Hong Kong tops survey for societal acceptance of female leaders, says Paul Chan

A survey found that Hong Kong ranks top for societal acceptance of female leaders, with 70 percent of women feeling encouraged to lead in the city, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

He made the remarks at the city’s first and largest gathering of senior female leaders in finance, the Women Chief Executives (WCE) Summit 2025, on Monday (Nov 3).

Chan said a recent KPMG report, conducted in collaboration with WCE and The Women's Foundation, discovered that Hong Kong has seen double-digit growth in female representation, both in senior leadership roles and on corporate boards.

More than half of solicitors and professional accountants in Hong Kong are women, a leap from just 30 percent two decades ago.

However, Chan stressed that the progress may be uneven, as the report shows that some industries are developing faster in gender equality. 

He emphasized that the government aims to fully unleash the potential and abilities of the next generation of women leaders, highlighting the "She Inspires" Mentorship Program launched in July.

The program has matched over 80 aspiring female university students with some 50 of Hong Kong's most accomplished women leaders, with plans to expand the next cohort to 120 mentees.

He also noted that nearly 60 percent of students majoring in business and management at Hong Kong’s various campuses are women. 

“These are not just statistics,” he said. “They are the future mechanical engineers, fintech innovators, and next-generation CEOs.”

Chan concluded his speech by quoting Sheryl Sandberg, former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will be just leaders.”

"Embracing diversity strengthens our ability to understand and serve our clients and communities, creating better outcomes and a more sustainable future for all," said Amy Lo Choi-wan, the chairwoman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia, Head and Chief Executive, UBS Hong Kong.

"Diverse and balanced leadership is vital for good governance and a resilient, competitive market," Bonnie Y Chan, the chief executive officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing added. "The enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by leaders across all sectors reflect that Hong Kong is not only ready to engage in this global dialogue, but is taking a leading role in it."

The summit convened over 200 global and regional leaders from more than 30 financial institutions. It also coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, a key global policy document on gender equality that was unanimously adopted by 189 countries.

Three panel discussions were hosted during the summit, focusing on redefining leadership in a changing world, driving organizational innovation in the financial industry, and enabling the next generation of women leaders.