Some non-executive directors in Hong Kong sit on too many boards, raising questions about whether they have time to perform their duties adequately, says shareholder activist David Webb.
But the men in the hot seats disagree.
A study of about 1,200 listed companies by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing director David Webb, a long-time lobbyist for corporate governance reform, shows 10 people in the city hold directorships in 10 or more companies.
Busiest of all is retired accountant Gordon Kwong Che-keung, who sits on 17 boards. He is followed by HKEx director and lawyer Moses Cheng Mo-chi, and Wong Chi-keung, both on 13 boards.
Bank of East Asia chairman and chief executive David Li Kwok-po holds 11 directorships, as does Edward Wong Yue-kuen.
Those who have 10 directorships include former legislator for accountancy Eric Li Ka-cheung, current legislator Abraham Shek Lai-him, George Lam Lee, David Yu Hon-to and Robert Sze Tsai-to.
A separate study by Baptist University of all listed companies shows similar results. Raymond Ho Shun-man, director of the university's centre of corporate governance and financial policy, says this leads to concerns about whether independent directors or chairmen have enough time to do their jobs.
