HKICPA celebrates 20th Anniversary of "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" financial education programme; Deepening roots in schools for two decades, nurturing over 200,000 financially savvy youths
To mark the 20th anniversary of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" financial education programme (RKPK Programme), the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) held a celebratory cocktail reception yesterday (21 January). The event was honored by the presence of Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, as the Guest of Honour, joining approximately 100 representatives from the education, social welfare and financial sectors, alongside the Institute's Accountant Ambassadors to witness the fruitful results of the Programme over the years in promoting financial education among the younger generation in Hong Kong.
Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said in his speech, “When the public has strong financial literacy, society is better equipped to respond rationally and steadily to financial risks and market fluctuations. This not only enables individuals to build more secure financial futures but also reinforces Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre, ensuring our city remains confident and competitive amid evolving global economic conditions.”
HKICPA President Stephen Law reviewed the RKPK Programme's accomplishments over the past two decades and expressed gratitude to the Accountant Ambassadors for their voluntary contributions in his welcoming remarks. He stated, "A new generation equipped with sound financial literacy is an important cornerstone for maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, as well as its status as an international financial center. Twenty years ago, the HKICPA launched the ‘Rich Kid, Poor Kid’ Programme, mobilizing the Institute’s Accountant Ambassadors to enter campuses and give back to society with their professional knowledge. Looking ahead, the HKICPA will continue to take financial education as the core task of fulfilling its corporate social responsibility, and is committed to nurturing a new generation with positive financial planning concepts.”
Susanna Chiu, Past President of the HKICPA, also attended the event and shared with the guests her past experiences in actively promoting the establishment of the "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" Programme during her tenure as the Chair of the Institute's Community Services Committee from 2005 to 2006. The cocktail reception also featured a panel discussion session titled “Shared achievements in nurturing Hong Kong’s financially smart generations”. Moderated by Wiley Pun, an Accountant Ambassador of the HKICPA, the panel included Prof. Calvin Tse, Vice-President of HKICPA, Dr. Heidi Cheng, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Childcare, Elderly and Community Services, the Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin) and Moses Wong, Vice Principal of SKH St. Peter's Primary School, discussing how financial education enables future generations to navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape and to contribute to Hong Kong’s long-term social and economic development.
The RKPK Programme has become the HKICPA’s self-run flagship corporate social responsibility programme since its launch in 2005. Over the years, more than 460 Accountant Ambassadors of the HKICPA have organized over 1,200 free financial management seminars that combine knowledge and interactivity, benefiting over 200,000 primary and secondary school students by helping them establish correct financial concepts and laying a solid foundation for financial management for the next generations. The Programme’s achievements have been widely recognized and have received numerous awards over the years, including the "Financial Education Champion" (2019 and 2020) and the "Investor and Financial Education Award 2024 (Public/Professional Body and NGOs) Bronze Award" from the Investor and Financial Education Council, as well as the "Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign of the Year" of the PR Awards Asia, among others.
To ensure the content stays up-to-date and aligns closely with the financial education needs of students, the HKICPA has been dedicated to enhancing the programme materials. In 2024, the HKICPA, through collaboration with the Child Education for Teaching & Learning of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), launched the "Financial Education Teaching Manual" specifically designed for senior primary school students. This manual provides school teachers with a financial education curriculum framework and teaching resources covering up to five teaching hours. The Manual has been recognized by the Education Bureau (EDB) and included as a learning and teaching resource for the primary humanities subject, allowing teachers from nearly 600 primary schools across the territory to download and refer to it at any time on the EDB's website, further expanding the Programme's impact.
Looking ahead, as the statutory body for the accounting profession, the HKICPA will remain committed to fulfilling corporate responsibility by promoting financial education across different community groups, to enhance the overall financial literacy of society and contribute to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) holds a celebratory cocktail reception to mark the 20th anniversary of its "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" financial education programme.
The cocktail reception brings together approximately 100 representatives from various sectors and partner organizations alongside the Institute's Accountant Ambassadors to celebrate the achievements of the "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" programme over the years in promoting financial education among the younger generation in Hong Kong.
The 20th anniversary celebration of the HKICPA “Rich Kid, Poor Kid” financial education programme was honored by the presence of Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, as the Guest of Honour.
The HKICPA President Stephen Law thanks the Accountant Ambassadors for their contributions over the years in promoting financial education in Hong Kong, emphasising that the Institute is committed to nurturing a financially savvy new generation for Hong Kong.
Susanna Chiu, Past President of the HKICPA, shared with the guests her past experiences in actively promoting the establishment of the "Rich Kid, Poor Kid" programme during her tenure at the HKICPA.
