HKICPA hosts Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026; Progress in ESG and corporate governance standards; Supporting the competitiveness of HK's capital market
The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) today hosted the Presentation Ceremony for the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026 (the Awards), presenting a total of 35 awards (see Annex for the awardee list) in recognition of the continued advancement of corporate governance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards among Hong Kong companies and organizations, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a leading capital market and its position as an international financial centre.
Dr. David Sun, Chairman of the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, said, “Hong Kong’s competitiveness attracts capital. Good governance builds confidence. And trust keeps capital here” Dr. Sun added, “Great governance is not measured by what companies promise, but by what they practice. It takes leadership to set the right direction, accountability to drive results, and transparency to earn lasting trust.”
Mr. Stephen Law, HKICPA President and Chair of the Judging Panel for the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026, said, “Since their inception in 2000, the Awards have become one of the most authoritative and widely recognized accolades of their kind. They have not only kept pace with market developments, but also successfully helped to drive market transformation. Corporate governance and related disclosures, once regarded largely as matters of board structure and regulatory compliance, have evolved into important foundations of corporate strategy, risk management, investor confidence and long-term resilience. Looking ahead, companies must continue raising standards in board effectiveness, internal controls, and also by improving the standard of asset valuations and obtaining sustainability assurance, to keep Hong Kong’s capital market competitive and trusted.”
The Awards have been categorized into three sections this year: Elite Past Winners, Main Categories, and Newly-listed Companies. The Elite Past Winners Section is dedicated to companies that have won awards at least five times in the past 10 years. The main objectives are to encourage these past winners to engage in healthy competition with their peers and strive to achieve even higher standards, while creating more opportunities for other companies to emerge as potential awardees in the Main Categories. The recipients of this year’s 35 awards comprise 12 Elite Past Winners, 20 listed companies, including one newly-listed company, and three public sector organizations.
A total of five companies and organizations received the highest accolade in the competition, the Most Sustainable Organizations (MSO) Awards. The MSO awards recognize companies and organizations that demonstrate excellence in the practice and disclosure of both corporate governance and ESG, and actively integrate these considerations into their corporate culture and operations. Prudential plc and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited received a Platinum Award and Gold Award, respectively, in the Elite Past Winners Section, while CLP Holdings Limited and Standard Chartered PLC received Commendations. In the Main Categories, HSBC Holdings plc received an MSO Gold Award in the Large Cap Category for the financial sector.
In addition to the MSO Awards, the CG and ESG Awards/ Special Mentions have also been retained to recognize companies and public sector organizations that excel specifically in corporate governance or ESG. A total of 30 companies and organizations received these awards, including 8 first-time awardees, namely Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. Ltd, China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd, SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd, JL Mag Rare-Earth Co., Ltd, Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust and Midea Group Co., Ltd. Midea Group Co., Ltd was the only newly-listed company among this year’s awardees and received an ESG Award / Special Mention in the Newly-listed Companies Section.
The HKICPA was pleased to receive financial sponsorship for this year’s Awards from prominent CPA and other professional consultancy firms (see Note 1) and to receive AI technical and other support (see Note 2). The HKICPA would like to express its appreciation for all this support and that of the Awards’ media sponsors (see Note 3).
For the full judges report of the HKICPA Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026, please scan the QR code below:
Judges Report
Note 1: list of financial sponsors (in alphabetical order)
1. Ace Sustainability & Risk Advisors Ltd
2. AVISTA Group
3. BDO Limited
4. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
5. Ernst & Young
6. Forvis Mazars Risk Advisory Services Ltd
7. Grant Thornton Hong Kong Ltd
8. HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng Ltd
9. KPMG
10. Moore CPA Ltd
11. PwC
12. RSM Hong Kong
13. Tanner De Witt
Note 2: AI services and other sponsors
Wizpresso
Riskory Consultancy Limited
Note 3: list of media sponsors (in alphabetical order)
1. ET Net
2. Hong Kong Economic Times
Annex: Best Corporate Governance & ESG Awards 2026 - Awardee List
The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants today hosts the Presentation Ceremony of the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026, recognizing the continued advancement of corporate governance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards among Hong Kong companies and organizations.
Dr. David Sun, Chairman of the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, delivers a speech as Guest of Honour at the Presentation Ceremony.
Stephen Law, HKICPA President and Chair of the Judging Panel for the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026, says the Awards have become one of the most authoritative and widely recognized accolades of its kind since inception in 2000. It has not only kept pace with market developments, but also successfully driven market transformation.
