Since its establishment in 1973, the HKICPA has been instrumental in shaping the accounting landscape in Hong Kong and beyond. Through the tireless efforts and immeasurable contributions of our members, the Institute has continuously enhanced professional standards, advanced industry development, and contributed to Hong Kong's success as an international financial centre.
Join us as we explore the key milestones that have shaped the HKICPA over the past half-century.
The Hong Kong Society of Accountants is established as Hong Kong's first statutory professional accounting body
The Hong Kong Society of Accountants' first annual general meeting is held at City Hall
The Hong Kong Society of Accountants makes its international debut at a conference
Joins the International Accounting Standards Committee
Enters international arena as an associate member of the International Accounting Standards Committee, the predecessor of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
The-then Financial Secretary Sir Philip Haddon-Cave attends the annual dinner of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants
Joins IFAC as a founding member
Becomes a founding member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
Membership surpasses 1,000
Membership surpasses 1,000, given the growing popularity of and demand for accountants
Launches the First Long-Range Plan
Develops the First Long-Range Plan, calling for the society to be more outward-looking and community oriented
First self-owned office is put into service
Officially visits the Mainland for the first time, positioning itself as the bridge between China and the rest of the world
Introduces practice review to increase public confidence in the profession
Signs memorandum of cooperation with the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants to boost exchanges between the profession in both places
Issues first report on corporate governance to promote the notion that prevention of commercial fraud begins with company directors
Membership surpasses 10,000
Membership surpasses the 10,000 mark
Launches the Accountant Ambassador programme to help the community
Launches a free advisory service on accounting for individuals and small businesses
Organizes a delegation to the 1997 World Congress of Accountants
Introduces Qualification Programme (QP), which is Hong Kong’s first home-grown training and certification programme for accountants
Inaugurates the Best Corporate Governance Disclosure Awards to set governance benchmarks in Hong Kong
Establishes a charitable fund to provide financial aid to the needy
Hosts the World Congress of Accountants
Signs multiple reciprocal membership agreements with global accounting bodies for mutual recognition of QP
Renames itself the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
The Institute's members are given the globally respected designation of "Certified Public Accountant" (CPA) as a result of the Institute's renaming
Completes international convergence of Hong Kong’s accounting, auditing and ethical standards
Becomes a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), which represents 700,000 accountants worldwide
Introduces the QP in the Mainland
Introduces the Qualification Programme (QP) in the Mainland to provide worldwide-recognized accounting training to Chinese students
“Rich Kid, Poor Kid” debuts to mobilize CPAs to visit schools to teach students the right kind of money values and skills
Opens its office in Beijing to enhance support to members as more of them are working across the border
Signs a joint declaration with Mainland counterparts on standards convergence, paving the way for China's full adoption of international rules
Mutual Examination Exemption arrangement between the Institute and the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants is expanded
Membership surpasses 30,000
Membership surpasses the 30,000 mark
The first specialist qualification and designation in insolvency
Offers the first specialist qualification and designation in insolvency
Launches “CPAs for NGOs” programme
Introduces “CPAs for NGOs” programme to help local charity organizations improve their financial reporting and governance
Sets up Guangzhou Liaison Office
Membership surpasses 40,000
Membership surpasses the 40,000 mark
Signs a Statement of Protocol on oversight arrangements with the Financial Reporting Council
Rolls out the new Qualification Programme, comprising three progressive levels with 14 modules and a Capstone workshop
Joins 13 other accounting bodies, all members of Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), in publicly committing to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within our own organizations
The Institute hosts CPA Conference amid the pandemic themed "Transcending together"
Renames Best Corporate Governance Awards to the the Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards, refocusing the annual Award to recognize organizations integrating CG & ESG practices
Working together as part of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), signs the call to action “Nature is Everyone’s Business” with other world’s leading accountancy institutes to signal the important role the profession plays in nature crisis
The Institute celebrates its golden jubilee
