On 6 November 2026, the award ceremony for the "Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2026" hosed by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), was held in Hong Kong. Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust (00405.HK) received the ESG Special Mention, making it the sole Hong Kong-listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) among the 35 award-winning organizations of this edition. Hosted by HKICPA, the Awards serve as a key benchmark for corporate governance and ESG performance in Hong Kong's capital market. This recognition stems from the REIT's long-term commitment to the stock real-estate sector, systematic establishment of an ESG management system, and delivery of material sustainable practices.
Launched in 2000, the HKICPA Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards are among Hong Kong's earliest award programmes focusing on corporate‑governance practices. The corporate‑governance review has run for 26 years, while ESG disclosure‑and‑practice assessment has been conducted for 15 years. For the 2026 edition, artificial intelligence was deployed for the first‑round screening of annual reports and ESG reports from approximately 2,400 Main‑Board listed companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Following AI‑powered initial screening, multi‑round quality reviews and in‑depth deliberations by the judging panel, only 35 organizations were selected as award recipients.
The Awards set requirements well above regulatory compliance minimums. Report length is not used as an evaluation metric. Judges place greater emphasis on whether organizations have truly embedded corporate‑governance and ESG principles into organizational culture, corporate strategies and day‑to‑day operations, as well as their voluntary, material achievements beyond regulatory requirements. Adopting a stringent "no‑award‑for‑sub‑threshold‑entries" principle, no award will be granted for a category if candidates fail to meet assessment thresholds, demonstrating the rigorous standard of the Awards.
Yuexiu REIT has published sustainability reports for ten consecutive years. Sustainability is embedded in the fundamentals of its real‑asset management, rather than treated as a box‑ticking compliance obligation. On governance: the REIT has established an ESG governance framework overseen by its Board of Directors, forming closed‑loop management spanning investment decision‑making, asset operations, risk control and information disclosure. It keeps updating its policies and disclosures in alignment with global sustainability frameworks including ISSB and GRESB. On assets: it drives low‑carbon operations via green renovation of existing buildings and wellness‑focused building certifications. Around 70% of its property portfolio by gross floor area holds LEED O+M Platinum certification, and over 90% has obtained WELL Health‑Safety certifications. On finance: in 2026, the REIT rolled out its inaugural Sustainable Finance Framework and issued its first offshore dual‑currency green bond. As of mid‑2026, green and sustainability‑linked financing accounted for 38% of its total financing. Governance Foundation, Asset Delivery and Financial Empowerment reinforce one another, forming the REIT's three‑pillar sustainable‑development framework.
Statement by Mr. Jiang Guoxiong, Chairman of Yuexiu Real Estate Investment Trust:
"Yuexiu REIT is honoured to receive the ESG Special Mention under the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2026 Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards. This recognition affirms our long-standing commitment to embedding sustainability into our asset management, operations and disclosures. Sound corporate governance and robust ESG practices serve as the cornerstone for us to deliver long term value to our stakeholders. We are grateful to HKICPA for establishing this significant industry benchmark. Going forward, we will continue to strive for progress, further elevate our governance and sustainability standards, and work with participants across Hong Kong's capital market to advance industry wide best practices."
