30 September 2026
The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) hosted the Inter-Institutional Development Scheme (IIDS) Conference on 24 September 2026 on campus, under the theme “Bridging Theory and Industry Practice: Advancing ESG Excellence in Hong Kong and Beyond”. The conference brought together academics, government officials, regulators, and industry leaders to exchange perspectives on the latest developments in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in Hong Kong and beyond.
The conference was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Project No. UGC/IIDS14/B01/25). Dr Pauline Wong, Assistant Professor of the Department of Accountancy, is the Principal Investigator of the project, with Professor Phyllis Mo, Head and Professor of the Department of Accountancy, serving as the Co-Investigator.
Guest of Honour, Mr Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government, delivered a keynote address highlighting Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing green and sustainable finance. He said, “Being Asia’s leading international financial centre, Hong Kong is also rising as the international green finance hub of the region. The Government is committed to creating a robust ecosystem that encourages ESG integration, and forums like this are crucial for fostering the public-private collaboration needed to achieve our green and sustainable finance ambitions.”
The conference also featured keynote presentations by Professor Agnes Tai, Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong and Director of Great Glory Investment Corporation, on “The HK/China Regulatory Landscape”, and Professor Kerstin Lopatta, Chair Professor of Financial Accounting, Auditing and Sustainability at the University of Hamburg, on “EU’s Role in Sustainability”.
Four panel sessions explored key aspects of ESG, including evolving global and local regulatory requirements, AI-enabled ESG disclosure, assurance and compliance, and the integration of academic research with business practice. Speakers exchanged views on how regulation, technology and cross-sector collaboration can support more effective ESG practices.
