(HONG KONG, 11 June 2021) In response to the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury’s blog post “Further Reform of Regulatory Regime of Accounting Profession” on the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau’s (FSTB) website on 8 June 2021, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) hereby calls on the Government to undertake the reform after extensive consultations and assessment of all its impacts.

“While the Institute has the goal of enhancing audit quality and the standards of professional conduct of the accountancy profession, we have concerns about the manner and pace at which these proposals have been introduced. Changing the regulatory regime is not a simple process, and we urge the Government to undertake it in a measured and considered manner, after extensive consultations and assessment of all its impacts,” said Mr. Raymond Cheng, President of HKICPA.

Mr. Cheng was informed about the proposed change at a meeting with the FSTB in the morning of 8 June. Prior to the meeting, the Institute was unware that such a change was to be introduced.

The Council of the Institute held a special meeting to discuss the proposals today (11 June). The Council is concerned about the short notice of the intention to reform the regulatory regime; the legislative timeline; and the lack of clarity about the transition period and arrangements. In order to ensure that the reform is carried out appropriately and effectively, the Council will direct the Institute to carry out two actions, and urges the Government to carry out a third.

Firstly, the Institute will undertake a comparative study of other key jurisdictions, to determine how the proposals fit within the global environment. We must ensure that the proposals do not impact Hong Kong’s status as a leading financial centre.

Secondly, the Institute will gauge the views from various stakeholders and assess the implications of the reform. These stakeholders include its members in practice and in business, practice units, young members, student members, as well as Institute staff. The Council is also concerned about the impacts on the Institute’s operations as a whole and whether the proposals could affect the long term sustainable development of the Institute.

Finally, as well as studying the international landscape, it is imperative to consider how these proposals will impact both the profession and the business community generally. We therefore urge the Government to carry out extensive local consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including those from the profession, to make sure that all views are collected and considered.

香港會計師公會促請政府於進一步改革會計業監管制度前先進行廣泛諮詢並徹底評估改革的影響

（香港，二零二一年六月十一日）就財經事務及庫務局（財庫局）局長於二零二一年六月 八日在財庫局網站發表的網誌「會計規管 延續改革」，香港會計師公會（公會）特此作出回應，並促請政府於推行監管改革前先進行廣泛諮詢，並徹底評估改革帶來的影響。

香港會計師公會會長鄭中正先生說：「長久以來，公會一直致力提高審計質素及會計界的專業操守標準，然而我們關注是次建議方案提出的方式及迫切性。改變監管制度是複雜的過程，我們促請政府先進行廣泛諮詢並徹底評估影響後，才以深思熟慮及慎重的方式推行改革。」

鄭先生於六月八日早上與財庫局的會議上得悉相關改革建議。在該會議之前，公會並不知悉是次改革的推行。

公會理事會於今天（六月十一日）舉行特別會議討論政府的建議改革方案。理事會關注改革監管制度推之過急；建議方案的立法時間表；以及過渡期與過渡安排並不明確。為確保監管改革適當及有效地進行，理事會將指示公會進行下列第一項及第二項，並建議政府進行下列第三項：

第一，公會會進行一項與其他主要司法管轄區的比較研究，以了解改革方案是否符合環球環境。我們必須確保相關改革方案不會影響香港作為領先金融中心的地位。

第二，公會將會收集各界持份者的意見，包括執業界別及商界的會員、執業單位、年青會員、學生會員、以及公會員工，並評估監管改革帶來的影響。理事會亦關注改革對公會的整體營運、以及長遠可持續發展的影響。

最後， 除了探討國際環境，衡量相關改革方案對會計專業以至整體商界的影響十分迫切重要。因此，我們認為政府必須廣泛諮詢本地持份者，包括會計業，以確保收集所有意見及對一切意見作出充分考慮。