HK International ESG Alliance established today

A ceremony marking the establishment of the Hong Kong International ESG Alliance and the launch of the "Hong Kong ESG List Annual Assessment", co-organized by the Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group (TKWW), China Certification & Accreditation Group, the University of Hong Kong's School of Business and Peking University's HSBC Finance Academy, was held today (Aug. 16) at the omnimedia center of TKWW Media Group.

Li Dahong, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the TKWW Media Group, said in his speech that sustainable development of mankind is a hot topic of global concern, and the concept of ESG was born as a result of this, which advocates a balanced development of the environment, society, and governance in a multi-dimensional manner.

The concept also coincides with the initiatives put forward by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that "high-quality development is the first and foremost task of building a modern socialist country," as well as the strategic idea of constructing a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

Li said that ESG concepts are being rapidly popularized and developed in the Mainland and Hong Kong. Under such circumstances, all parties in the industry, be they listed companies, banks or investors, are in urgent need of an ESG rating system that is not only in line with international standards, but also able to objectively show the development status of Chinese enterprises. Currently, although there are many ESG-related institutions, organizations and ratings, there is still a lack of a professional, fair and authoritative rating system. and relevant standards and rating systems are still dominated by developed countries in Europe and the United States, he added.

He said that TKWW Media Group, together with China Certification & Inspection Group, the University of Hong Kong's China Business School and Peking University's HSBC Institute for Financial Research, established the Hong Kong International ESG Alliance and organized the first "Hong Kong ESG Ranking Annual Awards" event, which brought together the most authoritative organizations and experts in the ESG field, and leveraged on TKWW's platform to establish ESG assessment standards and continue to promote and practice ESG sustainability.

"We will continue to promote and practice the concept of ESG sustainable development, enhance the overall ESG management standard of enterprises, and establish the ESG leadership of Chinese enterprises in the international competition," he said.

Li said that ESG is a value that needs to be persistently and continuously practiced. "Together with its media partners, TKWW Media Group will continue to educate and publicize the concept of ESG sustainability."

Also speaking at the launching ceremony, Zhang Jian, Chairman of China Certification & Inspection Co., Ltd. said that the company, as one of the founding members of the Hong Kong International ESG Alliance, will provide professional and technical support for the development and implementation of ESG standards, ensure the credibility of the ESG rating system, and help the alliance to establish effective connections and cooperation with global ESG organizations and experts.

As one of the co-organizers, the University of Hong Kong's China School of Business will also give full play to its strengths in business education and research, and provide professional support and intellectual contribution to the annual evaluation of the Hong Kong ESG Ranking and the construction and development of the Hong Kong International ESG Alliance, said Dr. Yeung Sze-ming, Associate Dean of the University's China School of Business.

Li Di, Associate Dean of the HSBC Finance Institute at Peking University, said that the University of Hong Kong and Peking University are world-renowned institutions of higher learning and research, with in-depth research on ESG. The annual awards will make useful contributions to the construction of a more efficient and reasonable ESG evaluation system through the strong alliance between the two parties, with Hong Kong's perspective, backed by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and radiating to the Greater China region, he said.

At the launching ceremony, the Hong Kong International ESG Alliance was officially established, and Wang Kaibo, Vice Chairman of Dagong Wenhua Media Group, read out the declaration of the alliance.

Wang also announced the establishment of an expert committee for the awards. The Expert Committee has a full lineup of highly authoritative members, including: Ba Shusong, Managing Director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), Chief Economist of China Banking Association and Chief China Economist; Ma Jun, President of Green Development Institute, Chairman and President of Hong Kong Green Finance Association, and member of the Expert Group of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit of Hong Kong; Shi Han, Director of ESG Center of the School of Business, University of Hong Kong; Shi Yichen, Deputy Director of the Institute of Green Finance of Central University of Finance and Economics; and Shi Yichen, Deputy Director of the Institute of Green Finance at the Central University of Finance and Economics. Shi Yichen, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Green Finance, Central University of Finance and Economics (CFU); and Liu Xuexin, Professor, Doctoral Instructor and Dean of the School of Business Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business (CUET), and Executive Director of the China ESG Institute, CUET.

The "Hong Kong ESG List Annual Awards" is now open for application, and Organic Data Corporation will provide technical support for the awards.