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InvestHK and HKCEA hold ESG webinar for Mainland enterprises (with photos)
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     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA) today (July 21) held a webinar with a theme of environmental, social and governance (ESG), covering the latest developments and trends in ESG and offering practical tips for Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong to integrate ESG into their business.
          
     The joint webinar entitled "ESG in the New Normal: How Can ESG Integration Facilitate Mainland Companies to Achieve Sustainability", was supported by the Hong Kong Green Finance Association. It aimed to provide Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong with up-to-date information and first-hand experience sharing, especially under the new normal during the pandemic, to help them achieve sustainability through ESG.
          
     The event began with welcoming remarks by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Stephen Phillips, and the Vice Chairman and President of the HKCEA, Mr Zhang Xialing, followed by a series of thematic presentations and interactive discussion with speakers from the industry.
          
     Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong is renowned as a centre for raising capital, and a hot topic around the world is ESG. The demand for transparency on sustainable and socially responsible practices is on the rise, not only in the investor community but also amongst your customers. Indeed, today companies including family offices are accountable to a wide range of stakeholders including investors, customers, employees and nongovernmental organisations that want to evaluate and assess a company's impact on the world."
          
     Mr Phillips added, "Enlightened companies and leaders increasingly see environmental, social and governance analysis and reporting as essential to creating long-term value for stakeholders, and increasingly use best practice to differentiate themselves from their competitors." He said he believes that ESG best practice can significantly impact the financial metrics of a company as well as unleash the company's potential in different aspects.
        
     Mr Zhang said, "Hong Kong as an international financial centre has unique advantages in ESG and sustainable finance development. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and regulatory authorities have carried out various policies recently to further enhance the local ESG investment ecosystem and position the city to be the ESG finance hub in Asia, with measures such as the Green Finance Certification Scheme, the Government Green Bond Programme, the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme, a guidance for investment institutions on ESG reporting, and the setting up of the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group last May." Mr Zhang also encouraged more Mainland institutions during the webinar to leverage Hong Kong's capital market and financial and professional services for green and sustainable investment, financing and accreditation.
          
     Speakers at the webinar also included the Vice President, Policy and Secretariat Services Unit, Listing Division, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Kelly Lee; the Vice President and Secretary General, Hong Kong Green Finance Association and Head of Sustainable Capital Markets, Global Markets APAC, BNP Paribas, Ms Huang Chaoni; the Greater China ESG Business Development Lead, S&P Global, Ms Yu Rong; the Head of Sustainable Bonds, Debt Capital Markets, Asia-Pacific, HSBC, Ms Gan Luying; and the Head of Sustainability, New World Development Company Limited, Ms Ellie Tang.
          
About InvestHK
                      
     InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
                      
     For photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157719622833530.
 
Ends/Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:50
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Today's Press Releases  

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The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Mr Stephen Phillips, speaks at a webinar today (July 21) with a theme of environmental, social and governance. The webinar was co-organised by InvestHK and the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association.
The Vice Chairman and President of the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA), Mr Zhang Xialing, speaks at a webinar today (July 21) with a theme of environmental, social and governance. The webinar was co-organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the HKCEA.