see also...
ACCA Hong Kong committee
The Committee, supported by a number of sub-committees, advises on the direction of ACCA Hong Kong and the various activities to be organised for local ACCA members and students. Details of the sub-committees are as follows:
Activities and Community Services
The sub-committee provides valuable ideas and advices on different types of activities to be organised for members including monthly luncheons, Halloween party, golf classes, grooming workshops, social dance classes, excursion activities, family events and sport events. It also suggests arrangements for study trips for members and liaises with regional accountancy bodies. An Annual Dinner is also held with the aim of promoting links among members. The main objective is to promote fellowship among the large membership within Hong Kong through study trips, social and recreational activities. It also helps sourcing different special offers for members.
As a professional body, ACCA firmly believes that it has an active role to play in arousing the attention of the public towards any unfairness in society and in extending a helping hand towards the underprivileged. Since 1997, the sub-committee has helped to put in place seven successful charity fun days to help raise funds for the less privileged in the community. A couple of charitable organisations are selected as beneficiaries each year. The up-coming Charity Fun Day will take place on 19 December 2004 at Chater Road Sunday Pedestrian Zone.
Since 2002, a Community Services Interest Group has been set up to promote the concept of responsible citizens among ACCA members. In the past two years, visits, outings and green activities were organised. The Group also participated in volunteer works organised by other charitable organisations.
China affairs sub-committee
The rapid economic development of Mainland China provides tremendous business opportunities for Hong Kong. To enable ACCA members to grasp the opportunities in tapping the vast Mainland market and to meet the new challenges ahead, the Mainland China Affairs Sub-committee has been set up since 2004 to provide support to members who wish to enhance their understanding of the current development in Mainland China and business practices of doing business and/ or working in Mainland China.
Members' Journal
This sub-committee is responsible for the quarterly journal - Perspective for Hong Kong members. The current circulation is over 18,500 which covers all ACCA members and affiliates in Hong Kong. The sub-committee acts as an editorial board and has control over both the content and advertising in the journal. Contribution of articles for Perspective is most welcome but the sub-committee reserves the right to edit and to decline any articles. Subscription to Perspective is open to ACCA students and ACCA members who are not residing in Hong Kong.
Professional Development
From 1 January 2005, ACCA will be introducing a continuing professional development (CPD) requirement for members. The new scheme known as ACCA Realise will help ensuring members to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills. More continuing professional development (CPD) events will be organised by this sub-committee in the future to cope with the growing needs of members. Apart from advising on topics and subject matter for technical seminars and workshops; it will also assess other training needs of members including language, IT, management and other soft skills so as to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skill sets for their day-to-day work.
Focus will also be placed on China related issues in the coming CPD events in order to assist members to keep abreast of the latest information related to doing business in China after its accession to WTO. Also, the newly formed PRC interest group will fall within its remit.
SME
SMEs form the backbone of Hong Kong's economy. The Sub-committee was established to look into ways in which accounting professionals can provide support to SMEs. It also establishes networking with other SME organisations and efforts will be made to raise members' and the public's awareness of the needs of SMEs.
Student Affairs
Student Affairs Sub-com is established with an aim to give advice on student services, development and training, to promote sense of belonging amongst students, to promote networking and to enhance benefits to students. The examples of supporting exam studies are technical seminars, focus groups hosted by sub-com members or other volunteered ACCA members, articles on News Update and post-exam review sessions. Social activities organised to provide networking channels like happy hour gathering, graduation ceremony, study trip, golf fun day and dolphin watch tour.
Tax
The Tax Sub-committee was set up to make submissions to the government on tax issues particularly in relation to the Government's Annual Budget and to take various initiatives in relation to tax. Since December 1997, ACCA Hong Kong has submitted its Budget Proposals to the Financial Secretary on an annual basis.
A Tax Interest Group (TIG) was formed in 1998 to enable interested members to come together periodically to share tax related experience, discuss taxation problems they face and bring to others' attention issues of significance. To facilitate effective discussion, the TIG members are split into sub-groups which meet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis.
In response to an initiative taken by the Inland Revenue Department, ACCA HK has been offering Free Tax Advisory Services to the public to assist them in the completion of individual income tax returns since May 1999. Members are invited to volunteer their service through service hotlines and counters in May each year. Service counters are usually set up at various shopping malls throughout Hong Kong. Approximately 1,000 citizens made use of service in May 2004.
Members are welcome to run for annual election for the Committee and to join any of the sub-committees. For details, please contact the staff of ACCA Hong Kong .