HONG KONG'S six leading chambers of commerce are organising the territory's first Business Ethics Conference with the backing of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Paul Cheng Ming-fun, chairman of the organising committee, said that business ethics was a growing global trend and that Hong Kong must fall in line to keep its international reputation and competitiveness.
Over the last two decades, Hong Kong had emerged as a leading financial and business centre in Asia, partly because of the high standard of its business ethics which ensured a clean and efficient environment for international investors.
The conference would help Hong Kong keep its leading position in Asia and preserve its hard-earned reputation, said Mr Cheng.
''Hong Kong's success is built on a number of pillars: our geographic location; our role as an international hub; our sophisticated infrastructure; and our skilled and highly productive workforce,'' he said.
''Somehow, business ethics, as one of the pillars of our success, are often overlooked,'' he said.
But Mr Cheng, who is also the chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, said that business ethics had been crucial to Hong Kong's development as an internationally respected trading and financial centre.