Consultation on the proposed framework for the one member one vote election of the President and Vice-Presidents
Consultation
The Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants wants to hear the views of Institute members, Qualification Programme students, stakeholders and members of the public about a framework for the one member, one vote election of the President and Vice-Presidents.
The consultation paper has been developed by an Independent Working Group, established by Council, and tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the current election model and developing a possible framework to implement the election of President and Vice-Presidents by all members.
There are divergent views among Council members about the proposal, and no decision has been made about the framework. Members and the public may wish to take note of the varying perspectives around the options mentioned in the message from the Leadership Team introducing the consultation and the covering letter from the Council. These, along with the consultation paper, are below:
The Institute will also send physical copies of the material if required. To request a physical copy, please email consultation_PandVPelection@hkicpa.org.hk with the subject “Request for physical copy” and include your name and address.
Comments should be submitted by 31 May 2021.
The results of the consultation will be considered by the Council as soon as practicable and be released at an appropriate time.
Responding to the consultation
Responses to the consultation can be given through the following channels:
- Online through this questionnaire
- Via post to:
The Chief Executive and Registrar
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
37/F, Wu Chung House
213 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai, Hong Kong
- Via email to: consultation_PandVPelection@hkicpa.org.hk
- At one of the upcoming members briefing sessions on the consultation
Please Note - Your response may be made public. If you do not wish your response to be attributed to you, please clearly state this in your response.
For details of the Institute’s privacy policy and how we process any personal information that you provide, please refer to the links below.
Briefing sessions
The Institute held two online briefing sessions to explain the proposed framework with a Q&A session at the end of the briefing sessions to address participants’ questions or comments. These sessions were recorded and are now available:
Background
At the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on 2 March 2018, a resolution was passed calling for Council:
“To consider and take all necessary actions to elect President and Vice-Presidents of the HKICPA pursuant to Section 4 of Cap. 50 Professional Accountants Ordinance whereby council members shall conduct a "one member one vote" poll from general membership of all HKICPA members before the Annual General Meeting of the HKICPA each year and council members shall cast their votes in accordance with the result of the poll to elect the President and Vice-Presidents of the HKICPA.”
Council respected the view of members expressed in the passing of the resolution, and this consultation paper is its response to that resolution.
After the EGM, a Task Force comprised of a majority of elected Council members looked into an interim solution – a non-legally binding poll proposed by the resolution, and long-term solution – comprehensive amendment of the Professional Accountants Ordinance. Independent legal opinion was sought in regard to the legality of the interim solution, and the Task Force concluded that the interim solution may give rise to legal challenges and, as such, it was preferable to amend the legislation.
The Task Force then consulted the Governance Committee, which recommended a new group be formed to develop the proposals. The Council established an Independent Working Group at the start of 2020, which was tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the current election model and developing a possible election framework. The consultation paper was developed, after due consideration of the complex issues involved, with proposals for possible changes to various parts of the election model.
Frequently asked questions about the consultation
Read the frequently asked questions about the consultation here.
Press coverage
The Institute’s press release on the consultation is available here.
