HKQAA International Sustainability Forum 2025 was held
in HKCEC on 12th May 2025 with the theme “Linking Policymakers and
Business Leaders to Spark Dialogue and Collaboration”. HKSQ team Dr. Jane Wong,
Ms. Angela Wong, Mr. Keith Kwok and I participated to the forum.
I also met Mr. PC Chan (CEO, HKQAA) and Mr. Ho Chi
Shing (Chairman, HKQAA).
Angela and I took a photo with Mr. KT Ting.
I also met old friends Ms. Bess Choi and Mr.
Wilman Chan.
Before start of the forum, HKSQ team took a photo.
In the beginning, Mr. CS Ho (Chairman, HKQAA) gave welcome
speech. He said that governments worldwide were implementing policies to
promote low-carbon economic transformation.
Then all guests took a group photo.
The first officiating guest was Mr. Tse Chin-wan
(Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Government of HKSAR) and he
introduced government policy on supporting carbon neutrality by 2050.
The second officiating guest was Mr. Christopher Hui
(Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of HKSAR)
and he presented the policy to support GBA low-carbon economic transformation
and financing opportunities.
The third special guest was Dr. Chen Gang (Acting SG
of BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC)) and he introduced the
main goal of BRIGC is to promote international consensus understanding,
cooperation and concerted actions to achieve green development of BRI.
After that the Morning Forum chaired by Dr. Zhang
Jianyu (Chief Development Officer of BRIGC) and panelists included Mr. Riyadi
Suparno (Executive Director of Tenggara Strategics, Indonesia), Mr. Ronnie Tham
(Partner of Treo Capital) and Mr. Leo Horn-Phathanothai (Founder and CEO, Just
Transitions Incubator (JUTI)). They shared their view of sustainability and low
carbon transformation in their countries and future development.
The first speaker was Mr. Saeed Uddin (Chairman of the
Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong) and his topic
named “Shaping a Halal-friendly and Inclusive Economy: Unlocking Potentials in
Local and Overseas Markets”. He discussed about environment protection by Islam
way and energy efficiency in daily life.
The second speaker was Ms. Connie Sham (Head of Audit,
Strategic Business, HKQAA) and her topic entitled “Supporting the Banking
Industry in implementing Climate Risk Management and related Financial Disclosures”.
Firstly, Connie introduced Climate Impact GPS in four
dimensions and free pilot program to support Banking industry.
Then she briefed the process of identification and address
climate-related risks and opportunities. And then demonstrated their tools for identifying
transition risk, physical risk and opportunities.
Finally, Connie demonstrated how to determine and
disclose financial effects.
The last speaker in this forum was Dr. Nigel Croft
(Chair, ISO Joint Technical Coordination Group from MS standards (2020-2023))
and his presentation was “Leveraging ISO Standards to Embrace Low-Carbon and
ESG Opportunities – Revision of ISO 9001 and ISO14001”.
Dr. Nigel Croft briefed the fast forward to London
Declaration on Climate Action in 2021 that potential changes to some of ISO
Management System standards. And then he introduced some recent developments
including Net Zero Guideline, Climate Change Management and Framework for
Implementing ESG Principles.
After that he mentioned the revision schedule for ISO
9001 that fast-track not worked because of negative comments on the committee
draft and the new ISO 9001 publication date expected to be in mid-2026. Possible
changes in CD2 were discussed such as ethical behavior and separates out risks
and opportunities.
There were also included infrastructure for remote and
hybrid work and use of emerging technologies for continual improvement.
For revision schedule for ISO 14001, it expected to be
published in 2025 and no major changes. Lastly, he concluded that ISO supported
Low-Carbon and ESG opportunities. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 revisions are related
to climate change.
During the break, I met many friends and took photos
for memory. GP friend Mr. Johnny Sung and Ms. Taurus Chu.
Met Mr. Jacky Yeung
Ms. Angelina Tang in Guangzhou branch and we met in
2016.
Photo with Ms. Connie Shum
Also Mr. William Wong
Mr. Hip IP helped HKQAA for TID funded project and we
took a photo for memory.
In afternoon Forum, Mr. PC Chan (CEO, HKQAA) gave
opening speech. He said HKQAA committed to advancing sustainability initiatives
and to promote Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area integration.
The first guest keynote remarks from Mr. Gao Guosheng
(Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Guangdong Administration for
Market Regulation Secretary General of the Guangdong Intellectual Property
Administration.)
The second guest keynote remarks from Mr. Li Chenguang
(Director of Accounting Department of Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau).
The third guest keynote remarks from Ms. Janey Lai
(CEO, The Accounting and Financial Reporting Council).
All guests and speakers took a group photo.
After that HKQAA and The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao
Greater Bay Area Certification signed MOU for cooperation.
Dr. Leng Bing (Member of the International
Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)) was the first speaker and his topic
entitled “Latest Development of Global Baseline Standards of Sustainability
Disclosure”. He raised challenges from climate change and promoted industrial
standards and framework to solve it.
Prof. Liu Yifang (Director of Sustainable Criteria
Research Center, Central University of Finance and Economics) and her topic
named “The Development and Practice of the Common Baseline of Sustainability-related
Financial Disclosure in China”. Firstly, she introduced different policies from
mainland China.
Then she briefed some implementation examples and shared
some cases which cooperated with HKQAA.
Finally, she introduced seven points of Financial Disclosure
requirements to us.
The last speaker was Mr. Philip Chiu (Executive
Director – Digital & Sustainability, Jardine Engineering Corporation Limited)
and his presentation title was “Engineering and AI: Pioneering Sustainable
Solutions”. Firstly, he introduced Jardine Engineering Digital Insights (JEDI)
and JEDI AI for energy optimization and fault detection.
Then he shared several cases using their sustainable
solutions such as TKO Desalination Plant that 30% grid reduction through
renewable energy from solar panels, Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works that
awarded BEAM Plus Platinum, etc. Lastly, he expected to drive Hong Kong’s
Net-Zero Future.
I left after this session and learnt the most updated
trend in the sustainability field.
