Institute Chief Executive Ellie Pang FCG HKFCG(PE) spoke with CGj about the unique features of the Institute’s director training programme, its market impact and why this training is not only timely but is also essential.

What prompted the Institute to design a dedicated Director Training Package?

‘The impetus came from the proposed regulatory changes to Hong Kong’s Corporate Governance Code (CG Code) and related Listing Rules, put forward by The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange) in their June 2024 Consultation Paper, designed to enhance board effectiveness, strengthen board independence, create more diverse boardrooms, and strengthen risk management and internal controls. Following the recent related Listing Rule amendments, effective 1 July 2025, directors, both new and existing, are now required to complete specified training. New directors, in particular, must complete at least 24 hours of training within 18 months of their appointment. We recognised a real need to support this transition with a solution that is both flexible and practical, and which complies with the new regulatory requirements.’

What are the main challenges companies face when arranging director training and how does the Institute’s package help?

‘We’ve had in-depth conversations with many of our members who serve as company secretaries for listed issuers. Logistically, it can be difficult to gather directors who may be spread across Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and other jurisdictions. Even when timing can be coordinated, engagement is an issue – and getting everyone to complete the same training at the same time is rarely feasible. Language preferences also vary, with some directors preferring English, while others prefer Cantonese or Putonghua.

Another common challenge is relevance. A newly appointed director has very different needs compared with a seasoned board chair. And finally, the new mandatory disclosure requirements have added an extra layer of complexity as companies now need to track training hours, topics, formats and providers for each director.

Our Director Training Package addresses all these concerns head-on. It offers structured, on-demand and trilingual content that directors can complete independently, at their own convenience. It also includes automated progress tracking and centralised record-keeping, which eases the administrative burden on company secretaries while ensuring full compliance.’

What sets the Institute’s package apart from other training solutions in the market?

‘We were the first to market after the Exchange published its Consultation Conclusions on 19 December 2024. Our content is not only fully aligned with the updated CG Code and related Listing Rules, but goes beyond compliance to deliver best-in-class governance insights.

We offer over 90 expert-led training videos covering all five mandatory topics, comprising board responsibilities, directors’ duties, ESG and sustainability, risk management and internal controls, and industry-specific developments. These are available on our Videos on Demand platform in English, Cantonese and Putonghua. Flexibility and accessibility are at the heart of our approach.

In addition, our training is value-driven. As a non-profit organisation, we provide this programme at a highly competitive rate, while our network of speakers includes leading regulators, senior practitioners and experienced governance professionals, as well as industry-leading experts. Every seminar includes progress tracking and verifiable records of attendance.

We also present a Certificate of Completion to successful participants, as well as provide directors with Institute-recognised ECPD hours for attendance, adding tangible value to their professional development.’ 

Can you explain how the Director Training Package supports company secretaries?

‘Under the CG Code, the company secretary plays a key role in facilitating director induction and ongoing training. We wanted to make their job easier.

Our programme’s centralised record-keeping system enables a designated person – typically the company secretary – to access and track detailed training records, as well as manage subscriptions for both individual directors and company packages. This directly satisfies the new mandatory disclosure requirements under the CG Code regarding training hours, formats, topics and providers, and supports the company secretary by significantly reducing their workload.

Company packages can also be tailored to suit specific board needs and can be selected by topic, language and number of video hours, offering greater flexibility and convenience.’ 

What kind of content can directors expect and can you give some examples?

‘Certainly. For example, under our board responsibilities topic, we offer constructive onboarding guidelines for new directors and governance deep-dives for more experienced ones. In terms of directors’ duties, we cover insider dealing, enforcement trends and Listing Rule refreshers.

We’ve also included forward-looking topics like generative AI’s impact on governance, ESG leadership responsibilities and cross-border data protection. Our director training series is both practical and comprehensive, and is curated with the real needs of directors in mind.’

What is the broader impact that the Institute hopes to achieve through this training initiative?

‘Better governance leads to better performance, which in turn leads to a better future. By strengthening the knowledge and preparedness of directors, we ultimately aim to elevate board effectiveness across listed companies in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland.

Looking ahead, we’ll continue to expand our content library, adding emerging topics and incorporating market feedback. We’re not just meeting today’s needs, we’re preparing directors for tomorrow’s challenges, so this isn’t a one-off product – instead, it’s a dynamic, evolving platform that supports directors throughout their governance journey.’

Topics under the Institute’s comprehensive training menu

The Institute’s Director Training Package currently includes over 80 training videos, categorised into the five topics mandated by the Exchange. A wide range of seminars is available for each topic, with a choice of three languages, featuring speakers drawn from a highly-respected pool of experts in their field. Future development plans include content updates, expanded topic coverage, and the integration of new and emerging governance trends.

Classification of topics