BOC HONG KONG HOLDINGS LTD 1.1 The Remuneration Committee (the "Committee") is a standing committee of the Board of Directors (the "Board"). The purpose of the Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility for BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited (the "Company"), Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (the "Bank") and its subsidiaries (together, the "Group") relating to:
the remuneration strategy and incentive framework of the Group.
setting the remuneration of directors, Board committee ("Board Committee") members, certain senior management under the Board's direct management as defined by the Board from time to time (defined as "Senior Management") and Key Personnel.
The role of the Committee is one of oversight. Subject to the provisions of this Mandate and subject to the strategies and policies as approved by the Board or the Committee (as the case may be), the Chief Executive has the overall accountability in the remuneration and appraisal of the Bank's staff as part of his management responsibility.
2. Roles and Responsibilities 2.1 Overall Remuneration Strategy
2.1.1 The Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending for the approval of the
Board on the overall remuneration strategies for the Group, across the following areas:
performance appraisal approaches and processes to ensure that appropriate performance is encouraged and rewarded, and inadequate performance is rectified and improved.
remuneration and incentive strategies and policies, including long term incentive programmes and other benefits, to encourage good performance and to help align the interests of staff with those of shareholders.
2.1.2 The Committee is responsible for monitoring at a high-level the implementation of the Group's strategies on remuneration and ensuring that the policies based on these strategies and their implementation are legal, fair, reasonable and are in accordance with the strategies formulated pursuant to 2.1.1.
2.1.3 The Committee shall encourage the Management to establish a remuneration culture which is in compliance with the overall strategy of the Group and which supports fulfilment of the Group's vision, mission and value.
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2.2 Remuneration policy of the Group
2.2.1 The Committee shall review and make recommendations to the Board on the following matters:
2.2.1.1 The Company's written remuneration policy and practice covering all employees, in order to ensure that the Company's remuneration policy is consistent with the principles set out in the "Guideline on a Sound Remuneration System" issued by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and any other legal or regulatory requirements applicable to employees' remuneration. The policy should ensure that the Company's overall approach to risk management is supported, and not undermined, by the remuneration arrangements for employees whose activities during the course of their employment (individually or collectively) could have a material impact on the Company's risk profile and financial soundness. The policy should have specific regard to the remuneration of 4 types of employees: senior management, key personnel, groups of employees whose activities in the aggregate may expose the Company to material risk and who are subject to the same or similar incentive arrangements, as well as employees within risk control functions.
2.2.1.2 The Company's policy and structure for all remuneration of directors, Senior Management and Key Personnel and the establishment of a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on such remuneration.
2.2.1.3 Remuneration of the non-executive directors, adviser(s) of the Company and the members of Board Committees.
2.2.1.4 Aggregate amount and allocation principles of the Group's annual bonus, as well as the proposal on annual salary adjustment.
2.2.1.5 Any material changes concerning the structure of the Group's overall employee benefits.
2.2.2 The Committee shall ensure that a regular (at least annual) review of the Company's remuneration system and its operation to make sure that the policy remains adequate and effective and that the operation of the remuneration system is consistent with the intended purposes and long-term interests of the Company. Such review should include an assessment of the extent to which the remuneration system is consistent with the principles set out in the "Guideline on a Sound Remuneration System". The review can be either internally conducted or externally commissioned, is carried out independently of management and the result is submitted to the HKMA.
2.2.3 The Committee shall be able to exercise competent and independent judgement on remuneration policies and practices and the incentives thereby created for managing risk, capital and liquidity.
2.2.4 The Committee shall work closely with other relevant Board Committees (e.g Risk Committee, Audit Committee) and compliance function to ensure the timely monitoring and rectification of compliance aspect in remuneration management. The Committee shall report any material issues in relation to the Company's remuneration system to the Board
on a regular basis.
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2.2.5 The Committee shall consult risk management, financial control and compliance personnel to obtain input, independent of the relevant business lines, on how compensation relates to risk at various levels within the Company.
2.3 Remuneration of Directors, Senior Management and Key Personnel
The Committee shall:
2.3.1 Have the delegated responsibility to determine the remuneration packages of individual executive directors and Senior Management, including long-term incentive, share option, benefits in kind, pension rights, compensation payments (including any compensation payable for loss or termination of their office or appointment, early payout of deferred remuneration) and performance-based remuneration. Moreover, it will recommend to the Board on their remuneration package upon joining, sign-on bonus and contract guaranteed bonus, etc. The Committee should consider factors such as salaries paid by comparable companies, time commitment and responsibilities, and employment conditions elsewhere in the Group.
2.3.2 Review and make recommendations to the Board for approval of the annual and longer- term performance targets of the Senior Management, evaluate the performance of the Senior Management and make recommendations to the Board on the results of performance appraisals against the targets set on an ongoing basis by reference to corporate goals and objectives resolved by the Board from time to time, and review and approve the performance-based remuneration, including the grants of annual bonus and changes to the remuneration, according to results of performance appraisals approved by the Board.
2.3.3 Review and approve the compensation payable to executive directors and Senior Management in connection with any loss or termination of their office or appointment to ensure that such compensation is consistent with contractual terms and is otherwise fair and not excessive.
2.3.4 Have the delegated responsibility to determine the remuneration packages of Key Personnel, in accordance to the remuneration policy and incentive framework approved by the Board, including but not limited to remuneration package upon joining, sign-on bonus, contract guaranteed bonus, fixed salary and annual salary adjustment, annual bonus and its deferment, long-term incentive, share option, benefits in kind, pension rights and compensation payments (including but not limited to any compensation payable for loss or termination of their office or appointment, as well as early payout of deferred remuneration), etc. In the meanwhile, the Committee re-delegates the authority of approving the remuneration packages (ibid range) of Key Personnel, in accordance to the remuneration policy and incentive framework approved by the Board, to the Management Committee of BOCHK.
2.3.5 Review and approve compensation arrangements relating to dismissal or removal of directors for misconduct to ensure that such arrangements are consistent with contractual
terms and that any compensation payment is otherwise reasonable and appropriate.
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2.3.6 Ensure that no director or any of his/her associates is involved in deciding his/her own remuneration.
2.4 Reporting Responsibilities
2.4.1 The Committee shall report to the Board on the matters set out in this Mandate, regularly update the Board about the Committee's activities and consider other topics as defined by the Board.
2.4.2 The Committee shall regularly communicate with other Board committees as appropriate.
2.4.3 The Committee shall review any other reports submitted by the Group relating to the
Committee's responsibilities.
3.1.1 All of the Committee members are non-executive directors. The Committee is chaired by an independent non-executive director and a majority of its members should be independent non-executive directors. If the Board seeks advice from the Committee, adviser(s) of the Board (if any) could act as the adviser(s) to the Committee.
3.1.2 Members of the Committee shall possess appropriate authority and necessary skills and experience and be prepared to determine and advise on forming an independent judgement on the suitability of the remuneration policy and its implications for risks and risk management.
3.1.3 A quorum shall be three members.
3.1.4 Members of the Committee shall:
regularly attend the meetings of the Committee and actively express their opinions on the matters discussed during the meeting; and
keep abreast of the roles and responsibilities of the Committee as well as their responsibilities as members of the Committee and of the conduct, business activities and development of the Group.
3.2 Other attendees
3.2.1 Representative(s) of the Human Resources Department is(are) normally expected to attend meetings of the Committee to render assistance. If required, other members of the Management and representatives of external consultants are also expected to attend some or all or parts of the Committee meetings. All these "other attendees" are expected to
provide open, candid and comprehensive input to the Committee as requested.
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3.2.2 If the Committee seeks professional advice from external advisors, the advice should be commissioned by, and provided directly to, the Chairman of the Committee independently of management.
3.2.3 The secretary/secretaries of the Committee (the "Committee secretary") shall be appointed
by the Board.
3.3.1 The Chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board. The duties and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Committee include but are not limited to:
providing leadership for the Committee and ensuring that the Committee works
effectively and discharges its responsibilities;
ensuring that all key and appropriate issues are discussed by the Committee in a timely manner, and that clear and explicit conclusions are achieved for every agenda item discussed in the meetings;
being primarily responsible for drawing up and approving the agenda for each Committee meeting taking into account, where appropriate, any matters proposed by the other Committee members and the Management for inclusion in the agenda so as to ensure that, other than exceptional circumstances, all Committee members and the Management are given an opportunity to include matters in the agenda for a Committee meeting. The Chairman may delegate such responsibility to a designated member or the Committee secretary;
ensuring that all Committee members are properly briefed on issues arising at
Committee meetings, and that Committee members receive adequate information, which must be timely, complete and reliable;
encouraging all Committee members to make a full and active contribution to the Committee's affairs and take the lead to ensure that the Committee acts in the best interests of the Group; and
attending in person or nominating another Committee member to attend the annual general meeting and answering questions at the meeting.
3.3.2 The duties and responsibilities of the Committee secretary include but are not limited to:
providing technical advice and expertise to support the work of the Committee, the
Chairman of the Committee and other Committee members;
organizing, administering and coordinating the operation of the Committee;
arranging Committee meetings as coordinated by the Board Secretary;
reviewing the material to be presented to the Committee, ensuring the Management submits reports and documents to the Committee appropriately;
reporting on the work of the Committee to the Board under the authorization of the
Chairman of the Committee;
requesting the Management to provide relevant data and material to assist the
Committee members to understand the relevant information;
facilitating induction for new Committee members and assisting with professional development as required;
coordinating the work of the Committee with similar functions in Bank of China group;
and
other duties and responsibilities entrusted by the Committee.
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3.4 Independence Standards3.4.1 The Committee members who are independent non-executive directors shall observe the independence standards approved by the Board.
3.5 Nomination, Terms, Remuneration and Training
3.5.1 The Nomination Committee is responsible for nominating Committee members from amongst the non-executive directors for approval by the Board.
3.5.2 The Committee shall communicate adequately with the Nomination Committee before the latter makes recommendations to the Board on the selection criteria, nominated candidates and terms of appointment of the Committee members to ensure that they serve the purpose of the Committee.
3.5.3 The remuneration of the Committee members shall be approved by the Board if no authorization is needed from or such authorization has been granted by the shareholders.
3.5.4 Every new Committee member shall receive a comprehensive, formal and tailored induction on appointment; and all Committee members shall participate in a program of continuous professional development to develop and refresh their knowledge and skills to ensure that their contribution to the Committee remains informed and relevant. The Group shall fund such induction/training programmes.
3.6.1 The Committee shall meet at least four times a year, with meetings timed to align with the reporting cycle of the Group for the appraisal of the performance of the Senior Management. In addition, there shall be open dialogue between the Management and the Committee between meetings on an as-needed basis. The Committee may request for additional meetings with the Management or other advisors between scheduled meetings if they consider it necessary.
4. Authority
4.1 The Committee is authorized to seek adequate administrative support from the
Management and have separate and independent access to the Group's senior management.
4.2 The Management is expected to support the work of the Committee with the utmost good faith and to ensure that the Committee is provided with all the information relating to the performance evaluation, remuneration management and other issues of the Group necessary and appropriate for the Committee to discharge its responsibilities on a fair and timely basis. The Committee is authorized to require any member of the Management and any employee of the Group to respond to queries raised by any member of the Committee as promptly and fully as possible. Information provided to the Committee shall be accurate and complete and be in such form and of such quality as will enable the Committee to
make an informed decision.
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4.3 The Committee is authorized to invite any person it thinks fit to attend the meetings of the
Committee.
4.4 The Committee shall be authorized, on its own initiative or at the request of the Board, to review the Group's remuneration policies and practices, consider any findings and the Management's response and advise the Board of the results of such review and its recommendations.
4.5 Members of the Committee are authorized, upon reasonable request, to seek independent professional advice in appropriate circumstances, at the Group's expense.
4.6 The Committee is authorized to have access to the advice and services of the Committee secretary and the Board Secretary with a view to ensuring that Committee procedures, and all applicable rules and regulations, are followed.
5.1 As necessary and appropriate, the Committee may form and dismiss consulting or special sub-committees after approval by the Board.
5.2 The Committee is responsible for the management of the sub-committees and delegating sufficient power and authority to them for ensuring effective and efficient operation.
6.1 The Committee shall monitor and review its composition, evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Committee and monitor and review its processes and effectiveness on at least an annual basis. The result shall be reported to the Board.
6.2 The Committee shall also monitor and review the continuing adequacy of its Mandate from time to time, and report to the Board the main findings.
7.1 This Mandate shall come into effect on the date when it is approved by the Board.
7.2 Any amendments to this Mandate shall be recommended by the Committee and come into effect on the date when they are approved by the Board.
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