The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) has released exposure drafts of HKFRS S1 and S2 for public consultation, aimed at aligning local sustainability disclosure standards with the global International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). These standards, set for implementation in August 2025, focus on ESG-related financial disclosures, especially climate-related data. The new requirements will impact publicly accountable entities, such as listed companies, financial institutions, and regulated organizations, further solidifying Hong Kong’s commitment to a robust carbon neutral strategy. 

The release is a part of Hong Kong’s broader ESG efforts, echoing its Vision Statement from March 2024, which aims to position Hong Kong as a global leader in sustainability reporting. The HK Sustainability Disclosure Standards will require entities to report sustainability-related financial disclosures as part of their general financial reports, ensuring consistency and transparency across financial and environmental data. This alignment also supports a comprehensive carbon neutral strategy by encouraging sustainable investments and transparency. 

In addition, the exposure drafts propose full convergence with ISSB’s global standards, emphasizing proportionality mechanisms to ease the transition for companies. As part of this, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s (HKEX) climate-related disclosure requirements, set to begin for financial years starting January 2025, will serve as a transitional step, preparing listed entities for the full adoption of these new standards. 

The consultation process will close on October 27, 2024, and final standards are expected by the end of 2024. HKICPA plans to develop capacity-building programs to support organizations with data collection, reporting, and the integration of ESG and carbon neutral strategies into their operations. These developments reflect Hong Kong’s increasing focus on fostering a sustainable, transparent business environment. 

Sources:  

https://sustainablefutures.linklaters.com/post/102jl7v/hong-kong-sar-publishes-exposure-drafts-of-two-hong-kong-sustainability-disclosur 

https://www.hkicpa.org.hk/en/News/News-Release/20240916_HKFRS-S1_S2 

https://www.iasplus.com/en/news/2024/09/hkicpa-eds 

https://viewpoint.pwc.com/dt/us/en/pwc/news-and alerts/news/News/hongkongsustainability.html