Core Viewpoint - The launch of the Cross-Border Payment System on June 22 by the People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority marks a significant advancement in financial cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong, aiming to enhance cross-border remittance services and reduce reliance on the SWIFT system [2][3]. Group 1: System Overview - The Cross-Border Payment System is built on the Memorandum of Understanding for cross-border payment connectivity between mainland China and Hong Kong, facilitating efficient and secure remittance services by connecting the mainland's Interbank Payment System (IBPS) with Hong Kong's Faster Payment System (FPS) [3]. - The system aims to address the growing demand for cross-border financial services as economic and trade ties between the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong deepen [2]. Group 2: Advantages of the Cross-Border Payment System - The system offers several advantages, including support for interbank remittances, various payment purposes, real-time transactions, low transaction costs, and the ability to use mobile numbers for remittance [5][12]. - Unlike the traditional SWIFT system, which can take 1-2 business days for transactions, the new system allows for instant transfers, significantly improving efficiency [7]. - The Cross-Border Payment System reduces costs associated with SWIFT, where fees can reach 1%-3% of the transaction amount, by eliminating intermediaries and offering promotional zero-fee services [7]. Group 3: Operational Details - The initial participants in the Cross-Border Payment System include six major banks from mainland China and six from Hong Kong, enhancing the system's operational capacity [11][12]. - There are specific remittance limits: Hong Kong residents can remit up to 200,000 HKD annually and 10,000 HKD daily, while mainland residents can remit up to 50,000 USD annually and 300,000 RMB daily [12]. - The system currently focuses on person-to-person (P2P) transactions, with plans to expand to business and government transactions in the future [12]. Group 4: Strategic Implications - The Cross-Border Payment System is expected to strengthen Hong Kong's role as an offshore RMB hub and enhance the city's financial center status by increasing RMB deposits [13]. - The People's Bank of China plans to collaborate with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to ensure the smooth operation of the system and promote high-quality development of the cross-border payment framework [13].
内地-香港跨境支付通上线,"金融高铁"再提速|政策与监管
清华金融评论·2025-06-25 10:30