In this month’s NextGen series, CGj interviews Ginger Keung, Executive Director, Non-Bank Business – Institutions Department of a large bank.

What is your current role and what was your career path to this role?

‘After graduating from university, I joined a bank and initially handled transactions and other operational tasks. I was then promoted to a sales role and became the first point of contact for institutional clients. Over the years, I gradually accumulated experience and now work with larger clients. My company encourages employees to pursue advanced studies and the Institute’s qualification programme is one of those on the list. Since I deal with various institutional clients, it is important to understand corporate forms and the relevant governance issues. Preparing for the exams has helped me better comprehend the corporate governance and compliance framework of a bank, as well as management’s business perspective. Having knowledge and awareness of governance and compliance issues is advantageous not just for legal and compliance staff, but also for frontline staff.’

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

‘I first came across company secretaries when I was opening bank accounts and conducting KYC for institutional clients. While opening accounts is a standard procedure, it can still be confusing for a fresh graduate. When I first started working, I wasn’t familiar with the relevant provisions or the various bank and legal documents. I therefore sought assistance from colleagues with a company secretary background and did my own research, after which things became much clearer. I often encounter highly professional company secretaries from listed or private companies, who ensure the smooth progress of our work. Their level of expertise has left a lasting impression on me.’

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

‘First, it is important to understand how and why a company operates. There are countless codes and rules in the banking industry, some of which are quite complex. Governance professionals need to be aware of the underlying reasons behind such provisions. Second, excellent communication skills are vital. Conflicts do occur between different parties and the art of good governance is about effectively resolving those conflicts.’

What is your chosen route to complete the Institute’s qualifying programme and what advice would you give to people who are considering qualifying as a Chartered Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional?

‘I have chosen to take the Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme exams because this route offers more flexibility in terms of scheduling. Reviewing past papers and watching the Institute’s exam-preparation videos works well for me. The other option was to enrol in a master’s degree programme. However, this would have required a significant investment and, because most of the classes were conducted online during the pandemic, it didn’t suit my needs. For those who choose to take the exams, I suggest thinking flexibly because the exam papers often include case studies and there are always a number of approaches to achieving a specific goal. Those who simply memorise formulaic answers may not be able to adapt.’

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

‘Hong Kong’s financial institutions are highly regulated and there is a sophisticated governance framework in place. I believe governance of the banking industry will continue to be robust. It’s worth noting that with shorter innovation life cycles, new technology is emerging faster than ever. To nurture a healthy development environment for these trends, it is necessary to introduce fit-for-purpose regulatory frameworks and governance arrangements. I expect governance in areas such as AI, data security and biotechnology to increasingly come into the spotlight.’

今期的新一代治理系列，访问了一家大型银行的机构业务部非银业务总监姜鉴轩先生。

请问您目前的职位是什么？能告诉我们您的职业发展经历吗？

‘我大学毕业后加入了银行，一开始处理一些银行交易和其他事务性的工作，之后晋升为销售人员，成为企业客户与银行的第一个接触点，几年来慢慢累积了经验，现在服务一些规模较大的客户。公司鼓励员工进修，公会的资格课程是公司推荐我们参加的其中一个项目。我平时接触的都是企业客户，需要理解不同的公司形式和相关治理事宜；为这个考试作准备，让我更了解银行的公司治理和合规架构，以及管理层的商业考虑。认识治理和合规事宜，提高有关意识，不仅对法律及合规人员有好处，前线员工也可从中得益。’

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？

‘我最初接触到公司秘书这个职位，是在银行帮企业客户开户口，处理客户尽职审查程序的时候。开户口是标准程序，但对于初入职场的人来说，可以是很复杂的一回事。 最初我不太清楚相关的条文，也不熟悉各种银行及法律文件，于是找有公司秘书背景的同事帮忙，自己又做了点资料搜集，才更清楚了解这项工作。在日常工作中，我经常遇到上市或私人公司的公司秘书，他们非常专业，总能让工作顺利推进，他们的专业程度令我印象深刻。’

您认为成为一名成功的治理专业人士需要具备哪些素质？

‘首先要理解公司的运作模式，以及以这种模式运作的原因。银行业有无数守则和规则要遵守，有些规定还很复杂；治理专业人士需要知道这些条文背后的缘由。第二， 良好的沟通技巧十分重要。各方之间总会有矛盾，而良好管治的艺术，就是要能有效地解决这些矛盾。’

您完成公会的资格计划的路径是怎样的？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？

‘我选择参加公会的特许公司治理专业资格课程考试，因为时间安排上比较自由，可以自己温习过去的试卷，观看公会为学员准备考试的网上影片，这安排很适合我。另一途径是读硕士课程，但这需要投入大量资金，而且在疫情期间多数时间是网路上课，不符合我的需要。我建议选择考试的朋友采用灵活的思考方式，原因是试卷里有很多案例研究，而要达到特定目的有许多不同的方法，死背公式化答案的人未必能随机应变。’

作为年轻一代的一员，您认为‘治理’将来会如何发展?

‘香港的金融机构受到严格监管，治理架构已经发展得很成熟，我认为银行业的治理以后会维持稳健。值得留意的是，创新周期趋短，科技推陈出新的速度前所未见。为了让这些趋势有健康的发展环境，必须引进恰当的监管架构和治理安排。预料日后人工智能、数据安全和生物科技等领域的治理，将会日益受关注。’