was a relevant individual whose name was entered in the register maintained by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority under section 20 of the Banking Ordinance, Cap. 155 as a person engaged by Hang Seng Bank Limited to perform Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities) and Type 7 (providing automated trading services) regulated activities.