Under the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council Ordinance (Cap. 588) (the AFRCO), the AFRC is empowered to issue practising certificates to certified public accountants registered with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) under Division 1 of Part 2A of the AFRCO.

Only a CPA (practising), a CPA firm or a corporate practice registered with the AFRC can hold an appointment or render a service, whether paid or unpaid, as an auditor of a company under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) or accounts for the purposes of any other Ordinance.

A CPA intending to perform statutory audits in Hong Kong is required to obtain a practising certificate from the AFRC.

Application for the first time issuance of a practising certificate is made by post while its annual renewal application must be made through the AFRC’s Online Application System, which can be accessed by signing in to “MyAccount”.