Dear members,
This month, the Institute’s corporate social responsibility programme Rich Kid, Poor Kid, which teaches financial education to schoolchildren, released five new comics as part of the programme’s revamp. The Institute held a media briefing where I spoke about how the programme helps students and their families. Last year, the programme reached almost 10,000 students in primary and secondary schools. The revamp was undertaken in association with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board, with the organizations working together to help ensure the programme remains relevant in the age of digital payments and a cashless society. The comics, featuring a character named CPA helping Spender Boy and Curious Girl navigate the world, are now available on the Institute’s website, and I urge you to check them out and read the stories to your children.
On 31 October, the annual Sports and Recreation Night was an exciting and action-packed event. Over 260 members representing the Institute’s 15 sports and recreational interest groups and other invited guests came together to enjoy singing, dancing and other competitions.
It has been a successful year for the teams, who had come together to compete in and win competitions – within the profession, between Hong Kong’s professions, and with teams in the Mainland. Some key competitions the Institute’s teams have won include the Integrity Cup badminton competition, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2019 – Chamber of Commerce Cup in 10-kilometre, half marathon and full marathon races, and the Five-point Invitational Competition 2019 where the Institute’s teams were champions in the badminton and table tennis. We also celebrated our achievements at Oxfam Trailwalker 2018. Institute team SARA won the Speed Award for the accountancy category, and the Institute won the “Outstanding Fundraiser Award.”
I had an enjoyable morning at the inaugural AC Fun Run on 3 November. Jointly organized by the Institute, the Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the objective was to promote healthy living. Over 500 runners participated in the three race events, which was the first ever accounting profession run. You can read more about what motivated some of the participants in the article Going the extra mile here.
“I hope you will join us at the annual general meeting on 12 December. Come along to meet your fellow members and your next Council, who will lead the profession into the third decade of the 21st century.”
Have you downloaded the new events app? The revamped app, released in September, enables you to find and enrol in continuing professional development (CPD) courses and other events, easily ask speakers questions, and access presentation and other course material on your phone. You can also use the app to easily track your CPD activities. Find out more about it and download links on the Institute’s website.
The annual dinner is just ahead. And with the theme this year being “Together we shine,” I believe this is an important message for us all to remember and demonstrate in these challenging times. I hope to see you there, where we’ll demonstrate the positive effects of coming together to shine.
Finally, the Council election has begun. I hope you will take the time to review the material of the candidates, and to vote for seven members to best represent your views at Council over the year ahead. Exercising your rights is an important way of ensuring your voice is heard. The voting period ends on 9 December.
I cannot quite believe how quickly this year has gone, how much we have accomplished, and that we’re at the Annual General Meeting already. I hope you will join us at the meeting on 12 December. Come along to meet your fellow members and your next Council, who will lead the profession into the third decade of the 21st century.
Patrick Law
President
