Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission has banned Andrew Chow Ho Cheung from the financial industry for life following his conviction for offences of fraud and theft under the Theft Ordinance. Chow was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by the District Court on 19 May last year.

Chow was responsible for introducing and selling investment products to customers of HSBC. The District Court found that Chow forged the signatures of a number of customers on bank documents, changed the subscription fee rates on subscription forms without the knowledge and agreement of one of HSBC's clients and made unauthorised payments and withdrawals to and from a number of customers’ accounts.

The SFC says that Chow is not a fit and proper person to be licensed or registered to carry on regulated activities as a result of his convictions. He used to be licensed to undertake Type 1 (dealing in securities) and Type 4 (advising on securities) regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority referred the case to the SFC.