26 September 2019
Mr Charles Li Xiaojia
Chief Executive Officer Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited 8/F, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
Dear Mr. Li,
Re: Consultation Paper on the Codification of General Waivers and Principles Relating to IPOs and Listed Issuers and Minor Rule Amendments
The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce welcomes the opportunity to express our views on the subject consultation.
Our comments relate mainly to the proposed relaxation of the requirements for appointment as a company secretary as currently given under Listing Rule 3.28 (“Rule 3.28”). We are concerned about the consequences that such a change would bring given that the role of a company secretary has transitioned from a historically supportive role to one that holds key legal advisory responsibilities and is crucial to maintaining the high standards of governance within a corporation that are required by the SFC and Monetary Authority.
Changes to this aspect of the Listing Rules could also have adverse effects to the integrity and international standing of Hong Kong as a place to list.
We hope you will find our comments useful to your deliberations.
Yours sincerely,
Shirley Yuen
CEO
Encl.
HKEX’s Consultation Paper on Codification of General Waivers and Principles relating to IPOs and Listed Issuers and Minor Rule Amendments August 2019 (Consultation Paper)
Response from Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC)
HKGCC would like to express its views on one of the proposals in the Consultation Paper, namely the proposal to introduce an express power on the part of HKEX to waive the requirements of Main Board Listing Rule 3.28 (Rule 3.28) for appointment as a company secretary (such waiver being for a limited period and subject to certain criteria being satisfied).[1] HKGCC does not support this proposal for the following reasons:
(a) The factors according to which the precise length of the waiver period would be assessed are rather arbitrary and subjective, and would run the risk of raising unnecessary disputes;
(b) There is an assumption that the maximum period of three years would be sufficient for the company secretary to acquire the relevant qualifications and experience required under Rule 3.28. However, no justification or explanation has been given to support such an assumption. Company secretaries require a high level of experience and expertise, and three years might not be sufficient to acquire the level of experience and expertise in many cases. Further would there be any assessment at the end of the three-year period as to whether the person was capable of discharging the functions of the position, and if so, who would conduct it?
(c) What would the “assistance” of the “Qualified Person” (during what would effectively appear to be a training period) consist of, and would there be any monitoring as to whether that assistance was being carried out properly?
In conclusion, for all the above reasons, we recommend that the proposed amendment to Rule 3.28 be withdrawn.
HKGCC Secretariat
[1] CP paras 66-71. The fact that we have not commented on other proposals in the CP should not be taken as either approval or disapproval of those proposals.
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