This edition of your journal reviews our latest corporate governance conference (CGC), which was held in September this year at the JW Marriott Hotel. One of the key strengths of our CGCs is their inclusivity. As the Event Chair Peter Greenwood FCG HKFCG made clear at the outset of the day’s discussions, the aim was to hear from as many different stakeholders of the governance debate as possible. The conference certainly delivered on this, and the plurality of voices contributed to a much broader and more accurate picture of both the challenges ahead and the possible solutions.
One area of consensus was that the ‘new era’ we are entering is largely terra incognita and is still being mapped. Advances in technology and the increasing urgency of sustainability issues are high-profile examples of this, but many other issues further complicate the picture. Indeed, the conference was an excellent primer on the bewildering number of different macro challenges that are already shaping our future. Ageing populations in many Asian jurisdictions, slowing economic growth and societal changes such as the recent shifts in working practices and customer behaviour, together with increasing geopolitical tensions and deglobalisation, were all addressed during the course of the day’s discussions. While the above might seem to paint a less than rosy picture of what lies ahead, the main focus of the conference was to explore the ways in which governance stakeholders can help their organisations – and our communities – navigate these uncertain times.
Our cover stories this month highlight the key recommendations of the forum. The first reviews the first two sessions of the day, which focused on the views of business leaders and local, regional and global investors. The second completes the picture with a review of the three afternoon sessions, looking at Hong Kong’s competitiveness and at how governance itself is adapting to our changing world.
Before I conclude, I would like to thank everyone involved in the cocktail reception we organised on 4 October to celebrate the successful conclusion of CGI’s International Council Meeting, held this year in Hong Kong, and as a very fitting culmination of our 75th anniversary celebrations this year.
In his Guest of Honour speech at the event, Paul Chan Mo-po GBM GBS MH JP, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Fellow of the Institute, thanked our Institute for its part in helping Hong Kong keep its regulatory and governance frameworks fit for purpose. That work continues apace, of course, with our submission to the recent consultation paper from The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on the proposed expansion of Hong Kong’s paperless listing regime fresh off the press.
As our 75th anniversary year draws to a close, I would like to extend my special thanks to everyone involved in all aspects of our work. Our Institute has a long history of promoting better governance in Hong Kong, and, as our tagline suggests, that is in the interests of a better future.
