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Untitled - Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants

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MEMBERS UPDATES<br />

HONG KONG<br />

Winnie C. W. Cheung, chief executive <strong>of</strong> the Hong Kong<br />

Institute <strong>of</strong> CPAs, says, “The Institute, as the statutory<br />

licensing body, is m<strong>and</strong>ated by the Pr<strong>of</strong>essional <strong>Accountants</strong><br />

Ordinance to develop the st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> qualification <strong>of</strong><br />

the accounting pr<strong>of</strong>ession in Hong Kong <strong>and</strong> this agreement<br />

will help assure the central role <strong>of</strong> the CPA as we evolve<br />

as an international financial centre.”<br />

Allen Blewitt, chief executive <strong>of</strong> ACCA commented, “This<br />

agreement will mark the beginning <strong>of</strong> a new era in ACCA’s<br />

long history in Hong Kong. We look forward to working<br />

with the Institute to continue building the pr<strong>of</strong>ession here.”<br />

to achieving membership,” added Blewitt. “To recognize these<br />

differences, this new agreement contains the steps to be followed<br />

by ACCA <strong>and</strong> HKICPA members seeking membership in the<br />

other’s body.”<br />

According to Cheung, “In a nutshell, members <strong>of</strong> the ACCA must<br />

have a university degree, pass the final pr<strong>of</strong>essional examination<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Institute’s qualification programme <strong>and</strong> gain practical work<br />

experience under an Institute-authorised employer or supervisor.<br />

This way, the Institute’s three-pronged foundation <strong>of</strong> university<br />

education, post-graduate study <strong>and</strong> practical experience is<br />

maintained.”<br />

“This agreement recognizes that each body <strong>of</strong>fers different routes<br />

(Extracted from Hong Kong Institute <strong>of</strong> CPAs Website)<br />

Shortage <strong>of</strong> <strong>Accountants</strong> Found, even as Supply Grows<br />

Positive Career Prospects Tempt Many Students, Survey<br />

from the Hong Kong Institute <strong>of</strong> CPAs Shows<br />

HONG KONG, 20 September 2006 — The dem<strong>and</strong> for<br />

accountants is exceeding the supply in Hong Kong <strong>and</strong> will<br />

continue to do so if economic growth remains high, a recent<br />

market survey by the Hong Kong Institute <strong>of</strong> Certified Public<br />

<strong>Accountants</strong> shows.<br />

The study indicates that the supply <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> for accountants<br />

is growing, but dem<strong>and</strong> is growing at a faster pace, resulting in a net<br />

shortage <strong>of</strong> accountants. Based on the most recently available data<br />

from 2004, dem<strong>and</strong> for accountants is estimated at 6,544 jobs in<br />

2005, with supply from local institutions estimated at a maximum<br />

<strong>of</strong> 5,007, leaving a shortage <strong>of</strong> 1,537 accountants, or 23 percent.<br />

Winnie C.W. Cheung, chief executive <strong>of</strong> the Hong Kong<br />

Institute <strong>of</strong> CPAs, says dem<strong>and</strong> is notoriously fickle <strong>and</strong> could<br />

change within months, while the study accurately reflects the<br />

supply <strong>of</strong> accountants about to enter the market. “Many firms<br />

<strong>and</strong> companies are dealing with this talent crunch by recruiting<br />

overseas.<br />

Fortunately, the Institute’s recognition agreements with overseas<br />

accounting bodies allow Hong Kong firms to recruit from some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the best trained pr<strong>of</strong>essional accountants from around the<br />

world.”<br />

“The very high dem<strong>and</strong> for the skills <strong>of</strong> accountants is in part<br />

due to our healthy economy, but as we have seen before, that<br />

could change quickly,” adds Paul M.P. Chan, President <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Institute. “Right now, dem<strong>and</strong> is outstripping supply <strong>and</strong> the<br />

CPA qualification is valuable – not only in Hong Kong but<br />

around the world. Unfortunately, it is also resulting in long<br />

working hours for these pr<strong>of</strong>essionals.”<br />

Growing supply<br />

The number <strong>of</strong> places <strong>of</strong>fered at Hong Kong’s educational<br />

institutions for accounting studies has increased about 20<br />

percent in the last two years – from roughly 4,700 in 2004-05 to<br />

5,600 in 2006-2007 academic year, <strong>and</strong> academics polled say this<br />

will continue for the 2007-08 academic year.<br />

Academics polled (86%) say that dem<strong>and</strong> for accounting<br />

graduates is increasing, <strong>and</strong> the majority <strong>of</strong> accountants<br />

polled (74 percent) expect dem<strong>and</strong> fromChina for Hong Kong<br />

accountants to increase over the next five years.<br />

13

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