• New publication updates market on Stock Exchange's enforcement work
• New series of director training webcasts covers risk management, internal controls and ESG reporting
• Aim of newsletter and webcasts is to provide guidance to issuers and directors

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the Exchange), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), today published its first Enforcement Newsletter.  The newsletter will be published twice a year, and will include news and updates on the enforcement work undertaken by the Exchange.

This issue covers the first six months of 2017 and includes:

• Enforcement statistics for the first half of the year;
• Disciplinary actions completed and published during the first half of the year; and
• Compliance highlights from the first half of the year - compliance issues observed during the Exchange's investigation of suspected breaches of the Listing Rules 

The Exchange has also launched its second director training webcasts.  The new series, entitled "Risk Management and Internal Control, ESG Reporting", covers the following seven topics, each explained in a 4-10 minute video:

• Identify and assess risks
• Control systems
• Annual and ongoing review
• Audit committee and internal audit function;
• "Comply or explain" – how to do it properly?
• Managing ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) risks – an investor’s perspective
• Practical tips

Webcast speakers Nicholas Charles Allen, Chairman, Link Asset Management Limited (manager of Link REIT); Philip Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Hang Lung Properties Limited; Kelvin Wong, Immediate Past Chairman, The Hong Kong Institute of Directors; and Marina Wong, Independent Non-Executive Director, Kerry Logistics Network Ltd share the valuable experience and perspectives they acquired from their directorships. The other speaker, Christine Chow, Associate Director, Hermes Investment Management, adds an investor’s perspective. The Exchange would like to thank the speakers, the Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies and Hong Kong Institute of Directors for their support on the webcast.

"We hope that the Enforcement Newsletter will together with our Director Training Programme provide guidance to issuers and directors.  Effective risk management and internal control systems with proper monitoring is essential to the sustainability of a company; we urge directors to set the right tone at the top, by demonstrating the necessary commitment to risk management and internal control so as to embed an appropriate level of risk culture throughout the company," said David Graham, HKEX's Chief Regulatory Officer and Head of Listing.

Ends