The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has published Chairman Kelvin Wong’s panel remarks at the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Regional Regulatory Forum 2026, emphasizing that reliable financial reporting and independent audits underpin investor confidence and Hong Kong’s standing as an international financial center. The central message was that regulation cannot replace the professional judgment and accountability of those preparing, overseeing and auditing financial information.
Preparers, boards, audit committees and auditors each have distinct responsibilities for the integrity of financial reporting. Regulatory standards must be complemented by professional skepticism, ethical conduct and responsible leadership so investors can distinguish actual performance from promises and assess sustainable value. Geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological change and evolving audit delivery models present common challenges across jurisdictions, alongside growing pressure on professional judgment.