ACCA Hong Kong’s Annual Conference 2025 – entitled ‘Smart Investing: Positioning Assets, Enterprises and Talent for Success’ – sought to empower accounting and finance professionals to navigate uncertainties and seize opportunities. The event, held in June, brought together speakers and experts to explore topics on asset optimisation, business transformation and talent development.
‘This annual conference is ACCA Hong Kong’s flagship event, coinciding with our 75th anniversary,’ said Stanley Ho FCCA, chairman of ACCA Hong Kong, in his welcome address. ‘Over the years, ACCA has been instrumental in developing the accounting profession here, cultivating globally minded finance and accounting professionals and driving continuous industry growth.’
Ho pointed to the evolving nature of the accounting and finance profession, which now encompasses much more than traditional bookkeeping and financial reporting. ‘Accounting and finance professionals play an important role in shaping corporate strategy and promoting sustainable development within society,’ he said.
‘Success demands both visionary thinking and decisive action’
‘As Hong Kong navigates geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation and technological disruptions, this conference serves as a high-level forum where industry leaders can exchange strategic insights and collaboratively chart the course for the future,’ said Ho. ‘Success in asset management, business operations and talent development demands both visionary thinking and decisive action.’
Lessons from a lifetime
As the conference’s guest of honour, Professor Frederick Ma, GBS, JP, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and FWD Group, shared the wisdom and lessons learned from his more than 70 years of life experience. In his opening address, Ma took the audience on a journey through the remarkable transformations he has witnessed, one of which is the advancements in technology.
‘Take business communication, for example. We have gone from telex to fax machines and now to email. I recall having to arrive at the office early in the morning just to make overseas calls, waiting for staff to connect us with colleagues in New York. Now, all of that can be done instantly on a smartphone,’ he said.
Drawing lessons from South Korea’s resilience during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Ma praised the country’s ‘lion rock spirit’ and determination. ‘I’ll never forget how the Korean people came together and launched a nationwide gold collection campaign to help pay off their country’s debt. Today, their country is a powerhouse, excelling in both economic strength and cultural influence,’ he said.
Building on these examples, Ma stressed the importance of ongoing progress. ‘Whether you’re talking about individuals, regions or organisations, the key to success is continuous improvement and progress,’ he stated.
‘I’ve never seen an arrogant person achieve true success or happiness’
As a testament to his commitment to progress, Ma reflected on his role as the visionary force behind the inaugural Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong back in 2007. Since then, the AFF has become a flagship financial event in the Special Administrative Region.
Looking to the future, Ma put forth a proposal to strengthen industry collaboration in AFF. ‘Every organisation needs to innovate and improve. If you don’t, you risk being left behind,’ he said.
Healthy outlook
Finding inspiration in Steve Jobs’s renowned quote, ‘Stay hungry, stay foolish,’ Ma shared the importance of personal growth and remaining humble. ‘Jobs was fired from his own company, went on to found Pixar and later revolutionised technology with the iPhone,’ he said. ‘His path wasn’t smooth sailing. He faced numerous challenges before achieving success.’
Ma shared that he has had his fair share of highs and lows, saying that he has spent a good amount of time contemplating what it means to ‘stay foolish’, which he said means ‘recognising how vast the world is and acknowledging how many talented people are out there, never assuming you’re the smartest person in the room,’ he explained. Staying hungry, he added, is equally crucial: ‘If we’re content with the status quo and never push ourselves, progress will stagnate,’ he said.
‘To me, all this means staying humble and avoiding arrogance. In my experience, I’ve never seen an arrogant person achieve true success or happiness.’
When it comes to investment in life itself, Ma offered two pieces of advice. ‘First and foremost, invest in your health. As I’ve aged, I’ve come to understand that this investment becomes increasingly costly and challenging,’ he said. ‘It involves being mindful of your diet and maintaining a regular exercise routine.’
The second essential investment is becoming ‘rich at heart’. Ma acknowledged that while there are many wealthy people in the world and having enough money to live comfortably is important, as it expands one’s possibilities, money isn’t everything.
‘Being “rich at heart” means contributing to society, helping others and working to make the world a better place. It’s about finding genuine happiness,’ said Ma, sharing that one of his greatest joys is seeing someone he has mentored since their youth go on to make their mark in the world.
‘What truly matters is having something meaningful to contribute to society,’ he concluded.
