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{{Use Hong Kong English|date=December 2018}}
⚫
The '''Clearing House Automated Transfer System''', or '''CHATS''', is a [[Real Time Gross Settlement]] (RTGS) system for the transfer of funds in [[Hong Kong]]. It is operated by [[Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited]], a private company jointly owned by the [[Hong Kong Monetary Authority]] (HKMA) and the [[Hong Kong Association of Banks]]. Transactions in four currency denominations may be [[Settlement (finance)|settled]] using CHATS: [[Hong Kong dollar]], [[renminbi]], [[euro]], and [[United States dollar|US dollar]].<ref name="HKFacts">{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/financial_services.pdf|title=Financial Services|publisher=Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR|format=PDF|month=November|year=2007|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> In 2005, the value of Hong Kong dollar CHATS transactions averaged HK$467 billion per day, which amounted to a third of Hong Kong's annual [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP); the total value of transactions that year was 84 times the GDP of Hong Kong.<ref name="EconForum">{{cite web|url=http://info.hktdc.com/econforum/hkma/hkma060701.htm|title=RTGS Payment Systems|publisher=Hong Kong Trade Development Council|date=2006-07-06|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
⚫
The '''Clearing House Automated Transfer System''', or '''CHATS''', is a [[real-time gross settlement]] (RTGS) system for the transfer of funds in [[Hong Kong]]. It is operated by '''Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited''' ('''HKICL'''), a limited-liability private company jointly owned by the [[Hong Kong Monetary Authority]] (HKMA) and the [[Hong Kong Association of Banks]]. Transactions in four currency denominations may be [[Settlement (finance)|settled]] using CHATS: [[Hong Kong dollar]], [[renminbi]], [[euro]], and [[United States dollar|US dollar]].<ref name="HKFacts">{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/financial_services.pdf|title=Financial Services|publisher=Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR|format=PDF|date=November 2007|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> In 2005, the value of Hong Kong dollar CHATS transactions averaged HK$467 billion per day, which amounted to a third of Hong Kong's annual [[Gross Domestic Product]] (GDP); the total value of transactions that year was 84 times the GDP of Hong Kong.<ref name="EconForum">{{cite web|url=http://info.hktdc.com/econforum/hkma/hkma060701.htm|title=RTGS Payment Systems|publisher=Hong Kong Trade Development Council|date=2006-07-06|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> CHATS has been referred by authors at the [[Bank for International Settlements]] to as "the poster child of multicurrency offshore systems".<ref>{{citation |title=Payments without borders |author=Morton Bech, Umar Faruqui & Takeshi Shirakami |url=https://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt2003h.pdf |journal=BIS Quarterly Review |date=March 2020 }}</ref>{{rp|53}}


==History==
==History==
Prior to the launch of CHATS as a RTGS system, interbank settlements in Hong Kong relied on a multi-tier system which settled in a daily net basis. About 170 banks settled with 10 banks. These 10 banks, in turn, settled with [[Hongkong Bank]], which then settled with the HKMA in a one-to-one basis. Hongkong Bank acted as the [[Clearing house (finance)|clearing house]] under this system, settling payments across its books in a net basis on the day following the transactions. The HKMA decided that this did not meet international standards as set by [[Group of Ten (economic)|G10]]'s Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems; following a six-month feasibility study, in June 1994, it decided to develop CHATS as a RTGS system.<ref name="NormanChan">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/eng/speeches/speechs/norman/speech_110697b.htm|title=Hong Kong - CHATS|author=Norman T.L. Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority|publisher=Hong Kong Monetary Authority|date=1997-06-11|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref>
Prior to the launch of CHATS as a RTGS system, interbank settlements in Hong Kong relied on a multi-tier system which settled on a daily net basis. About 170 banks settled with ten clearing banks. These ten banks, in turn, settled with [[Hongkong Bank]], which then settled with the HKMA on a one-to-one basis. Hongkong Bank acted as the [[Clearing house (finance)|clearing house]] under this system, settling payments across its books on a net basis on the day following the transactions. The HKMA decided that this did not meet international standards as set by [[Group of Ten (economic)|G10]]'s [[Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems]]; following a six-month feasibility study, in June 1994, it decided to develop CHATS as an RTGS system.<ref name="NormanChan">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/eng/speeches/speechs/norman/speech_110697b.htm|title=Hong Kong - CHATS|author=Norman T.L. Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority|publisher=Hong Kong Monetary Authority|date=1997-06-11|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref>


After two years of development, CHATS for Hong Kong dollars was launched on 9 December 1996.<ref name="HKD">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=102&lang=en|title=Real Time Gross Settlement System|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> CHATS for US dollars and euros were launched on 21 August 2000 and 28 April 2003, respectively.<ref name="USD">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=119&lang=en|title=USD Clearing System in Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref><ref name="euro">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=578&lang=en|title=Euro Clearing System in Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> In July 2007, the Regional CHATS Payment Services was also launched to link all participants in the three different CHATS versions for transactions involving currency exchange.<ref name="HKICLNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=2&lang=en|title=News in 2007|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref>
After two years of development, CHATS for Hong Kong dollars was launched on 9 December 1996.<ref name="HKD">{{cite web|url = http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=102&lang=en|title = Real Time Gross Settlement System|publisher = Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate = 2016-01-22}}</ref> CHATS for US dollars and euros were launched on 21 August 2000 and 28 April 2003, respectively.<ref name="USD">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=119&lang=en|title=USD Clearing System in Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918083349/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=119&lang=en|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="euro">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=578&lang=en|title=Euro Clearing System in Hong Kong|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918083528/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=578&lang=en|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2007, the Regional CHATS Payment Services was also launched to link all participants in the three different CHATS versions for transactions involving currency exchange.<ref name="HKICLNews">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=2&lang=en|title=News in 2007|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918083400/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=2&lang=en|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Features==
==Features==
CHATS, like other RTGS systems, settles payment transactions on a "real time" and "gross" basis—payments are not subjected to any waiting period and each transaction is settled in a one-to-one manner such that it is not bunched with other transactions. It is a single-tier system where participants settle with one central clearing house. Payments are final, irrevocable, and settled immediately if there is sufficient funds in the participant's settlement account with the clearing house. Daylight [[overdraft]] is not offered in CHATS; payments that cannot be settled due to insufficient funds are queued. Banks are able to alter, cancel, and re-sequence payments in their queues.<ref name="NormanChan" /><ref name="HKD" />
CHATS, like other RTGS systems, settles payment transactions on a "real time" and "gross" basis—payments are not subjected to any waiting period and each transaction is settled in a one-to-one manner such that it is not bunched with other transactions. It is a single-tier system where participants settle with one central clearing house. Payments are final, irrevocable, and settled immediately if the participant's settlement account with the clearing house has sufficient funds. Daylight [[overdraft]] is not offered in CHATS; payments that cannot be settled due to insufficient funds are queued. Banks are able to alter, cancel, and re-sequence payments in their queues.<ref name="NormanChan" /><ref name="HKD" />


Since no daylight overdraft is offered, in order for banks to avoid having to maintain large balances in their settlement accounts, which accrue no interest, so that payments are processed as soon as possible, interest-free intraday [[liquidity]] may be obtained by the banks through [[repurchase agreement]]s (repos). Intraday repos that are not reversed at the end of the business day are carried into overnight borrowing.<ref name="NormanChan" /><ref name="HKD" />
Banks can obtain interest-free intraday [[liquidity]] through [[repurchase agreement]]s (repos). This prevents banks from having to maintain large balances in their settlement accounts, which accrue no interest, to cover their payments. Intraday repos that are not reversed at the end of the business day are carried into overnight borrowing.<ref name="NormanChan" /><ref name="HKD" />


To access RTGS system functions, banks must connect to the SWIFT network to initiate/receive payment instructions, and access eMBT provided by HKICL for performing administrative functions to respective payment instructions.<ref name="HKD" />
Banks access CHATS by connecting to it via Member Bank Terminals which are provided by Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. They may also develop their own software to access the CHATS terminal system provided that their software follow CHATS messaging format and protocol.<ref name="HKD" />


==Hong Kong dollar CHATS==
==Hong Kong dollar CHATS==
The HKMA, which is Hong Kong's [[central bank|central banking institution]], acts as the clearing house for Hong Kong dollar (HKD) CHATS. All licensed banks in Hong Kong maintain HKD settlement accounts with the HKMA, and as of June 2000, restricted license banks "with a clear business need" may also open settlement accounts with the HKMA.<ref name="HKD" /> The volume of transactions in HKD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 5,499,494.<ref name="HKDVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=434&lang=en|title=Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about HK$217 trillion.<ref name="HKDValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=435&lang=en|title=Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> As of 25 August 2008, there are 142 participating banks with HKD CHATS.<ref name="HKDMembers">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=819&lang=en|title=List of HKD Clearing Members as of 25 August 2008|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref>
The HKMA, which is Hong Kong's [[central bank|central banking institution]], acts as the clearing house for Hong Kong dollar (HKD) CHATS. All licensed banks in Hong Kong maintain HKD settlement accounts with the HKMA, and as of June 2000, restricted license banks "with a clear business need" may also open settlement accounts with the HKMA.<ref name="HKD" /> The volume of transactions in HKD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 5,499,494.<ref name="HKDVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=434&lang=en|title=Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412223952/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=434&lang=en|archive-date=12 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about HK$217 trillion.<ref name="HKDValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=435&lang=en|title=Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426105526/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=435&lang=en|archive-date=26 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 28 December 2015, there are 156 participating banks with HKD CHATS.<ref name="HKDMembers">{{cite web|url = http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7195&lang=en|title = List of HKD Clearing Members as of 28 December 2015|publisher = Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate = 2016-01-13|format = PDF|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104721/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7195&lang=en|archive-date = 4 March 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref>


==US dollar CHATS==
==US dollar CHATS==
Unlike HKD CHATS, the clearing house for US dollar (USD) CHATS is a commercial bank, [[Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation]] (HSBC). In addition to obtaining intraday repos for payment settlement, participating banks may also obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by HSBC. Banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in USD CHATS; they may choose to join as Direct Participants or Indirect Participants. Direct Participants maintain USD settlement accounts with HSBC for payment transactions in CHATS. Indirect Participants must conduct their payment transactions through Direct Participants. Additionally, a membership category called Indirect CHATS Users exists where its banks also conduct their payment transactions through Direct Participants.<ref name="USD" /><ref name="USDMembers">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=820&lang=en|title=List of USD Clearing Participants as of 25 August 2008|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> The volume of transactions in USD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 2,121,058.<ref name="USDVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=436&lang=en|title=Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about USD 2,127 billion.<ref name="USDValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=437&lang=en|title=Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> As of 25 August 2008, USD CHATS has 76 Direct Participant member banks, 18 Indirect Participant member banks, and 134 Indirect CHATS User member banks.<ref name="USDMembers" />
Unlike HKD CHATS, the clearing house for US dollar (USD) CHATS is a commercial bank, [[Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation]] (HSBC). In addition to obtaining intraday repos for payment settlement, participating banks may also obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by HSBC. Banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in USD CHATS; they may choose to join as direct participants or indirect participants. Direct participants maintain USD settlement accounts with HSBC for payment transactions in CHATS. Indirect participants must conduct their payment transactions through direct participants. Additionally, a membership category called Indirect CHATS Users exists where its banks also conduct their payment transactions through direct participants.<ref name="USD" /><ref name="USDMembers">{{cite web|url = http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7196&lang=en|title = List of USD Clearing Participants as of 28 December 2015|publisher = Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate = 2016-01-13|format = PDF|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043706/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7196&lang=en|archive-date = 4 March 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref> The volume of transactions in USD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 2,121,058.<ref name="USDVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=436&lang=en|title=Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412212427/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=436&lang=en|archive-date=12 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about US$2,127 billion.<ref name="USDValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=437&lang=en|title=Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426105636/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=437&lang=en|archive-date=26 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 28 December 2015, USD CHATS has 100 direct participant member banks, 24 indirect participant member banks, 87 Indirect CHATS User member banks, and eight Third Party User member banks.<ref name="USDMembers" />


==Euro CHATS==
==Euro CHATS==
Euro CHATS is structured similarly to USD CHATS. Its clearing house is also a commercial bank, [[Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong)]]. Participating banks may obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by Standard Chartered Bank. Like USD CHATS, banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in Euro CHATS. Euro CHATS has two categories of membership, Direct Participants and Indirect CHATS Users; they function in the same manner as the categories in USD CHATS.<ref name="euro" /> The volume of transactions in Euro CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 18,169.<ref name="EuroVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=593&lang=en|title=Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about €280 billion.<ref name="EuroValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=594&lang=en|title=Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref> As of 25 August 2008, Euro CHATS has 30 Direct Participant member banks and 20 Indirect CHATS User member banks.<ref name="EuroMembers">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=821&lang=en|title=List of Euro Clearing Participants as of 25 August 2008|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF}}</ref>
Euro CHATS is structured similarly to USD CHATS. Its clearing house is also a commercial bank, [[Standard Chartered Hong Kong]]. Participating banks may obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by Standard Chartered Bank. Like USD CHATS, banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in Euro CHATS. Euro CHATS has two categories of membership, Direct Participants and Indirect CHATS Users; they function in the same manner as the categories in USD CHATS.<ref name="euro" /> The volume of transactions in Euro CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 18,169.<ref name="EuroVolume2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=593&lang=en|title=Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Volume|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070411152619/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=593&lang=en|archive-date=11 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about €280 billion.<ref name="EuroValue2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=594&lang=en|title=Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Value|publisher=Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate=2008-09-15|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412232513/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=594&lang=en|archive-date=12 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 28 December 2015, Euro CHATS has 37 Direct Participant member banks and 18 Indirect CHATS User member banks.<ref name="EuroMembers">{{cite web|url = http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7197&lang=en|title = List of Euro Clearing Participants as of 28 December 2015|publisher = Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited|accessdate = 2016-01-13|format = PDF|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150919090627/http://www.hkicl.com.hk/clientbrowse.do?docID=7197&lang=en|archive-date = 19 September 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref>

==Renminbi CHATS==
CHATS uses [[Bank of China (Hong Kong)]] as its clearing house for settling renminbi payments. Bank of China has a settlement account on the China National Advanced Payment System (CNAPS), allowing renminbi CHATS to effectively work as an extension of the Chinese system.


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal box|Hong Kong|Business and economics}}
{{Portal|Hong Kong|Business and economics}}

⚫
*[[Clearing House Interbank Payments System]]
*[[Faster Payment System]], a newer, cheaper and round-the-clock RTGS system facing to general public in Hong Kong, which also supports fund transfers from, to or between [[E-commerce payment system|electronic payment]] and [[digital wallet]] operators.
*[[Fedwire]]
*[[Fedwire]] (US)
⚫
*[[Clearing House Interbank Payments System]] (US)
*[[CHAPS|Clearing House Automated Payments System]] (UK)
*[[TARGET2]] (EU)
*[[Indian Settlement Systems]]
*[[Indian Settlement Systems]]
*[[TARGET]]
*[[Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication]]
*[[Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication]]

{{Interbank networks}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 20:54, 18 October 2024

The Clearing House Automated Transfer System, or CHATS, is a real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system for the transfer of funds in Hong Kong. It is operated by Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited (HKICL), a limited-liability private company jointly owned by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks. Transactions in four currency denominations may be settled using CHATS: Hong Kong dollar, renminbi, euro, and US dollar.[1] In 2005, the value of Hong Kong dollar CHATS transactions averaged HK$467 billion per day, which amounted to a third of Hong Kong's annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP); the total value of transactions that year was 84 times the GDP of Hong Kong.[2] CHATS has been referred by authors at the Bank for International Settlements to as "the poster child of multicurrency offshore systems".[3]: 53 

History

[edit]

Prior to the launch of CHATS as a RTGS system, interbank settlements in Hong Kong relied on a multi-tier system which settled on a daily net basis. About 170 banks settled with ten clearing banks. These ten banks, in turn, settled with Hongkong Bank, which then settled with the HKMA on a one-to-one basis. Hongkong Bank acted as the clearing house under this system, settling payments across its books on a net basis on the day following the transactions. The HKMA decided that this did not meet international standards as set by G10's Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems; following a six-month feasibility study, in June 1994, it decided to develop CHATS as an RTGS system.[4]

After two years of development, CHATS for Hong Kong dollars was launched on 9 December 1996.[5] CHATS for US dollars and euros were launched on 21 August 2000 and 28 April 2003, respectively.[6][7] In July 2007, the Regional CHATS Payment Services was also launched to link all participants in the three different CHATS versions for transactions involving currency exchange.[8]

Features

[edit]

CHATS, like other RTGS systems, settles payment transactions on a "real time" and "gross" basis—payments are not subjected to any waiting period and each transaction is settled in a one-to-one manner such that it is not bunched with other transactions. It is a single-tier system where participants settle with one central clearing house. Payments are final, irrevocable, and settled immediately if the participant's settlement account with the clearing house has sufficient funds. Daylight overdraft is not offered in CHATS; payments that cannot be settled due to insufficient funds are queued. Banks are able to alter, cancel, and re-sequence payments in their queues.[4][5]

Banks can obtain interest-free intraday liquidity through repurchase agreements (repos). This prevents banks from having to maintain large balances in their settlement accounts, which accrue no interest, to cover their payments. Intraday repos that are not reversed at the end of the business day are carried into overnight borrowing.[4][5]

To access RTGS system functions, banks must connect to the SWIFT network to initiate/receive payment instructions, and access eMBT provided by HKICL for performing administrative functions to respective payment instructions.[5]

Hong Kong dollar CHATS

[edit]

The HKMA, which is Hong Kong's central banking institution, acts as the clearing house for Hong Kong dollar (HKD) CHATS. All licensed banks in Hong Kong maintain HKD settlement accounts with the HKMA, and as of June 2000, restricted license banks "with a clear business need" may also open settlement accounts with the HKMA.[5] The volume of transactions in HKD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 5,499,494.[9] The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about HK$217 trillion.[10] As of 28 December 2015, there are 156 participating banks with HKD CHATS.[11]

US dollar CHATS

[edit]

Unlike HKD CHATS, the clearing house for US dollar (USD) CHATS is a commercial bank, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). In addition to obtaining intraday repos for payment settlement, participating banks may also obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by HSBC. Banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in USD CHATS; they may choose to join as direct participants or indirect participants. Direct participants maintain USD settlement accounts with HSBC for payment transactions in CHATS. Indirect participants must conduct their payment transactions through direct participants. Additionally, a membership category called Indirect CHATS Users exists where its banks also conduct their payment transactions through direct participants.[6][12] The volume of transactions in USD CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 2,121,058.[13] The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about US$2,127 billion.[14] As of 28 December 2015, USD CHATS has 100 direct participant member banks, 24 indirect participant member banks, 87 Indirect CHATS User member banks, and eight Third Party User member banks.[12]

Euro CHATS

[edit]

Euro CHATS is structured similarly to USD CHATS. Its clearing house is also a commercial bank, Standard Chartered Hong Kong. Participating banks may obtain intraday liquidity via an overdraft facility provided by Standard Chartered Bank. Like USD CHATS, banks in Hong Kong are not required to participate in Euro CHATS. Euro CHATS has two categories of membership, Direct Participants and Indirect CHATS Users; they function in the same manner as the categories in USD CHATS.[7] The volume of transactions in Euro CHATS in 2007, in raw number of transactions, totaled at 18,169.[15] The total value of all transactions conducted in the same year was about €280 billion.[16] As of 28 December 2015, Euro CHATS has 37 Direct Participant member banks and 18 Indirect CHATS User member banks.[17]

Renminbi CHATS

[edit]

CHATS uses Bank of China (Hong Kong) as its clearing house for settling renminbi payments. Bank of China has a settlement account on the China National Advanced Payment System (CNAPS), allowing renminbi CHATS to effectively work as an extension of the Chinese system.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Financial Services" (PDF). Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR. November 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  2. ^ "RTGS Payment Systems". Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  3. ^ Morton Bech, Umar Faruqui & Takeshi Shirakami (March 2020), "Payments without borders" (PDF), BIS Quarterly Review
  4. ^ a b c Norman T.L. Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority (11 June 1997). "Hong Kong - CHATS". Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Real Time Gross Settlement System". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b "USD Clearing System in Hong Kong". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Euro Clearing System in Hong Kong". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  8. ^ "News in 2007". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Volume". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  10. ^ "Statistics of HKD Clearing Transaction Value". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  11. ^ "List of HKD Clearing Members as of 28 December 2015". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  12. ^ a b "List of USD Clearing Participants as of 28 December 2015". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Volume". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  14. ^ "Statistics of USD Clearing Transaction Value". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  15. ^ "Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Volume". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  16. ^ "Statistics of Euro Clearing Transaction Value". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 April 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  17. ^ "List of Euro Clearing Participants as of 28 December 2015". Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
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