- Key government sites
- Regulatory agencies and stock exchanges
- Government sites (miscellaneous)
- Accounting and auditing sites
- Activist organisations
- Professional organisations
- Miscellaneous
1. Key government sites
Financial Services and Treasury Bureau (FSTB): www.fstb.gov.hk
The FSTB is the government body with overall responsibility for the regulation and administration of the financial services industry, including establishing overall policy and legislation in relation to the securities and futures market, banking and monetary issues, and corporate governance. The site is essentially a link to its two branch websites: the treasury branch; and financial services branch. These sub-sites provide a detailed description of their respective activities as well as extensive related data, press releases and reports.
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA): www.hkma.gov.hk
The central bank of Hong Kong. The site contains extensive statistical data relating to the management of Hong Kong's financial system, including policies for monetary and banking stability: a good source of economic and financial data for Hong Kong.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC): www.icac.org.hk
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency. The site contains a significant amount of data relating to all aspects of the commission’s activities against graft in Hong Kong. In addition to press releases and speeches, the site includes corruption statistics and fascinating case studies of landmark cases.
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2. Regulatory agencies & stock exchanges
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC): www.sfc.hk
Hong Kong's main securities regulator. The site is a primary source of regulatory, enforcement, and market information. Has some useful research papers and speeches.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEx): www.hkex.com.hk
The holding company for Hong Kong's securities and futures exchanges. It is a data and information-rich site.
HKEx News: www.hkexnews.hk
With effect from February 4, 2008, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing relocated its issuer information to a new site: HKExnews. Now all listed company announcements, circulars, reports, prospectuses, and notices are available at this new website.
Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market (GEM): www.hkgem.com
Hong Kong’s second market for smaller and developing companies. The site includes a good search engine and extensive market data.
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI): www.oci.gov.hk
OCI is the body established by the government to administer Hong Kong’s insurance legislation and regulate the insurance industry. Its website is well laid out and easy to navigate. The site contains data on the insurance market in Hong Kong as well as downloadable sections with guidelines, press releases, and reports related to insurance, including the “Guidance note on the Corporate Governance of Authorized Insurers” (GN10).
Companies Registry: www.cri.gov.hk
The Companies Registry website contains extensive data on the administration of companies in Hong Kong. In particular, the site section on the Standing Committee on Company Law Reform details the various proposals, reviews and consultation papers issued by the committee relating to company law reform and related issues, including corporate governance matters.
Mandatory Provident Fund Authority (MPF): www.mpfahk.org
The regulator of Hong Kong’s mandatory retirement scheme. The site includes extensive information on the MPF scheme, investment philosophy and strategies, enforcement statistics and disclosure and education issues. There is also a statistics update and details of the MPF Scheme (amendment) Ordinance 2008 that becomes effective on November 1, 2008 included in the "what’s new" area.
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3. Government sites (miscellaneous)
Insider Dealing Tribunal (IDT): www.idt.gov.hk
IDT is the government body established to investigate and determine offences under Hong Kong’s Securities (Insider Dealing) Ordinance. The site provides a clear description of IDT’s activities and remit as well as sections detailing current and past IDT investigations and determinations.
Hong Kong Judiciary: www.judiciary.gov.hk
The official website for the judicial system of Hong Kong. An excellent site that contains extensive data on the workings and structure of Hong Kong’s judicial system as well as judgments, legal references, and other publications.
Department of Justice Bilingual Laws Information System: www.legislation.gov.hk
The Bilingual Laws Information System is a fully searchable and comprehensive electronic database of the statute laws of Hong Kong established by the Department of Justice. The site contains all the Ordinances and subsidiary legislation of Hong Kong that are currently in operation as well as past versions of Ordinances and subsidiary legislation (including repealed legislation) dating back to June 30, 1997. The site also contains some useful links to other related legal sites.
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4. Accounting and auditing sites
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA): www.hkicpa.org.hk
A well-designed website that is packed with data and useful resources. In addition to accounting standards, drafts and papers, there is data on corporate governance, ethics, and risk management. Areas of interest include the standards and technical section, compliance, and continuing professional development.
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5. Activist organisations
Webb-site.com: www.webb-site.com
Edited by shareholder activist David Webb, Webb-site is a no-nonsense and voluminous source of data and analysis on the governance of Hong Kong companies. By far the most impressive site of its kind in Asia (if not the only site of its kind), it merits regular visits. Of special interest are the corporate governance directory and the hall of shame. There is also a good reference library, which can be accessed with the search engine. There is also a link to the HKEx News website, which can be accessed by inputting the company stock code.
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6. Professional organisations
The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries: (HKICS): www.hkics.org.hk
A slightly confusing site that nevertheless offers more information than at first appears. The publications and news sections require a search engine to retrieve information, which makes browsing difficult. But the site contains useful information on governance issues and a good links section under "about us".
The Hong Kong Institute of Directors (HKIOD): www.hkiod.com
The site is devoted mainly to describing HKIOD, its training work, director awards scheme, and other activities (including its "board appointment service"). Although somewhat short on substantive information, it does contain helpful material in the publication section, including guidelines for directors and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts (HKSFA): www.hksfa.org
HKSFA is a non-profit organisation founded to promote the professional and ethical standards of financial analysts and investment practitioners in Hong Kong. It is a member society of the CFA Institute, and the SFC approves the HKSFA for the provision of continuing professional education. The HKSFA website is basic and contains limited information.
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7. Miscellaneous
Hong Kong higher education institutions:
The following links provide access to the sections of websites of various education and research departments of Hong Kong universities that relate specifically to the issue of corporate governance in Hong Kong and Asia generally.
Chinese University of Hong Kong – Centre for Institutions and Governance
Hong Kong Baptist University - Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy
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