Unclaimed Money in Hong Kong
Hong Kong does not have a single central government register for dormant bank accounts — unlike Singapore's MAS portal or Australia's ASIC register. Instead, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) supervises banks and sets guidelines for dormant account handling, but each individual bank maintains its own records. This means you need to contact each bank directly, or use the HKMA's list of licensed banks to systematically check.
For Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) savings — Hong Kong's compulsory retirement savings system introduced in 2000 — the MPFA maintains a centralised record and actively assists people in tracing lost MPF accounts, which is particularly common among workers who changed employers frequently or left Hong Kong and forgot their MPF entitlements.
What You Can Search For
Dormant Bank Accounts
Contact your Hong Kong bank directly. HKMA-regulated banks must follow dormant account procedures and attempt to contact holders. Major banks: HSBC, Hang Seng, Bank of China (HK), Standard Chartered, DBS, Citibank. Contact each bank's customer service.
MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund)
If you worked in Hong Kong after December 2000, your employer was required to contribute to an MPF scheme. The MPFA at mpfa.org.hk can help you trace accounts across all trustees. Call 2918 0102 free.
Unclaimed HKEx Dividends
Unclaimed dividends from HKEx-listed companies are held by share registrars (Tricor, Computershare). Check your CCASS account via your broker (Interactive Brokers, Futu, HSBC), or contact the company's investor relations or registrar directly.
Court & Estate Funds
Unclaimed court funds and bona vacantia (ownerless estates) in Hong Kong are managed by the Official Receiver's Office and the Revenue department under the Unclaimed Monies Ordinance (Cap. 25). Search at gov.hk or contact the Official Receiver at +852 2867 2448.
How to Trace Your Hong Kong Money
- Contact your bank directly. Start with the bank where you held the account. Bring or send your Hong Kong ID (HKID) or passport, your original account number if known, and proof of your address history. For accounts held decades ago, an approximate date of opening and the branch location will help. Major banks all have customer tracing services for dormant accounts.
- Contact the MPFA for lost MPF. Go to mpfa.org.hk or call the MPFA enquiry hotline at 2918 0102 (Hong Kong). The MPFA can identify which MPF trustee holds your account. You will need your HKID number and an approximate record of your employment history in Hong Kong. The MPFA also has an online MPF account consolidation service.
- Check CCASS for unclaimed dividends. Log into your brokerage account to view your CCASS (Central Clearing and Settlement System) holdings and any pending dividends. If you no longer have a brokerage account, contact HKEx at hkex.com.hk. Stale dividend cheques can be reissued by the company's share registrar.
- Check the Unclaimed Monies Register. For court-related and estate funds, contact the Official Receiver's Office at oro.gov.hk or the Revenue department. The Unclaimed Monies Ordinance (Cap. 25) covers specific categories of government-held unclaimed money.
- For deceased estates: Obtain a Hong Kong Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration from the Hong Kong Probate Registry (High Court). Alternatively, a foreign probate document can be resealed by the Hong Kong courts. Bring the probate document, the deceased's HKID/passport, and your own ID to the relevant bank or institution.
🌏 For people who emigrated from Hong Kong (BN(O) holders, etc.): MPF entitlements can be withdrawn in full once you permanently leave Hong Kong and have been absent for at least 12 months. Contact the MPFA and your MPF trustee to initiate a withdrawal. This is a significant benefit many Hong Kong emigrants are unaware of.
MPF Withdrawal for Emigrants
If you have permanently left Hong Kong, you may be eligible to withdraw your entire MPF balance early — before the standard retirement age of 65. The permanent departure withdrawal requires you to have been absent from Hong Kong for at least 12 months and to have no intention of returning to work in Hong Kong. Submit a statutory declaration to your MPF trustee confirming these facts. This is completely legal and commonly done by Hong Kong emigrants.
Also search unclaimed money in