This month’s interview in the NextGen series is with Agnes Luk, Full-time student, BBA (Hons) (Corporate Management and Governance Stream), Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management, Saint Francis University.

When did you first hear the terms ‘company secretary’ and ‘governance’? What was your impression of these terms?

‘I first heard the term company secretary from a corporate law professor during my associate degree in business. This role can be fulfilled not just by registered company secretaries, but also by lawyers or accountants. That was over a decade ago, when corporate governance was not so prominent. I became more familiar with the concept of corporate governance during my current studies at Saint Francis University (previously, Caritas Institute of Higher Education), where I discovered that a company secretary’s role goes beyond document signing to providing professional advice for the sustainable development of a company.’

Why did you choose to return to full-time study and what attracted you to pursue a career as a governance professional?

I wanted to acquire a professional qualification. When I decided to return to full-time study, I remembered the company secretarial profession mentioned by my professor, so I searched for applicable information online. Through HKCGI’s website, I found the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Corporate Management and Governance course offered by Saint Francis University, which is accredited by the Institute as a Partnership Bachelor’s Programme. Completing this full-time programme will make me eligible for a maximum of four modules of exemption from the Institute’s Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme, as well as for a reduction in the relevant work experience requirement, allowing me to balance my personal life with obtaining the professional qualification more quickly. The dean of the department provided me with a lot of useful information and I also received a full scholarship, which helped alleviate the financial pressure and allowed me to focus on my studies.’

What qualities do you think are needed to be a successful governance professional?

‘Continuous learning is necessary because the market is constantly evolving. You need to keep abreast of all pertinent information and regulations in order to help lead a company’s sustainable development. Our primary focus at university is studying the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and the Listing Rules, with most examples based in Hong Kong or the UK. However, during my internship, I was responsible for handling offshore companies and realised that the legal requirements in those jurisdictions were significantly different from Hong Kong. Governance professionals not only need to be familiar with Hong Kong’s laws, but also need to have knowledge of company legislation in other jurisdictions. Otherwise, they cannot assist the company in complying with both international and Hong Kong regulations.’

Would you recommend a career in governance to others, and what advice would you give to people who are considering qualifying as a Chartered Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional?

‘Yes, I would recommend a career in this field. Whether it’s a listed company, a private company or an NGO, compliance requirements will only continue to increase. Internal guidance is vital to ensure that companies operate within the compliance framework. Governance is a profession with long-term prospects and is unlikely to decline because of economic fluctuations. If young people are interested, they can attend lectures organised by the Institute or contact universities that arrange visits for secondary school students. Although some of my classmates did not become company secretaries after graduation, they did become part of the management team. Corporate governance provides ample opportunities for career development.’

As a member of the younger generation, how do you think governance will evolve in the future?

‘I believe that governance will become increasingly important in the future because regulatory requirements will only become stricter, and regulators worldwide will be paying more attention to the interests of minority shareholders and stakeholders. ESG is also crucial for companies. Governance is therefore no longer just about meeting the minimum legal requirements, but will become more human-centred, aligning with the company’s aspirations, mission and values, as well as societal changes. This approach will attract potential investors and enable both the company and society to achieve sustainable development.’

今期新一代治理系列采访了陆咏诗女士，圣方济各大学廖汤慧霭商业及款待管理学院工商管理（荣誉）学士企业管理及管治课程全日制学生。

您第一次听到‘公司秘书’或‘公司治理’是什么时候？您当时对这些专业名词有什么印象？

‘第一次听到公司秘书这名称，是之前读商科副学士时的公司法教授提到的，这个专业可以由律师、会计师或注册公司秘书担任。那是十几年前了，当时一般人还没有太注重公司治理这回事。到现在于圣方济各大学（前明爱专上学院）读书，才对公司治理的概念有较深认识，发现公司秘书不仅仅是签署文件，而且可以给公司可持续发展提供专业意见。’

您为什么选择重返校园？是什么吸引您就读公司治理专业？

‘因为我想获得一个专业资格。当我决定重返校园时，我想起当年教授提过的公司秘书专业，便上网查询相关资讯。我从香港公司治理公会网站发现，圣方济各大学的工商管理 （荣誉）学士企业管理及管治课程获公会认可为伙伴学士课程，完成这全日制课程后，可以豁免公会特许公司治理专业资格课程当中的最多四科考试，并且降低相关工作经验要求，让我平衡个人生活之余，也可以更快获得专业资格。院长为我提供很多有用资讯，我也获得全额奖学金，让我能减轻经济压力，全心学习。’

您认为成为一名成功的治理专业人士需要具备哪些素质？ 

‘如果有意成为治理专业人士，需要不断学习，因为市场发展日新月异，很多最新的相关资讯或法规需要自行掌握，才可以帮忙带领公司持续发展。在学校，我们主要学习香港公司条例和上市规则，大部分的例子都是以香港或英国为主。但我实习时负责处理离岸公司，发现当地的法律要求与香港非常不同。治理专业人士不单需要熟悉香港的法律，也要对其他地区的公司法例有所认识，否则不能协助公司符合国际及香港的法规。’

您会推荐其他人从事治理方面的工作吗？对于那些有想去成为特许秘书和公司治理师的人，您有什么建议？

‘我会推荐他们入行，因为不论是上市公司、私人公司、非政府机构(NGO)，合规的要求只会越来越多，必须订立内部指 引，让公司能在合规的框架下运作。这是一个有长远前景的行业，不会因为经济环境变化而式微。 年轻人有兴趣，可以去听公会的讲座，或者联系可安排中学生参观的大学。我有些同学毕业后虽然没有做公司秘书，但都成为管理层的一份子。公司治理为职涯发展提供很多机会。’

作为年轻一代的一员，您认为‘治理’将来会如何发展？

‘我觉得未来治理会越来越重要，因为法规上的要求只会越来越严格，世界各地的监管机构也都更注重小股东与持份者的利益。环境、社会及治理 (ESG) 对公司也很重要。因此治理已经不再只是做到最基本的法律要求，而是会更加人性化，配合公司的抱负 、使 命及价值观，以及社会的变化，从而吸引潜在投资者，使公司和社会都可以持续发展、欣欣向荣。’