TERMS OF USE

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the website located at www.hkic.org.hk (the "Site"), you acknowledge that you:

  1. have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with these terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Site. Your continued use of the Site constitutes acceptance of these Terms of Use;
  2. agree to use this Site and its content solely for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations; and
  3. understand that the HKIC reserves the right to update or modify these Terms of Use at any time and without prior notice and that your continued use of the Site following any changes to the Terms of Use constitutes your agreement to those changes.

You must not:

  1. interfere with or attempt to interfere with the proper functioning of the Site, its content, or any of the HKIC's networks, servers, or systems. This includes hacking, denial-of-service attacks, or any attempts to gain unauthorized access to the HKIC’s systems or the accounts of other users;
  2. use automated tools such as robots, spiders, crawlers, or scraping technologies to monitor, copy, or extract data from the Site without the HKIC’s prior written consent, except where such activity is expressly permitted by law;
  3. cause to affect the Site with any material containing viruses, malware, Trojan horses, worms, or other harmful software designed to damage, disrupt, or limit its functions;
  4. disrupt or interfere with another party’s use or enjoyment of the Site, including through excessive bandwidth usage or other means that overload the HKIC’s infrastructure; and/or
  5. impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity, including creating the false impression of sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation with the HKIC.

2. Accuracy of Information

While the HKIC makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information on the Site, it does not guarantee that the information is always accurate, complete, or up to date. The content provided on the Site is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional or financial advice.

The HKIC reserves the right to modify, remove, or update any content on the Site at its sole discretion, without prior notice. You are encouraged to review the Site and these Terms of Use regularly.

Reliance on Information

Your use of the Site and any reliance on its content is at your own risk. The information on the Site may contain technical inaccuracies, typographical errors, or be subject to risks, assumptions, and estimates. Actual outcomes may materially differ from those suggested by the Site's content due to factors beyond the HKIC's control. The HKIC disclaims all liability for any reliance placed on the content of the Site and is under no obligation to update any information.

You agree that you will not use the Site or its content as a replacement for conducting your own independent investigations or exercising sound financial and business judgment. You should not rely on the Site or its content as a substitute for professional advice. You are advised to seek professional advice tailored to your specific needs. You assume full responsibility for all matters arising from your use of the Site and its content.

Forward-looking Statements

The Site may include forward-looking statements, including those related to sustainability initiatives. These statements, which do not pertain to historical facts, may concern the HKIC's future business expectations, strategies, goals, planned activities, and objectives. These statements are based on information available on the date they are made, including third-party data and projections that the HKIC believes to be reliable. However, such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions—including changes in economic, market, geopolitical, social, or environmental conditions—that may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements.

You are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and you should carefully consider these and other disclaimers provided in the Site. The HKIC expressly disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except where required by law.

Sustainability

Sustainability practices vary by region, industry, and issue, and the HKIC's approach is subject to ongoing evolution. The assessment of sustainability criteria often involves subjective and qualitative analysis. There is no guarantee that the HKIC's determinations or methodologies regarding sustainability align with the expectations or beliefs of all stakeholders.

You must be aware that the HKIC cannot guarantee that its sustainability policies and initiatives can produce the anticipated outcomes or performance. It also cannot guarantee that all portfolio companies or entities will achieve their sustainability targets or that such efforts will have the predicted positive impact.

Hyperlinks to the Site

You may create a hyperlink to the Site, provided that your website does not present the content of the Site as your own or misrepresent the origin of the content. Additionally, your website must not contain material that is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, or illegal under the laws of Hong Kong, or that infringes on intellectual property rights.

The HKIC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to require the removal of any hyperlink to the Site at any time. Any permission to link to the Site may be withdrawn by the HKIC without notice.

Third-Party Links

The Site may contain hyperlinks to third-party websites ("Third-Party Links") that are not controlled or maintained by the HKIC. These links are provided for convenience only, and the HKIC does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, products, services, or privacy practices of any Third-Party Links. The HKIC is not liable for any errors, omissions, or damages arising from the use of any Third-Party Links or the content contained therein.

Access to and use of Third-Party Links via hyperlinks on the Site is at your own risk. The HKIC disclaims any responsibility or liability for any content found on the Internet that may be accessed through the Site, and the presence of a hyperlink does not imply the HKIC's endorsement of the linked content.

Suggestions, Comments, and Feedback

If you provide the HKIC with any communications, such as suggestions, comments, feedback, questions, reports, or images (“Materials”), you agree that:

Internet Disclaimer

You acknowledge that the Internet is a global network over which the HKIC has no control. The HKIC does not guarantee the availability, security, or reliability of the Site at all times or any content accessible via the Internet. The HKIC disclaims all liability for any material accessible through the Internet, including any that may be harmful or offensive.

Furthermore, the HKIC is not responsible for any issues related to your access to the Site, such as disruptions, delays, or failures caused by technical problems beyond its control, including network outages or Internet congestion. The HKIC assumes no responsibility for any damages to your computer system, loss of data, or other harm that results from your access to or use of the Site.

Suspension and Termination of Access

The HKIC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to suspend or terminate your access to the Site, without notice, if it believes you have violated any of these Terms of Use, applicable laws, or engaged in any other conduct that is harmful or disruptive to the Site, other users, or the HKIC's interests.

In the event of suspension or termination, you must immediately cease all use of the Site and destroy any copies of the content obtained from the Site. The HKIC may also take any legal action it deems necessary to address violations of these Terms of Use.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the HKIC and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and licensors will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the HKIC, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including any legal fees) arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms of Use, or your violation of any rights of another person or entity.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court or tribunal, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision will be considered modified to the extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or eliminated if no feasible modification can be made, without affecting the remaining terms.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”). You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, or your use of the Site will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of HKSAR.

Contact Information

For any inquiries or questions regarding these Terms of Use, please email us at [email protected].

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