(HONG KONG, 1 March 2021) In pursuance of the resolution about "one member one vote" to elect the President and Vice Presidents passed at the Extraordinary General Meeting in 2018, the Council of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (the “Institute”) has released the consultation paper which sets out proposals for possible changes to various parts of the election model that would enable the one member one vote initiative. The Institute is now calling for views from members and stakeholders in a three-month consultation period from now until 31 May 2021.

In response to members’ request for one member one vote, the Council set up the Task Force for EGM Resolution 2 in 2018 and under its recommendation established an Independent Working Group (“IWG”) in 2020, entrusted 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 of the Institute. After due consideration of complex issues involved in the amendments of the Professional Accountants Ordinance (“PAO”), the IWG came up with the respective proposals stipulated in the consultation paper.

A number of nomination models has been considered by the IWG that would enable the election of President and Vice-Presidents by all CPAs and narrowed these down to three possible options. “The three options in the proposed election framework are not the only possible solutions and there will always be different views. The consultation paper is intended to be a starting point and a catalyst for the necessary discussions that members are strongly urged to participate in, given the importance of the matter,” said Mr. Raymond Cheng, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

The Council endorsed the consultation paper developed by the IWG. “The proposals are not cast in stone and the Council fully anticipates that members may come to a different view, after reading the consultation paper. As always, the Institute listens to different views of members and the consultation demonstrates our strong commitment in addressing members’ needs,” said Mr. Cheng.

The Council noted the sentiments reflected and recognized the call for one member one vote, albeit the resolution may be subject to challenges on legal grounds. The Council also noted the varying perspectives around the options in the consultation paper and these differences in views are shown in the covering letter to the consultation paper for the purposes of facilitating stakeholders in making their informed decisions.    

“The Institute is a statutory body under the PAO. To change the election model would require comprehensive legislative amendments, a full consultation of all stakeholders and support from both the Government and the Legislative Council would be pivotal,” Mr. Cheng explained.

The Council wants to hear the views of all members and relevant stakeholders. In this connection, the Institute has planned some forums for members and stakeholders to apprise them of the key objectives of the consultation and to gauge their views on the matter.

The consultation paper is available at HKICPA’s website at HKICPA's website.

香港會計師公會就一人一票選會長及副會長的建議框架
徵詢持份者意見

（香港，二零二一年三月一日）香港會計師公會發表有關推展「一人一票」選舉方式的諮詢文件，列出於現有選舉模式上建議修改的部分方案，以便推行二零一八年特別大會通過的決議案，以一人一票投票方式表決選出會長及副會長。諮詢期由今日起至二零二一年五月三十一日止，為期三個月，歡迎公會會員及持份者提交意見。

為回應會員對一人一票選舉的訴求，理事會於二零一八年成立了特別大會第二項決議案工作小組，並按該小組的建議於二零二零年成立了獨立專責小組，負責檢討現行選舉方式，以及研究可行的選舉框架以推行由公會全體會員選出會長及副會長。專責小組慎重考慮修訂《專業會計師條例》所涉及的複雜因素後，提出了諮詢文件內各項建議方案。

獨立專責小組曾考慮多個可讓全體會員選舉會長及副會長的提名方式，並選出了三個可行的方案。香港會計師公會會長鄭中正先生表示：「建議選舉框架所列的三個方案並不是僅有的可行選項，我們明白大家會有不同的意見。鑑於選舉對公會十分重要，我們鼓勵會員踴躍參與討論，希望諮詢文件作為展開積極討論的起點。」

獨立專責小組編備的諮詢文件獲公會理事會支持。鄭先生指出：「這些建議方案並非最後定案，理事會預料會員在細閱諮詢文件後或各有想法。公會會一如既往，積極聆聽會員不同的意見，而這次諮詢亦反映出公會高度重視會員的需要。」

儘管相關決議案或會面對法律挑戰，理事會關注會員的意見及對一人一票選舉方式的訴求。理事會亦注意到就諮詢文件所列各方案的不同觀點，而這些觀點已詳列於諮詢文件的說明函件，以便持份者參考並作出知情決定。

鄭先生解釋說：「公會是根據《專業會計師條例》成立的法定機構，要改變選舉方式必須全面修訂相關法例，因此充分諮詢各方持份者的意見，以及得到政府與立法會支持，皆不可或缺的。」

理事會希望聆聽全體會員及相關持份者的意見。為此，公會將為會員及持份者舉辦論壇，講解是次諮詢的主要目標，並收集他們對選舉事宜的意見。

諮詢文件全文已上載公會網站，以供會員及持份者參閱。