HONG KONG, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) celebrated its past and looks forward to its future as a premier professional organisation in the governance arena at its 20+65 Double Anniversary Cocktail held on 20 October 2014. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Honourable CY Leung, GBM, GBS, JP attended the event as guest-of-honour along with Professor the Honourable KC Chan, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury as honorary guest.
In 1949, 65 years ago, a group of Chartered Secretaries from UK's Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) brought the profession to Hong Kong. By 1994, 20 years ago, HKICS became an autonomous local professional body while retaining its UK roots as ICSA's China Division. Today, through sustained organic growth, HKICS has over 5,800 members and 3,200 students in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It is also part of the 33,000 Chartered Secretaries and 10,000 students strong family of ICSA worldwide with convergence upon good governance.
'The Institute has gradually evolved over the past 20 years,' says Ms Edith Shih, FCIS FCS(PE), President of HKICS and Vice President of ICSA. 'Today, sitting at the centre of the board, Chartered Secretaries are uniquely positioned to play a leading role in influencing the governance culture of companies and institutions.'
Throughout its rich history and tradition, HKICS has been the 'voice' of the Chartered Secretarial profession serving the board as advisor on good governance along with other legal, compliance and gatekeeping roles. The Institute will, with resolute determination, continue to focus on governance issues that need to be addressed in Hong Kong, Mainland China and globally in the years ahead.
About The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries
(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability by guarantee)
The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) is an independent professional body dedicated to the promotion of its members' role in the formulation and effective implementation of good governance policies as well as the development of the profession of Chartered Secretary in Hong Kong and throughout Mainland China.
HKICS was first established in 1949 as an association of Hong Kong members of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) of London. It became a branch of ICSA in 1990 before gaining local status in 1994.
HKICS is a founder member of Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA) which was established in March 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland to give a global voice to corporate secretaries and governance professionals.
HKICS today has over 5,800 members and 3,200 students.
