Dear members,
I want to begin by offering my personal congratulations to the Institute members who received honours in the 2018 Government Honours List. Past President Brian Stevenson received a Gold Bauhinia Star and past ex-officio Council member, and previous Director of Accounting Services, Martin Siu a Silver Bauhinia Star. Both men have been dedicated to the profession and Hong Kong for many years and I am glad to see them receive the recognition they deserve. I was humbled to receive the Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service, and plan to continue serving our community for many years to come.
This month, the Institute launched its 2018 Career Survey. Combining the fifth membership survey with the first ever studentship survey, the career survey provides valuable insights into the professional development of all those in the profession. The surveys focused on three topics, employment prospects, earning power, and CPA qualification and development. I was pleased to see that both members and students felt the Qualification Programme was adequate for meeting their job requirements. With the new QP on the way, I hope that this continues to be the case, and that the programme remains useful and relevant in the age of “Accounting Plus.”
The surveys also investigated the support employers provide for continuous professional development. Students reported lower levels of support than members, and particularly notable is the low level of support for development reported by both members working in business and students. The Institute will continue to work with employers to ensure it is offering courses of use to members in all fields, and to make these courses more accessible through digital channels. I invite members to read the report for themselves.
“I was pleased to welcome back to the Institute Past President and current Director of Audit for the government, David Sun, to a luncheon organized as part of the Institute’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.”
I was pleased to welcome back to the Institute Past President and current Director of Audit for the government, David Sun, to a luncheon organized as part of the Institute’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. In my introduction at the Non- Governmental Organization Directors’ Luncheon, organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and sponsored by the Institute’s Charitable Fund, I spoke of the role the Institute plays in utilizing accountants’ expertise in financial management, internal control and corporate governance to support NGOs and give back to the community. I also spoke on the importance of the CPA for NGO programme to ensure good corporate governance.
Relatedly, the Institute’s 19th Best Corporate Governance Awards, promoting good corporate governance across Hong Kong entities, are open for entry until 13 August. The awards are Hong Kong’s most well-established, dedicated corporate governance awards and exist to encourage and promote good corporate governance disclosures and practices.
The awards also represent a key part of the Institute’s continuous advocacy for better corporate governance and are an important way of tracking improvements in corporate governance in our financial markets. New awards this year are available for self-nominating smaller companies and public sector and not-for-profit organizations – as part of the Institute’s efforts to support corporate governance in all sections of the economy. I look forward to reading through the entries and taking part in the judging process before hosting the awards event in November.
Finally, as we enter August I hope that those of you heading on holiday have an enjoyable break.
Eric Tong
President
