HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – December 22, 2023 – The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (“HKQAA”) recently organized the international symposium “Sustainable Finance, ESG and Climate Resilience • Hong Kong 2023” at the HKEX Stock Exchange Square . The event had Mr. Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionas officiating guest, and
Mr. Chen Guohuang, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Finance of Guangdong Province, Ms. Li Lei, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Finance of Hainan Province, And Ms. Zhang Sufen, Deputy Director General of Shenzhen Finance Bureau, as special guests.
Mr. Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (fourth from right); Mr. Chen Guohuang, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Finance of Guangdong Province (third from right); Ms. Li Lei, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Finance of Hainan Province (third from left); Ms. Zhang Sufen, Deputy Director General of Shenzhen Finance Bureau (second from right); Ir CS Ho, president of HKQAA (fourth from left); Mr. Simon Wong Ka Wo, BBS, JP, Vice President of HKQAA (second from left); Sr Lam Kin Wing Eddie, MH, vice-president of HKQAA (first from right); Dr Michael PH Lam, Director General of HKQAA (first from left) at the HKQAA International Symposium 2023
With the United Nations’ efforts to promote sustainable development, sustainable finance, ESG and climate resilience strategies have become key policy directions of governments around the world, as well as the priority of the business and finance sectors. As a pioneer in promoting sustainable development in the region, HKQAA invited local and foreign political and business leaders, experts and academics to share their ideas at this year’s symposium, helping industries exchange and work together to build a sustainable environment for business and investment.
An international symposium brought together political and business leaders
The symposium featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Ms. Annette L. Nazareth, Chair of the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Council; Dr Nigel Croft, Chair of the ISO Joint Technical Coordination Group for Management Systems Standards; Mr. Andy Ng, Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises; Mr. Danny Yeung, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Prenetics Limited; Ms. Winnie Fan, General Manager of Sustainable Finance (Corporate Banking) of Bank of China (Hong Kong); Ms. Daphne Wat, Deputy Managing Director/Acting Managing Director, China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited; Mr Johnny Wei, Head of Wholesale Banking of OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; Mr. Mac Leung, Director of Sustainable Finance, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Tadahiro Kaneko, Senior Assistant to Unit Heads of Global Banking and Wholesale Banking, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; and Ms. Taie Wang, Director of Sustainable and Emerging Business, Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited. In addition, we have benefited from the support of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Certification Alliance to help strengthen exchanges and cooperation, as well as promote a low-carbon economy in the region.
The event was also broadcast live online for local and overseas audiences, attracting offline and online participation from more than 800 senior executives from Chinese government ministries, regulatory agencies, banking and financial institutions and foreign associations, professional associations, academic establishments and green groups. . A consul general and a number of representatives from Asian consulates in Hong Kong, as well as a representative from the European Union office in Hong Kong and Macau were present at the event.
Ir CS Ho, President of the HKQAA, said: “We hope that today’s symposium will help organizations explore more strategic directions for long-term success and, through collaboration, contribute to economic development. more resilient and durable.
Develops diversified professional services to support government sustainability strategies
As a leading conformity assessment body and standards body in the Greater Bay Area, HKQAA not only organizes events for industrial exchanges, but also has actively participated in the formulation of international and national standards on green finance and sustainable development, and launched a series of new services to match the government’s sustainable development policies and market needs, such as the Net-Zero certificate system and the green finance certification system and sustainable.
Ir Ho added: “HKQAA’s green and sustainable finance certification system has received a positive response from issuers in various sectors. Green and sustainable bonds issued by the HKSAR Government, the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, the Hainan Provincial People’s Government and the Hainan Provincial People’s Government. The Shenzhen Municipal Government has also been certified by HKQAA. Additionally, the program was recognized as an “excellent” example of international collaboration on mutual recognition of quality certification by the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation in 2023. These steps highlight the notable contribution of HKQAA to the development of sustainable finance, as well as our efforts to streamline national and international economic flows.
Participates in the development of GBA carbon footprint assessment standards; Launch of the ESG Connect program
HKQAA also collaborated with the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation, the Ecological Environment Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, the Shenzhen Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection and the Institute of Standards and of Shenzhen Technology to develop carbon footprint assessment standards in the Greater Bay Area, aiming to strengthen exchanges and cooperation and foster a low-carbon economy in the region. Additionally, HKQAA launched the “ESG Connect Program” to encourage different types of organizations to build an ESG ecosystem together. This initiative encourages them to leverage their strengths to contribute to the sustainable development of the industry and community, and supports social enterprises and start-ups.
Recognize units, companies and financial institutions that promote sustainable development
During the Symposium, the “Hong Kong Green and Sustainable Finance Awards 2023” award ceremony took place. The awards aim to encourage organizations to promote green and sustainable finance, carbon neutrality, climate risk disclosure and ESG disclosure for the sustainable development of business and society, and to recognize their efforts and contributions. This year, 70 financial services units, banks and institutions from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas were recognized. In addition, it was the first time that mainland local government units, namely the Finance Department of Guangdong Province, the Finance Department of Hainan Province and the Finance Bureau of Shenzhen, were awarded for the “Exceptional award for the issuer of green and sustainable bonds”. For more details, please visit the HKQAA website (www.hkqaa.org/symposium2023).
Dr Michael PH Lam, CEO of HKQAA, said: “We believe their exemplary efforts will serve as a beacon, inspiring others in the industry to make meaningful contributions towards a more sustainable environment and society. HKQAA will continue to leverage its professional capabilities. provide businesses with more innovative solutions. We strive to help them face new challenges, working together to build a sustainable world.
Hashtag: #HKQAA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
