Progress isn’t parity — let’s aim higher

Hong Kong is making important strides in board gender diversity. Thanks to HKEX rule changes and industry efforts, the percentage of issuers with all-male boards has dropped from 40% in 2022 to under 1% today – remarkable progress in just a few years.

This momentum is encouraging, but progress is not parity. Women hold 20% of Hang Seng Index board seats –still behind regional peers: Australia (39%) , Japan (24%) , Malaysia (33%) and Singapore (26%) . One challenge is that over half of issuers have just one woman on their board . To accelerate progress, we must move beyond the ‘one and done’ mindset and strive for meaningful female representation on every board.

Why does this matter?

Because diversity is a hallmark of good governance — and strong governance supports resilience, sustainable development and Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international financial hub. Boards face disruption from technology, sustainability pressures, and shifting workforce expectations. Navigating these changes calls for broader perspectives and sharper debate—both of which require diversity.

On June 15, TWF and the 30% Club Hong Kong are hosting our 30% Club Boardroom Annual Event to celebrate progress and maintain momentum — featuring influential voices from the board ecosystem:

Susan Chan, Senior Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific, BlackRock
Cordelia Chung, Independent Non-Executive Director, Hang Seng Bank Limited
Irene Lee, Chair, Hysan Development; Independent Director, Alibaba Group Holding Limited; Chair, 30% Club Hong Kong
Katherine Ng, Head of Listing, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited

Want to join the conversation? Register your company’s interest by emailing: Phoebe.Ho@twfhk.org .