HKEX Mandatory Requirements
1
Rule 3.09F — All directors must receive continuous professional development (CPD) in each financial year. The listed issuer is responsible for arranging and funding appropriate training.
2
Rule 3.09G — CPD must cover at least these 5 topics: (1) Board roles & effectiveness; (2) Issuer obligations & directors' duties under HK law and Listing Rules; (3) Corporate governance and ESG; (4) Risk management & internal controls; (5) Industry-specific developments and business trends.
3
Rule 3.29 — Company Secretaries (including Joint Company Secretaries) must complete no less than 15 hours of relevant professional training each financial year.
4
First-time Directors — Must complete minimum 24 training hours within 18 months of appointment (12 hours if relevant prior experience).
HKEX FAQ: "The Exchange does not specify the format of director training." Different types of training may be counted as CPD, provided that the topics fall within the scope of Rule 3.09G. The issuer discloses training details (hours, format, topics, provider) in the annual report.
HKEX CPD Hours at a Glance 董事及公司秘書 CPD 時數一覽
| Role 身份 | HKEX Requirement 聯交所要求 | This Course 本課程 |
|---|
Existing directors
現任董事 | CPD every financial year (3.09F). No fixed minimum hours — the board judges sufficiency; market benchmark 15–20h/year | Foundation 17h ✓
Advanced 20h ✓ |
First-time directors (no relevant experience)
首次委任董事（無相關經驗） | Minimum 24 hours within 18 months of appointment | Advanced 20h + add-on hours / corporate package ✓ |
First-time directors (relevant experience)
首次委任董事（具相關經驗） | Minimum 12 hours within 18 months of appointment | Foundation 17h — exceeds requirement ✓ |
Company Secretaries incl. Joint (3.29)
公司秘書（含聯席） | No less than 15 hours of relevant professional training each financial year | Foundation 17h — fully meets ✓ |
Annual report disclosure (C.1.1)
年報披露 | Disclose total hours, format, topics, and provider description | Certificate states all elements ✓ |
CPD hours note: Foundation Plan 17h / Advanced Plan 20h are stated on the Certificate of Attendance. The Listing Rules prescribe no approved training provider — HKEX does not accredit courses; the issuer's board judges whether training is appropriate and discloses directors' training records (hours, format, topics, provider) in the Corporate Governance Report of the annual report.
Two plans covering all 5 mandatory HKEX topics — choose based on your training needs
Pricing
Certificate of Attendance included — issued to each named participant
| Plan / Certificate |
Fee per Certificate
每張證書費用 |
| Foundation Plan (17h) 基礎計劃 |
HK$4,000 |
| Advanced Plan (20h) 進階計劃 |
HK$4,000 |
| Extra certificate / add-on hours |
HK$4,000 |
| Corporate package (10+ certificates) |
Negotiable 面議 |
List price — discounts available for multiple certificates, corporate packages and long-term partnerships. WhatsApp +852 4423 7445 to negotiate.
Certificate of Attendance
Each participant receives a Certificate of Attendance upon completion, stating participant name, topics covered, training hours, date, and provider. This certificate can be used by listed issuers for HKEX annual report disclosure of directors' training status.
Named Certificate
Individual certificate per participant with full topic breakdown
CPD Hours Recorded
15h or 18h — meets or exceeds HKEX requirements
Annual Report Ready
Issuer can disclose training hours, format, topics, and provider
Flexible Format
Mandarin video (online) or in-person at Star House TST
D&O Training Faculty
Course Director Ivan Leung leads the programme. Specialist topic sessions are delivered by invited guest practitioners — qualified company secretaries, lawyers, and compliance professionals engaged per topic.
IL
Ivan Leung 梁煒堃
Course Director · HKCGI Chartered Company Secretary (CGP)
HKCGI Chartered Company Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional (2023), Master of Corporate Governance, member of the Hong Kong Independent Non-Executive Directors Association (HKINED). 17+ years in investor relations and listing compliance — assisted Baguio Green Group's 2015 HKEX listing; senior executive at KPI Commercial Consultancy overseeing company secretarial, valuation and audit advisory services. Has delivered 200+ workshops across Hong Kong, Mainland China and Macau for CUHK, PolyU, HKMA, ERB and listed companies.
HKCGI Chartered Co. Secretary · CGP
Master of Corporate Governance
HKINED Member
200+ Workshops
Baguio Green 2015 IPO
VI
Victor Ip
ESG & Sustainability · CFA ESG
MBA Finance, CFA ESG Investing certificate holder with 8+ years in sustainability reporting. Delivers Topic C (corporate governance and ESG matters) including climate-related disclosures aligned with HKEX mandatory ESG requirements.
MBA Finance
CFA ESG
Topic C
All trainers are engaged as session instructors for their respective topic areas. The programme director reserves the right to substitute trainers of equivalent qualification. Trainer assignments are confirmed at the start of each cohort.
Full Curriculum — All 5 HKEX Mandatory Topics
A Board Roles, Functions & Responsibilities, and Board Effectiveness
A1 Establishment of Board committees and their role, function and responsibilities1.0h
A2 Board effectiveness and periodic performance review1.0h
A3 Change of auditors1.0h
A4 Change of director1.0h
B Issuers' Obligations & Directors' Duties under HK Law and Listing Rules
B1 Hong Kong Companies Ordinance re-domiciliation regime1.0h
B2 New compliance requirements, including Beneficial Ownership regime for BVI companies1.0h
B3 Sharing of regulatory periodic / quarterly update and enforcement cases1.0h
B4 Practical tips for continuing obligation for A+H shares company from a company secretary perspective1.0h
B5 Court-free capital reduction for Hong Kong private limited companies1.0h
B6 Practical tips for closing down inactive HK companies via deregistration or members' voluntary liquidation0.75h
C Corporate Governance & ESG Matters
C1 Practical tips on holding an effective shareholders' meeting1.0h
C2 New corporate governance updates (Part 1)0.75h
C3 New corporate governance updates (Part 2)0.75h
C4 HKEx review of issuers' annual reports 20240.75h
C5 Practical tips on climate-related disclosures1.0h
D Risk Management & Internal Controls
D1 Risk management and internal controls 1011.0h
E Advanced: Company Secretarial & Compliance (Advanced Plan only)
E1 Company secretarial compliance calendar and essentials: (a) Annual compliance timetable; (b) Directors' securities dealings; (c) Share buyback; (d) Overseas regulatory compliance1.5h
E2 Equity incentive & share option schemes (Chapter 17)1.5h
F Industry & Technology — Rule 3.09G Topic 5 (both plans)
F1 Industry developments, trends and strategy — customised to the issuer's industry (e.g. consumer manufacturing & packaging: market landscape, raw material & FX costs, environmental regulation & ESG disclosure, export vs domestic strategy)1.0h
F2 Artificial intelligence × industry applications & board decision-making — AI in production, supply chain, customers and compliance; board-level AI governance and directors' duties1.0h
How We Compare
HKEX does not require approved providers — all providers below can deliver valid CPD training. The difference is price, format, and flexibility.
| Feature |
Easy Solution (Us) |
Vistra 卓佳 |
HKIoD 香港董事學會 |
HKCGI 香港公司治理公會 |
BMIPTC 邦盟匯駿 |
| HKEX 3.09G — all 5 topics covered |
✓ All 5 |
✓ All 5 |
✓ All 5 |
✓ All 5 |
✓ All 5 |
| Certificate of Attendance |
✓ Issued |
✓ Issued |
✓ Issued |
✓ Issued |
✓ Issued |
| HKEX-recognized provider |
No pre-approval needed
HKEX: "no specific requirement on provider" |
No pre-approval
Same as all |
Industry body
Self-referenced |
Industry body
SFC recommended |
Claims HKEX recognition
Same rule applies |
| Plan hours |
15h / 18h |
15h / 18h |
10–20h/yr
per-topic credits |
Package-based |
2h per topic
pick & choose |
| Starting price (1 person) |
HK$4,000 |
HK$5,800 |
HK$1,500–3,000
per individual class |
Member/non-member
seminar pricing |
Custom quote
per topic |
| Bulk pricing (10 certs) |
HK$4,000/cert
bulk negotiable 包班面議 |
HK$33,800
same |
Pay per class
no bulk package |
Member discount
per seminar |
Custom quote |
| Delivery format |
Mandarin video + in-person TST |
Mandarin video |
In-person / online
Cantonese/English/Mandarin |
In-person / online
English/Cantonese |
In-person
Cantonese/Mandarin |
| Physical venue included |
✓ Star House TST
30 seats, projector, WiFi |
—
video only |
✓ Own premises |
✓ Selected venues |
Client's office
client arranges |
| Company Secretary 3.29 (15h) |
✓ Covered (17h/20h) |
✓ Covered |
✓ Separate courses |
✓ Covered |
✓ Separate topics |
| First-time director (24h in 18 months) |
✓ Advanced 20h + experience |
✓ 18h + experience |
✓ Diploma pathway |
✓ Package covers |
✓ Custom topics |
| Booking flexibility |
Online booking + WA |
Contact executives |
Online registration |
Online registration |
Phone/email |
| Curriculum structure |
Fixed 15-topic curriculum
structured & comprehensive |
Fixed 15-topic curriculum
same structure |
Credits programme
build your own path |
Seminar series
attend individually |
Pick & choose topics
2h each, flexible |
Why Easy Solution is a smart choice
- ✓ Same curriculum as Vistra at the same price — but we add a physical TST venue for in-person sessions
- ✓ Bulk pricing advantage: HK$3,380/person for 10 certificates — cheaper than attending 5 individual HKIoD classes
- ✓ All-in-one structured curriculum — no need to pick individual seminars and hope they add up to 15h
- ✓ HKEX explicitly states no provider pre-approval is required — our Certificate of Attendance is valid for annual report disclosure
- ✓ Mandarin video + optional in-person at Star House TST — flexibility Vistra (video-only) and BMIPTC (client arranges venue) don't offer
- ✓ Covers both Rule 3.09F (directors) and Rule 3.29 (company secretaries) in one course
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HKEX require training from approved providers only?
No. HKEX explicitly states: "The Exchange does not specify the format of director training" and there is no prescribed or approved provider list. Any provider can deliver CPD training as long as the topics fall within the scope of Rule 3.09G. The listed issuer is responsible for determining whether the training is appropriate and disclosing details in the annual report.
What does the Certificate of Attendance include?
The certificate states the participant's name, training topics covered (mapped to the 5 mandatory areas in Rule 3.09G), total training hours, date of completion, format (video/in-person), and provider name (Easy Solution HK Limited, BR 68468987). This information can be used directly for annual report disclosure.
Is the 17-hour Foundation Plan enough for HKEX compliance?
HKEX does not set a minimum number of hours for existing directors — the requirement is that training covers all 5 mandatory topics and is of sufficient quality. The 17-hour Foundation Plan covers all 5 topics. Industry benchmarks (HKIoD, HKCGI) suggest 15–20 hours per year. First-time directors need 24 hours within 18 months (the 20-hour Advanced Plan combined with prior experience may meet this).
Can Company Secretaries use this training for Rule 3.29 compliance?
Yes. Rule 3.29 requires Company Secretaries to complete no less than 15 hours of relevant professional training each financial year. The Foundation Plan (15 hours) meets this threshold, and the Advanced Plan (20 hours) exceeds it.
What language is the training delivered in?
Mandarin (video format). In-person sessions at Star House TST can be arranged in Cantonese or English upon request. Contact us for custom arrangements.
Can we train multiple directors from the same company?
Yes. We offer tiered pricing for 1, 2, or 10 certificates. Each director receives an individual Certificate of Attendance. For bulk bookings or custom corporate arrangements, contact us via WhatsApp 4423 7445.