HKMA's response to media report

In response to media enquiries on face scan application in ATMs as reported by a local English newspaper, the HKMA has the following comments:

1. An HKMA IT colleague was invited and attended a meeting organised by the Monetary Authority of Macau last Friday (May 26) that discussed the application of financial supervision.
2. In our ongoing efforts to enhance the overall security of the banking system, we would explore the feasibility, robustness, costs and benefits of different technologies including, facial recognition, amongst other forms of biometrical authentications.  This also includes the technologies being employed by other jurisdictions. However, we do not have any plan to "overhaul the ATM machines with face scan technology".
3. Fraud and Money Laundering Intelligence Taskforce (FMLIT), an initiative led by the Police, is an intelligence sharing platform amongst the financial sector, law enforcement and regulator in the global fight against financial crimes including money laundering and fraud. It enhances existing mechanisms and strengthens Hong Kong's response to the threats from serious financial crime and money laundering. The HKMA indicated its full support for this important information sharing initiative in our press release last Friday.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority
29 May 2017