According to the Economic Digest APP, on September 13, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong stated in a document that the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong has always cooperated closely with the National Audit Office of the Ministry of Finance to maintain the standards and quality of cross-border audit services. With the conclusion of the investigation into the mainland audit work of Evergrande Real Estate by the Ministry of Finance of China, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong will continue the independent investigation into the audit of Evergrande Group conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong in sync with China.

In an announcement released by the Ministry of Finance of China today, administrative penalties have been imposed for serious violations by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhongtian Certified Public Accountants in the audit work of Evergrande Real Estate, a major subsidiary of Evergrande Group. This announcement marks an important milestone in the cross-border enforcement actions related to the audit of Evergrande Group by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Despite the seriousness of this individual incident and the potential regulatory impact on the group's auditors, Hong Kong accountancy profession still retains credibility and is fully capable of providing high-quality audit services for the capital markets.

Maintaining high-quality audits is the top priority of the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong. Regarding cross-border audit services, the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong and the Ministry of Finance of China, based on common regulatory interests and mutual dependence, will further enhance regulatory cooperation. The Financial Secretary of Hong Kong appreciates the strong support from the Ministry of Finance of China in this regard. The department believes that upholding high-quality audits will effectively safeguard the interests of investors in both places and maintain Hong Kong's position as an international financial center.