(HONG KONG, 8 July 2019) The Best Corporate Governance Awards, a prestigious benchmark of corporate governance excellence organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), are proudly celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. The Awards are now open for entry until 12 August.

“Over the past 20 years, the Awards have become a recognized and respected yardstick of Hong Kong’s current corporate governance standards and, more recently also, of sustainability and social responsibility reporting standards, in both the private and public sectors. The Awards judging criteria look beyond the minimum legal and regulatory requirements to identify voluntary disclosures and practices that set a high bar. They acknowledge best practices in Hong Kong based on information disclosure in annual reports and standalone sustainability reports, as well as related information on websites. The Awards promote a culture of good corporate governance and sustainable business practices, helping to enhance investor and public confidence in the Hong Kong capital market,” said Mr Patrick Law, President of HKICPA.

“Ensuring a strong and deep-rooted corporate governance culture is a key factor in distinguishing Hong Kong’s market in the highly competitive regional and global environment.” 

Amendments to the Corporate Governance Code and related Listing Rules took effect on 1 January 2019, aimed at strengthening the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of listed company boards and nomination committees, especially in relation to the nomination of directors, including independent non-executive directors (INEDs). The amendments also enhance the criteria for assessing the independence of potential INED candidates, and aim to promote board diversity. These regulatory changes will be reflected in some of the annual reports which will be reviewed for the Awards and they align with one of the main focus areas of the Awards, which covers the quality of board operation and functioning, including having a diversity of backgrounds among board members, and having INEDs who are capable of challenging the executives and senior management where appropriate. Without a well-functioning board, is it not possible for a company or a public sector organization to integrate good corporate governance within the entity.

“Shareholders always have reason to be concerned if, for example, they cast their votes for a director who subsequently resigns without adequate explanation. We have long advocated the need for more disclosure around the rationale for specific appointments and resignations of directors, and enhancement in the transparency of the process and criteria for the selection and appointment of directors,” Mr Law said.

Categories of awards
The 2019 Awards invite entries in the following categories:

(i)   Hang Seng Index (HSI)-constituent companies 
(ii)  Non-HSI-constituent companies – Large market capitalization 
(iii) Non-HSI-constituent companies – Medium market capitalization 
(iv) Non-HSI-constituent companies – Small market capitalization 
(v)  H-share companies and other Mainland enterprises 
(vi) Public sector/Not-for-profit organizations – Large organizations 
(vii) Public sector/Not-for-profit organizations – Small and medium-size organizations 
        (Categories (ii) - (v) include main board and GEM companies)

In each category, there are Diamond, Platinum and Gold Awards, as well as Sustainability and Social Responsibility Reporting Awards. Listed companies and public sector/ not-for-profit organizations that pass an initial screening process undergo two rounds of reviews of their corporate governance quality and the shortlisted entries are also subject to a compliance review. Special mentions may be given to other companies or organizations that demonstrate a sound all-round corporate governance performance, or strengths in important facets of good governance; and Commendations may be awarded for website corporate governance-related information.

Smaller listed companies, with a market capitalization of no more than HK$6 billion as at 30 April 2019, and public sector/ not-for profit organizations, are invited to apply to be considered for the Self-nomination Awards for Good Corporate Governance Practices. “This particular award focuses on sectors where, experience shows, greater effort is still needed to promote effective corporate governance,” explains Law. 

This year's Awards are supported by media sponsors Hong Kong Economic Times and ET Net. For more details of the 2019 Best Corporate Governance Awards, please visit https://www.hkicpa.org.hk/-/media/Document/APD/BCGA/2019_Entryform.pdf.

香港會計師公會推動卓越管治20載
「最佳企業管治大獎」接受報名

（香港，二零一九年七月八日）由香港會計師公會主辦的「最佳企業管治大獎」備受社會各界認同，大獎今年踏入第20周年，現正接受報名，截止日期為八月十二日。

公會會長羅富源先生表示：「於過去20年，『最佳企業管治大獎』在企業管治、以至近年推廣的可持續發展及社會責任報告方面，為本港公私營界別樹立楷模，備受推崇。大獎鼓勵本港企業及機構在法定及法規最低要求之外，作出更多自願披露及實踐良好管治實務，表彰於年報、獨立刊發的可持續發展報告及網站披露的最佳實務，藉以推廣卓越企業管治文化及可持續發展實務，從而提升投資者及公眾對香港資本市場的信心。」

「區內及環球市場競爭激烈，讓卓越企業管治文化深厚植根，是令香港脫穎而出的關鍵。」

為提高上市公司董事會及提名委員會，尤其提名董事（包括獨立非執行董事）方面的透明度、問責性及效率，《企業管治守則》及相關《上市規則》近期作出修訂，並於二零一九年一月一日生效。相關修訂亦提升了評估獨立非執董人選獨立性的準則，並提倡董事會成員多元化。這些法規變動將會反映在部分參選公司／機構的年報中，而新規則的範疇亦正好與大獎評選重點相符，當中包括董事會運作及職能水平（包括董事會成員多元化），以及獨立非執董能否對高級行政人員及管理層作適當質疑。企業或公營機構董事會必須充分發揮其應有功用，才能貫徹推行良好管治。

羅先生表示：「舉例說，若股東投選的董事辭任而缺乏充分解釋，股東當然會關注。公會向來提倡在董事具體任命及辭任理據上要增強披露，並要在董事遴選委任的程序及準則方面提升透明度。」

奬項類別
「二零一九年度最佳企業管治大獎」以下獎項組別接受報名：
(i)    恒生指數（「恒指」）成份股公司
(ii)   非恒指成份股公司 — 大市值
(iii)  非恒指成份股公司 — 中市值
(iv)  非恒指成份股公司 — 小市值
(v)   H 股公司與其他中國內地企業
(vi)  公營／非牟利機構 — 大型機構
(vii) 公營／非牟利機構 — 中小型機構
     （組別(ii) – (v)包括主板及創業板的公司）

各組別設鑽石、白金、金獎以及「可持續發展及企業社會責任報告獎」。通過初步甄選的上市公司及公營／非牟利機構會經過兩重遴選，以評估其企業管治質素，入圍的公司／機構會再經過合規評審。如個別公司／機構展示優良全面的管治水平，或於重要管治範疇表現出色，評審團可頒發評判嘉許以示表揚。於網上傳遞管治資訊方面表現優異者，有機會獲頒嘉許獎。

於二零一九年四月三十日市值為60億港元或以下的上市公司以及公營／非牟利機構，歡迎自薦參選「良好企業管治實務獎」。羅先生解釋說：「從以往的評選中，我們看到小型上市公司及機構在有效管治上仍有進步空間，故特設這個獎項以示鼓勵。」

大獎今年的傳媒合作夥伴包括香港經濟日報及經濟通。有關「二零一九年度最佳企業管治大獎」詳情，請瀏覽以下網頁：
https://www.hkicpa.org.hk/-/media/Document/APD/BCGA/2019_Entryform.pdf