Our new column, featuring members who volunteer their time to support the work of Council, launches this month with an interview with Edith Shih FCG(CS, CGP) HKFCG(CS, CGP)(PE), Honorary Adviser to Council, Past International President and Institute Past President, and Executive Director and Company Secretary, CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.

How and when did you first get involved with the Institute? And what was your professional position at the time?

‘I became Company Secretary of Hutchison Whampoa in 1997, which marked the beginning of my involvement with the Institute. At that time, there was a panel known as the Company Secretaries Panel – now the Governance Professionals Panel – which still meets four times a year. Three of the meetings were attended by key regulators, while the fourth was reserved for internal discussions among panel members. I served on this panel from 1998 and was its Chair from 2012 to 2018. Our members came from a wide range of industries – banking, property, insurance and SMEs. In 2004, I became a Fellow of the Institute and later served as Vice-President, then President. I joined the International Council in 2014, serving as International Vice President for four years and International President for two.’

You remain very active in the Institute. What is your role at the moment?

‘I currently serve as Honorary Adviser to Council. As I grow older, I’ve come to realise that while one can always help, one must also know when to step back. These days, I mostly observe and offer advice and assistance when needed. If I feel that the Institute is heading in the wrong direction, or if support is required, I will step in. Otherwise, I’m more involved in informal ways, such as helping to arrange the booking of venues for major events, or to assist with organising and inviting speakers for signature Institute events. After stepping down as International President, I continued to serve as the Hong Kong/China representative on the International Council and also continued to attend Institute Council meetings to keep apprised of its progress. So from that perspective, I could share insights with both Councils on their respective approaches.’

What aspect of the Institute’s activities and initiatives inspire and engage you the most?

‘For several years now, I’ve devoted more time to nurturing the next generation. As early as 2006, our company began taking on interns from the Institute each year, which we still do. I also serve as a mentor and some of my mentees still stay in touch with me – many have now become senior professionals in their fields. In recent years, with the support of the Institute, my interns have been featured as speakers at a webinar we hold toward the end of their summer internship. We choose an emerging governance topic of interest, research the topic, prepare power point slides, write up a script and conduct a webinar. This summer, we focused on the upcoming Uncertificated Securities Market regime in Hong Kong. Together, we studied the regulations and reached out to the SFC, HKEX and registrars to gain a first-hand understanding. When one studies legislation closely, one often spots issues that even the regulators may not have considered while drafting the legislation. That kind of intellectual exchange benefits both students and professionals, creating a life-long learning experience, which they treasure. Our most recent webinar attracted over 2,000 registrations.’

Why do you feel giving back is important?

‘I feel very blessed in my life. My parents were originally from Fujian and came to Hong Kong with little, but decided to settle. I was born and raised here and, when I look back, I realise how smooth my life has been compared with many of my friends and relatives. I’ve never truly faced serious hardship, and that makes me feel all the more responsible to help others.

In later life, I truly believe we should spend more time giving back, if we can. Over the years, I’ve set up scholarships, sponsored students, mentored young professionals, looked after the elderly and stayed active in my alma mater’s alumni association. I sometimes feel students and young professionals don’t always know how to make the most of such opportunities – they should learn to use these connections and networks wisely, because professionals like us can give them a hand and open doors for them. That kind of help often lasts far longer and has a more substantive impact than does pure financial support.’

Over the years, many individuals have contributed behind the scenes to the Institute’s growth. From your perspective, how have the efforts of these volunteers shaped the Institute’s development and success?

‘At the Institute, we have many colleagues who are very committed to the organisation. Despite their busy schedules, they still make time to serve and that dedication is admirable. Volunteering takes many forms – some help with membership, examinations or qualifications, while others join academic or technical panels to write or review papers. Many also serve as mentors or take part in the Mentorship and Student Ambassador programmes for university students. These long-serving volunteers form the backbone of the Institute’s development.’

Could you tell us a little about your personal philosophy or guiding principles for both your professional and personal life?

‘Whatever you do, give it your all and do it to the best of your ability. Some people say I take things too seriously – even when parking my car, I’ll make sure to get it straight. But I believe that if you are not rigorous with yourself, you cannot expect high standards from others. At a speech I gave at my former school, a younger alumna recalled something I once said, that doing something 100% is not enough. If one performs at 100%, one’s subordinates might reach 80%, and their juniors perhaps 60%. To lead others to excellence, one must strive to go beyond perfection.’

What value do you believe governance brings to organisations and the wider society, and how does the Institute contribute to that?

‘To me, governance is not merely about compliance or best practices, it’s also about a moral and ethical mindset. An organisation guided by integrity and conscience not only ensures compliance, but also allows its people to carry that mindset into their family life, social circles and professional communities. This in turn nurtures a more ethical society and, hopefully, a better world. Our role is to pass on this torch of governance. In fact, we once had a programme called Passing the Torch, which I initiated years ago. It involved university students visiting secondary schools to introduce the concept of corporate governance. Although that programme has since ended, its spirit of passing on the value of governance to the next generation remains.’

我们的新专栏本月正式推出，专访支持公会运作的会员。首期嘉宾为公会理事会荣誉顾问、国际公会前会长及公会前会长、长江和记实业有限公司执行董事兼公司秘书施熙德女士 FCG(CS, CGP) HKFCG(CS, CGP)(PE)。

您最初是如何、又在何时开始参与公会工作的？当时的职务是什么？

‘我在1997年成为和记黄埔的公司秘书，这是我与公会开始接触的契机。当时公会设有一个名为(Company Secretaries Panel)的小组（现称Governance Professionals Panel)，现在仍每年召开四次会议，其中三次邀请主要监管机构出席， 另一次则由小组成员内部交流。我自1998年起成为小组成 员，并于2012年至2018年担任主席。小组成员来自银行、地产、保险、中小企业等多个行业。2004 年，我成为公会资深会士，先后担任副会长、会长。2014年，我加入国际理事会，并担任国际副会长四年、国际会长两年。’

您至今仍非常积极参与公会事务，目前担任何种角色？

‘现在我是公会理事会的荣誉顾问。年纪渐长，我逐渐体会到虽然我们总可以帮忙，但也要懂得何时该退后一步。所以我现在主要是观察并提供意见和援助，如果觉得公会的方向有偏差，或需要支持时，才会介入，否则多以非正式的方式参与，例如为公会大型活动预订场地，协助筹办公会的重点会议并邀请演讲嘉宾。卸任国际会长后，我继续担任国际理事会的香港/中国代表；为了充分了解香港公会的情况，我也继续参加香港的理事会会议。因此，从这个角度来看，我可以向两个理事会分享各自的观点和方针。

公会的哪些工作或活动最令您投入或受到启发？

‘近年来，我更专注于培育下一代。早在2006年，我们公司便开始每年聘请来自公会的实习生，至今仍是这样做。我也担任导师，有些学员至今仍和我保持联络，他们当中许多现在已是业界的资深专业人士。近年来，在公会的支持下，我的实习生在暑期实习结束前的网络研讨会上担任演讲嘉宾。我们选择一个新兴的治理议题，进行相关研究，准备概要介绍，撰写讲稿，并主理研讨会。今年夏天，我们的主题是香港即将推行的无纸证券市场规定。我们一起研读法规，并走访证监会、联交所和股份过户登记公司，亲身了解制度运作。在深入研究法规的过程中，常能发现连监管机构在起草立法时都可能未必想到的问题。这种思想交流对学生与专业人士都有益处，为他们带来珍贵的终身学习体验。最近的一场研讨会有超过2,000人报名。’

为什么回馈社会对您如此重要？

‘我一直觉得自己很有福气。我的父母是福建人，几乎一无所有来到香港，在此落地生根。我在香港土生土长，现在回头看，发觉自己的人生旅程比许多亲戚朋友都顺遂得多。我从未真正经历过困苦，这更让我觉得有责任帮助别人。

在人生后半段，我坚信如果我们有能力，应该花更多时间回馈社会。这些年来，我设立了奖学金、资助过学生、指导年轻专业人士、关顾长者，也积极参与母校校友会的事务。有时候我觉得，学生和年轻专业人士未必懂得如何善用机会。其实他们应该运用人脉和网络，因为像我们这样的专业人士确实能帮他们一把，为他们打开大门。这种帮助的作用往往比金钱资助更为长久，也更有实质性的影响。

多年来，许多人默默付出，推动了公会的发展。从您的角度 来看，这些志愿者的努力如何塑造了公会的发展与成功？

‘我身边也有不少同事积极参与公会事务，虽然工作繁忙，仍愿意抽时间服务公会，这种精神非常难得。公会的义务工作形式多样，有些人参与会籍事务、考试与资格制度，有些加入学术或技术小组，撰写或审阅文章，也有不少人担任导师，或加入大学生导师及大使计划。 这些长期投入的义工是公会发展的基石。’

您的人生与工作哲学或原则是什么？

‘无论做什么事都要全力以赴、做到最好。有人说我太认真，连停车也会反复调整，确保停得正正直直。但我始终相信，如果你对自己都不严谨，就无法对别人有要求。有一次我在母校演讲，一位年轻校友提到我说过的一句话 — 做到100%是不够的。因为你做到100%， 你的下属大概只做到80%，而他们的下属可能只做到60%。若想带领他人追求卓越，就必须超越完美。’

您认为良好的治理对机构与社会有何价值？公会又如何推动这种价值？

‘我始终相信，良好的治理不只是遵守法规或采纳最佳做法，更重要的是道德与伦理的思维模式。一个组织若能以正直和良知为本，不仅有助合规，更能透过员工， 把这种精神带进家庭、社会和专业圈子，从而培养社会的道德意识，为世界带来正向影响。我们的工作，就是传承治理的精神。我当年推动一个名为薪火相传的公会计划，让大学生到中学去介绍公司治理的概念。虽然这计划后来停办了，但它的精神仍在，把治理的价值一代一代传承下去。’