Grand opening: Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Frederick Ma officiates at the opening of the Corporate Registers Forum.

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Frederick Ma has assured that Hong Kong will deal firmly with those who breach companies and securities laws, adding that an ingrained sense of fair play underpins its level playing field for business.

Launching the three-day Corporate Registers Forum hosted by the Companies Registry today, Mr Ma said Hong Kong has a robust regulatory regime with requirements on a par with international standards.

"To enhance investor confidence in market quality, we place a lot of importance on safeguarding investors' interests," he said. "Effective enforcement is as important as, if not more important than, a sound regulatory framework."

The forum, with themes of 'Corporate Compliance' and 'The Role of Companies & Business Registries in Promoting Economic & Business Development', provides an opportunity for corporate registers from all over the world to meet and review the latest developments.

Good governance

Registrar of Companies Gordon Jones said companies and business registries play an important role in the commercial and financial infrastructures of any country. They are also key to promoting business development and ensuring good corporate governance and compliance.

Registrars of companies or their equivalents from 20 jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa and the UK will share their insights and experiences at the forum.

Officials from the Mainland's State and Municipal Administrations for Industry & Commerce in Beijing and Shanghai are also participating, while members of the European Commerce Register's Forum, the organisation for the Commerce Registers of Europe, are attending as observers.