Team size: 12

Key team members: Michelle Hung, Luke Fong and May Lau

Can you sum up the team culture in one sentence?

The team strives for excellence and carries out every transaction with dedication and professionalism embedded in its culture. As the company’s geographical scope and operational scale have expanded exponentially over the past few years, the legal team’s challenges have become more complex in terms of meeting compliance requirements and resolving diverse legal issues arising from investment, operation and financing structures. The legal team has adopted detailed and robust practices for routine tasks, and continues to improve them by researching, observing, studying, and sharing with some worldleading organisations and legal practitioners. Such an approach is fully aligned with the team culture, which emphasises the importance of building its capabilities and expertise through execution experience, learning from top-tier professionals and multinational corporations, and striving to develop all-rounded professionalism to navigate the fast-changing world.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives?

The legal team has taken the lead in formulating an internal control manual in response to the increasingly stringent requirements for internal control and risk management due to ESG standards. This internal control management improves key control steps, categorises risks, and clarifies the organisational structure at various levels. It represents a significant advancement in the group’s supervisory approach and provides comprehensive guidance for staff at all levels.

Ensuring a high standard of corporate governance is also a high priority for the legal team. To comply with the new code provisions of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, it has played an instrumental role in revising the Board Diversity Policy. This change grants the board the ultimate responsibility for reviewing the effectiveness of the policy periodically, which was previously included in the terms of reference of the Nomination Committee.

In response to evolving regulatory requirements, the legal team proactively conducts in-depth analyses to grasp the new ESG requirements in regions where the company operates and proposes compliance initiatives to meet the ever-growing expectations and regulations surrounding ESG disclosures. Notable contributions include the formulation of the Whistleblowing Management Rules, establishing a streamlined channel for stakeholders to raise concerns, and implementing an anti-corruption policy that underscores the importance of honesty, integrity and fairness for employees at all levels.

To further enhance corporate integrity, we ensured all company directors completed anti-corruption training. Regular training sessions also update staff members on laws and regulations to prevent bribery, fraud, and money laundering. Additionally, the legal team actively promotes sustainability training among its subsidiaries.

Through these initiatives, the legal team continues strengthening the company’s commitment to robust internal control, corporate governance, compliance and sustainability, ensuring an ethical business environment.