Issue no. 85
(27 October 2005)
    Dear Members/Member Practices,
In this issue
PlayStreet
SMP Survey
New Standard
Meeting with IRD
Institute's Social Responsibility
ICAEW Vote
Reminder
Join PlayStreet Sponsors!
M
ore and more sponsorships are coming in to support PlayStreet, the charity programme
that will transform Chater Road into a haven of fun on 4 December. Building on the success of last year's event, which attracted more than 10,000 people, the Institute is teaming up again with Playright Children's Play Association to bring you this family day. The activities will revolve around the theme on how children can live a rich and happy life. Click here to see more about the event and the fabulous sponsorship packages.

SMP Management Benchmark Forum
F
ind out how your firm performed compared to the industry averages at the forum on the benchmark findings for small
and medium-sized CPA firms. The survey, completed late last month with 14.3 percent response rate, compares SMP firms' performance on financial, HR, external relations, service development and IT issues. A complimentary copy of the survey report will be available to all forum attendees, even those who did not participate.
Click here to register.

New Standard on Comfort Letters and Due Diligence Meetings
T
400 Comfort Letters and Due Diligence Meetings on Financial and Non-financial Information. This is the first of a new series of engagement standards seeking to set out requirements for and provide guidance to reporting accountants in reporting on information for inclusion in investment circulars.

Agenda Items Invited for Meeting with Inland Revenue
T
he Institute will be meeting with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue in January 2006 to discuss matters in relation to tax practice and procedure. You are invited
to suggest possible agenda items focusing on matters of broad concern but not specific cases. Please forward your suggested items with an explanation of the issues to John Tang, the Institute's assistant director of specialist practices, by 14 November.

Institute Recognised for Corporate Social Responsibility
T
he Institute received an award from the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals on 9 September for its contribution
to corporate social responsibility. Among the six organisations selected for recognition, the Institute was the only professional body to clinch an award. The Institute has been cooperating with Tung Wah since June 2002 on "Healthy Budgeting Family Counselling Programme" and last year, both parties introduced the "Financial Consultation Scheme for University Students."
(Click photo to enlarge)
Click to enlarge
 
Susanna Chiu, CSC chair, receives the Institute's award from Tung Wah.
 

ICAEW Integration Stalled
T
he proposed integration of ICAEW and CIPFA has failed by the narrow margin of 540 votes. A successful vote
would have created an influential new professional body to represent accountants across all sectors of the economy. The leadership of both parties see a positive side from the vote which achieved the largest consultation on future direction of the profession in a generation. Click here for more details.

Reminder
The Institute is appealing to your compassionate support for relief for victims of the South Asian earthquake, which has killed more than 30,000 people and affected a population of 2.5 million. All donations received will go to the International Red Cross via the Institute's Charitable Fund. Click here for the donation form.
The new series of the executive programme for accountants on the requirements for independent non-executive directors will begin on 4 November. Seven CPD credit hours will be awarded for each module.

If you require any technical assistance on this transmission, please do not hesitate to contact any of the following staff:

  Telephone no. E-mail address
Mr. Andrew Wong 2287 7245 andrew@hkicpa.org.hk
Mr. Anson Lok 2287 7041 anson@hkicpa.org.hk
Ms. Vian Tai 2287 7224 vian@hkicpa.org.hk
Mr. Kelvin Chiu 2287 7096 kelvin@hkicpa.org.hk


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