Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones (DPMS)
電話：+852 3955 0277
Effective 2023, the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 introduced a mandatory registration regime for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones (DPMS) in Hong Kong. Any person who, in the course of business in Hong Kong, deals in precious metals, precious stones, or precious products, must register with the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (the “HK Customs”).
As of February 2026, the Register has covered over 10,000 business premises.
What are DPMS?
1. Scopes of precious metals and stones activities:
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Trading in
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Export
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Import
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Manufacturing
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Refining
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Value-adding
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Issuing/redeeming/trading in precious asset backed Instruments
2. Means of precious metals and stones activities:
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Physical Store
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Door-to-door Sales
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Online Store
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Workshop
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Administration Office
3. Examples of precious metals and stones activities:
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those who produce precious metals or precious stones at mining operations;
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intermediate buyers and brokers;
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precious stone cutters and polishers and precious metal refiners;
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jewellery manufacturers who use precious metals and precious stones; or
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retail sellers to the public, to buyers and sellers in the secondary and scrap markets
4. Definition of various articles:
Precious Metal | Gold, silver, platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium or ruthenium, in a manufactured or unmanufactured state; |
Precious Stones | Diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, jade or pearl, whether natural or otherwise; |
Precious Products | Any jewellery and watch that is made up of, containing or having attached to it, any precious metal or precious stone, or both; |
Precious-asset-backed Instruments | Any certificate or instrument backed by one or more precious metals, precious stones or precious products that entitles the holder to such assets (in entirety or in part); But does not include (i) any securities, a futures contract, any interest in a collective investment scheme, a structured product or an OTC derivative product as defined by the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap 571); or (ii) a virtual asset. |
Before You Start
➤ Apply for a valid Business Registration (BR) Certificate
➤ Establish a business premise
➤ Define the scope and operational model of the precious metals and stones business
➤ Outline the business plan
Two Categories
of DPMS Registration
Category A | Category B | |
Register with HK Customs? | Engage in non-cash transaction(s) with total value at or above HKD120,000 in the course of business | Engage in cash transactionswith total value at or above HKD120,000 and non-cash transactions with total value at or above HKD120,000 in the course of business |
➤ | If a dealer only conducts cash or non-cash transactions with an aggregate amount below HKD 120,000, registration is not required. | If a dealer only conducts cash or non-cash transactions with an aggregate amount below HKD 120,000, registration is not required. |
Registration Validity | Remain valid | Three years |
Subject to AML/CTF Supervision | Not Required | Required |
Development of AML/CTF Measures | Not Required | Required |
AML/CTF Obligations | / | ➤ Adopting risk-based approach ➤ Conducting customer due diligence (CDD) ➤ Implement effective screening mechanism ➤ Ongoing monitoring ➤ Submitting suspicious transaction reports (STR) ➤ Staff training ➤ Record keeping |
Fit and Proper Assessment | Not Required | Required |
Application for approval to become Registrant’s Directors / UBO | Not Required | Required |
Application for approval to become Registrant’s Directors / UBO | Not Required | Required |
Notification of changes in particulars of Registration | The registrant must notify the HK Customs of any change in the particulars within one month beginning on the date on which the change takes place | The registrant must notify the HK Customs of any change in the particulars within one month beginning on the date on which the change takes place |
Penalty | Any person, other than a registrant, carries out a specified transaction or a specified cash transaction, claims to be authorized to carry out a specified transaction or a specified cash transaction, or claims to be a registrant, is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months. | Any person, other than a registrant, carries out a specified transaction or a specified cash transaction, claims to be authorized to carry out a specified transaction or a specified cash transaction, or claims to be a registrant, is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$100,000 and imprisonment for six months. |
Timeline
Under normal circumstances, the entire process takes approximately 2 to 4 months, including:
ComplianceOne will provide full support throughout the process, assisting with any inquiries from the regulatory authority.
申請程序 Application Procedure | 需時 Time required |
|---|---|
Preliminary preparation | 1 month |
Recruiting suitable Compliance Officer / Money Laundering Reporting Officer (if applicable) | 1 month |
Regulatory authority approval | 1 to 3 months |
What ComplianceOne can do for you
ComplianceOne offers end-to-end registration assistance, including:
➤ Incorporation of a Hong Kong limited company and applying for a valid B usiness R egistration (BR) Certificate
➤ Recruitment of CO / MLRO
➤ Provision of name screening system – Screen-X AML/CRM Solutions
➤ Drafting of business plans and internal control policies
➤ Submission of registration application to regulatory authority on behalf of applicants
➤ Assist with interview preparation for regulatory authority
➤ Liaison with regulatory authorities throughout the registration process
➤ Assistance with corporate bank account opening
➤ Provision of AML training to your staff
External Reference
Registration Regime for Dealers in Precious Metals and Stones - Registration Guide:
https://www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsguideline/Registration_Guide.pdf
Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (For Category B Registrants Dealing in Precious Metals and Stones)
https://www.drs.customs.gov.hk/download/drsguideline/AML_CFT_Guideline_en.pdf
Contact Us
For more information or to request a quotation, please feel free to contact us:
WhatsApp: +852 39550277
WeChat: ComplianceOneHK
Email: info@complianceone.hk
Disclaimer
Please refer to the page: https://www.complianceone.hk/disclaimer