Company directors and officers can be certain of at least one thing as they continue to chart a course for their respective company's growth through a vast array of internal and external governance rules and regulations: there will be more layers of compliance to navigate through than the previous year.

This and other issues, including the latest international best practices in financial reporting and corporate social responsibility were addressed at the 5th Biennial Corporate Governance Conference hosted by The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries this past weekend.

The Corporate Governance Conference 2006 brought together distinguished corporate, regulatory and academic presenters from around the world, including the US, UK and China, to discuss critical issues surrounding the conference theme "Corporate Governance Reform: Adding Value?"

Key Regulatory and Industry speakers and panel members included The Honourable Frederick Ma Si Hang, JP, Secretary for Financial services and The Treasury, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Richard Williams, Head of Listing, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; and Martin Wheatley, Chief Executive Officer, Securities & Futures Commission.