Short answer：The HKMA suspended the regulatory interest-rate stress test on 28 February 2024. Banks still assess repayment ability; the change does not remove income evidence or guarantee maximum lending.
Separate policy from approval
October 2024 policy standardised general lending and debt-servicing limits, while insurance, special arrangements and individual underwriting have their own conditions. Old borrower-category tables are not current personal offers.
Prepare verifiable evidence
Provide income, debts, deposit sources and property documents, and confirm which income the lender accepts. Household testing of lower income or higher rates remains useful but should not be described as a continuing uniform regulatory stress test.
Before deciding
- Confirm required income documents
- Disclose borrowing and guarantees
- Allow for income and rate changes in the household budget
Sources and method
Sources support the specific rules described. Checklists and hypothetical calculations are editorial explanations, not measured market results or individual approvals.
Revision：Removed unsupported experience, case outcomes and statistics; corrected the topic-specific rules and limitations described above.
Scope：General information only, not personalised legal, tax, immigration, admissions or investment advice.