China Communications Services Corporation Limited Code of Ethics for Senior Officers
China Communications Services Corporation Limited Code of Ethics for Senior Officers
Section 1 General
1.
Background and Basis
This code of ethics (this "Code") is adopted pursuant to related requirements of the Articles of Association of China Communications Services Corporation Limited, to effectively protect interests of China Communications Services Corporation Limited and its shareholders, to regulate and guide daily business activities of senior management personnel of China Communications Services Corporation Limited and its provincial subsidiaries (the "Company"), to effectively promote the establishment and improvement of good corporate governance structure and internal control system, and to meet regulatory requirements with regard to internal control of a company.
2.
Scope of Application
This code is applicable to Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer/President, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Department in-charge, Provincial General Manager, Provincial Deputy General Manager and Financial in-charge and any other senior administrative staff of similar duties (the "Senior Officers").
3.
Purposes
The purposes of this Code are:
(1)
to encourage compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
(2)
to promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of conflicts of interest;
(3)
to promote full, adequate, accurate and timely disclosure;
(4)
to deter wrongdoing in duties;
(5)
to promptly discover and report any violations against code of ethics; and
(6)
to carry out all regulations and obligations in connection with this Code.
Section 2 Basic principles
1.
Principle Regarding Compliance with Laws, Regulations and Rules
The Company requires each Senior Officer to act in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and rules. Each Senior Officer has also his or her personal obligation to observe such laws, regulations and rules.
2.
Principle of Good Faith and Integrity
(1)
It is the Company's basic principle to act in good faith and with integrity in handling its relations with its clients and shareholders, as well as the society and other external interest groups, and also in handling the relations between the Company and its employees and among the employees.
(2)
It is each Senior Officer's commitment to the Company to act in good faith and with integrity. He or she shall not act in deceit or against the principle of good faith and integrity.
(3)
Each Senior Officer shall:
a.
act in good faith but with no violation against confidentiality required by the Company;
b.
act in accordance with, whether in its actual or principal, any of the applicable laws, regulations, accounting rules and the Company's policies;
c.
act with care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances in the exercise of his or her powers and in the discharge of his or her duties; and
d.
act with a high standard of professionalism.
(4)
Each Senior Officer's obligation of good faith and integrity may not cease after the termination of his or her tenure at the Company. His or her obligation of confidentiality survives the termination of his or her tenure. Other duties may continue for such period as the principle of fairness may require depending on the amount of time which has lapsed between the termination and the act concerned and the circumstances and the terms under which the relationship between the Senior Officer on the one hand and the Company on the other hand was terminated.
3.
Principle of Fairness
It is prohibited by the Company to obtain any inappropriate commercial interest by any illegal or unethical means. Each Senior Officer shall fairly treat any client, supplier, competitor and employee of the Company, and shall not obtain any inappropriate interest acquired through his or her position at the Company through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any unfair dealing practice.
4.
Principle of Confidentiality
Unless required by law or authorized by a party with the right to disclose such information, each Senior Officer shall keep the Company's business secrets and each customer's or potential customer's confidential or private information obtained through the Company's operations.
Confidential information shall mean non-public information which might benefit competitors of the Company, or damage interests of the Company, clients or potential clients of the Company, if disclosed.
5.
Principle Regarding Protection of the Company's Properties
The Company's properties mean all the tangible and intangible assets legally owned by or entitled to the Company. Each Senior Officer shall protect the Company's properties and have them utilized reasonably and effectively for the Company's valid business purposes, and shall not damage or occupy the Company's properties in any manner.
6.
Principle Regarding Thrift and Environment Protection
Senior Officer shall always stick to the principle of hardworking and thrift, and resist any extravagance, waste and luxury entertainment. Senior Officer shall be subject to strict budget management, and should save as much as possible in duty performance and activities.
Senior Officer are obligated to abide by environment protection policies, laws, regulations and rules in performing duties and shall minimize the discharge of harmful substance and negative environment impact as legally required.
Section 3 Principle Regarding Conflicts of Interest
1.
A "Conflict of interest" means a conflict or a potential conflict between an individual's personal interest and the Company's interest, or between an individual's personal interest and his or her obligations, including but not limited to the following:
(1)
any action taken, or any interest owned, by a Senior Officer that may hinder him or her to perform his or her duties objectively and effectively, and
(2)
any inappropriate personal interest obtained by a Senior Officer or his or her family as a result of his or her position at the Company.
2.
Each Senior Officer shall not:
(1)
take any advantage of his or her position to accept bribes or other illegal income;
(2)
take any advantage of his or her position or power at the Company to obtain any inappropriate interest for him- or herself or family members or any others;
(3)
take any advantage of his or her position or the Company's property or information to seize or have others seize from the Company any business opportunity, unless the Company is aware of such opportunity and has expressly given it up;
(4)
take any advantage of the Company's property, including any tangible or intangible assets and trade secrets to obtain any personal interest;
(5)
operate any business, whether on his or her own or as an employee, in competition with the Company;
(6)
engage in activities prohibited by Article 15.5 and 15.6 of the Articles of Association of China Communications Services Corporation Limited
(7)
engage in other activities that may cause any harm to the Company.
3.
Each Senior Officer shall:
(1)
comply with the Company's Articles of Association, perform his or her duties faithfully, protect the Company's interests, avoid conflicts of interest wherever possible, and act honestly in the best interests of the Company;
(2)
discuss with the Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited or the Board of Directors of a provincial subsidiary (collectively "the Company's Board") and material transaction or business relationship that may result in any conflict of interest; and
(3)
proceed such material transaction or business relationship only after the approval of the Company's Board. If the involved Senior Officer is also a member of the Company's Board, he or she may not participate the Board's discussion and vote for the approval such transaction or relationship. Pursuant to the Company's Article of Association, however, in the event that such transaction or business relationship is related to any contracts, transactions or arrangements entered into between the involved Senior Officer with the Company, or is related to commissions received in connection with transactions of the Company, such transaction or business relationship may not proceed without the informed approval of the shareholders given at a general meeting.
4.
The following situations are material conflicts of interest. Any involved Senior Officers must report to the Company's Board within five business days after he or she is aware of the occurrence:
(1)
he or she owns a significant amount of equity interests or any other ownership interests in any of Company's suppliers or customers;
(2)
he or she has a relationship with any of the Company's customers, suppliers or competitors as a consultant, advisor or employee;
(3)
he or she has any external business activities that may detract him or her from devoting time and attention to his or her due performance in the Company;
(4)
he or she accepts or receives any material gift from any company that has an existing or potential business relationship which the Company;
(5)
he or she holds a position of supervising, reviewing or otherwise that may affect any of his or her immediate relatives' job evaluation, compensation or benefits; and
(6)
through him or her, as described in the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, any other company that becomes one of the Company's Connected Persons has any business relationship or transaction with the Company.
5.
Any situation above in connection with any immediate family member of any Senior Officer shall be treated in the same manner as a conflict of interest in connection with any Senior Officer.
Section 4 Principle of Information Disclosure
1.
Each Senior Officer is required to be familiar with and comply with the information disclosure procedure of the Company so that the Company's public reports and documents filed with any applicable security regulatory authorities are in accordance with the requirements of security laws and regulations in all material respects.
2.
Each Senior Officer, who is in charge, or has supervisory responsibility, of the fillings with regulatory authorities or the disclosures of the Company's operations, performance, accounting, outlooks or other public disclosures, shall coordinate, to the extent of his or her power and responsibilities, with other officers in the Company and take all appropriate measures of disclosure in order to make the disclosed information complete, fair, accurate, updated and understandable.
3.
Each Senior Officer shall observe the following:
(1)
he or she shall be familiar with the Company's businesses, financial operations and information disclosure requirements;
(2)
he or she shall not consciously misrepresent or omit, or cause others to misrepresent or omit, any of the Company's material information to any internal or external parties, including the Company's independent auditors, government regulators and self-regulatory authorities; and
(3)
he or she shall carefully review and determine the accuracy and completeness of the information to be disclosed. (He or she may appropriately assign such responsibility to another party.)
Section 5 Principle of Reporting
1.
Each Senior Officer is required to notify the Company's Board within five business days after he or she is aware of any existing or possible violation against this Code ("Violation"). Failure to do so is a Violation itself.
2.
Each Senior Officer shall not retaliate against any employee or Senior Officer who reports any possible Violations.
3.
The Company's Board shall take all appropriate actions to investigate any existing or possible Violations reported to it. If a Violation has occurred, the Company's Board shall take any appropriate actions for prevention or discipline.
4.
The Company's Board shall take the following procedures in investigating and dealing with any Violations:
(1)
to have designated persons start a preliminary investigation after receiving a report;
(2)
to determine, based on the investigation report, whether a Violation has occurred;
(3)
to take any appropriate actions for discipline or prevention (including dismissal), and in the event of any crime or other server legal violations, the applicable security regulatory authorities or other law enforcement authorities shall be notified; and
(4)
to timely disclose any amendments to or waivers of this Code made in accordance with the applicable securities regulations.
Section 6 Appendix
1.
This Code is a document of principles as a guideline for the ethics codes of the Senior Officers. The Senior Officers' business activities shall also in accordance with all specific requirements in the applicable laws, regulations, government policies, the Company's Articles of Association and other current internal rules.
2.
The Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited shall supervise the enforcement of this Code.
3.
This Code shall take effect upon the approval of the Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited.
4.
Any amendment to this Code must be adopted by the Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited.
5.
The Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited is responsible for the interpretation of this Code.
China Communications Services Corporation Limited Code of Conducts and Ethics for Employees
China Communications Services Corporation Limited Code of Conducts and Ethics for Employees
Section 1 General
1.1
Background and Basis
This Code is hereby designed to safeguard the interests of China Communications Services Corporation Limited and shareholders, forge good corporate image and harmonious corporate culture, regulate the routine occupational behaviors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited and the subsidiaries in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and the Articles of Association of China Communications Services Corporation Limited (the "Articles of Association").
1.2
Scope of Application
1.2.1
This Code applies to employees of China Communications Services Corporation Limited, provincial subsidiaries, subsidiaries and branches thereof (unless otherwise stipulated, collectively the "Company"), and other personnel engaged in routine work in the name of the Company (collectively the "Employees").
"Subsidiary" hereunder shall have the meaning defined in The Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
1.2.2
For employees as defined as "Senior Officers" under Code of Ethics for Senior Officers of China Communications Services Corporation Limited ("Executive Code"), in case of any discrepancy between this Code and Executive Code, the Executive Code shall prevail.
For issues covered hereunder rather than the Executive Code, this Code shall apply in light of the appropriate object and issue.
1.3
Purposes
The purposes of this Code are as follows:
(1)
to encourage compliance with the Company's regulations, rules and disciplines;
(2)
to encourage honest and moral behaviors;
(3)
to encourage complete, true, accurate and timely disclosures;
(4)
to prevent misconducts;
(5)
to promptly identify or report any conduct against the code of ethics; and
(6)
to enforce regulations and obligations on professional conducts.
Section 2 Basic Principles
2.1
Principle Regarding Compliance with the Law
Employees are obligated to abide by current policies, laws, regulations and other regulatory disciplines of the Peoples' Republic of China, the jurisdictions where the Company is listed, incorporated and operates; abide by the Articles of Association, and perform duties as per current rules of the Company.
2.2
Principle of Integrity
2.2.1
Integrity is the fundamental principle upheld by the Company in settlement of relations with customers, shareholders and others in the society, as well as the employer-employee relationship and the employee-employee relationship.
2.2.2
The employees shall be honest to the Company, and are barred from any fraud or any unscrupulous act against integrity ethics.
2.2.3
The employee behaviors shall be:
(1)
pragmatic and honest;
(2)
abiding by applicable regulatory policies laws, regulations, administrative rules, accounting rules and relevant rules of the Company;
(3)
conscientious, diligent, and innovative;
(4)
commercially ethical and protecting the Company's interests.
2.2.4
The integrity obligation of the employees shall survive the termination of the employment thereof as determined by the Company in the principle of fairness and in light of actual situation.
2.3
Principle of Fairness
2.3.1
Employees shall fairly treat customers, suppliers, competitors and other employees of the Company.
2.3.2
Employees are prohibited from unlawful or unethical occupational behavior, or receiving corporate or personal gains via unscrupulous means. None should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any other unfair dealing practice. The "gain" hereunder refers to any direct or indirect benefits for the Company, self or any other person, including any potential benefits.
2.4
Principle of Confidentiality
2.4.1
The employees shall not disclose any confidential information of the Company, or the Company's customers or potential customers as a result of the occupational behavior or through other sources.
When required for disclosure by applicable laws, regulations or regulatory authorities, or with the consent of the disclosing party, or the confidentially information becoming publicly known or publicly obtained, the employees of the Company are not bound by the confidential obligation as set above.
Confidential information refers to confidential, proprietary or secret information that, once publicly disclosed, will be beneficial to competitors of the Company, or will impair the interests of the Company, or the Company's customers or potential customers.
2.4.2
The confidentiality obligation of employees shall survive the resignation of any employee, the length of the term of which depends on actual situations as determined by the Company under the principle of fairness.
2.5
Principle Regarding Protection of the Company's Properties
Carefully protecting and utilizing of the Company's properties are the fundamental responsibilities of the employees. Employee is obliged to comply with the safety protection system of the working environment. Employeer shall protect the Company's properties and have them utilized reasonably and effectively for the Company's valid business purposes, and shall not damage or occupy or unduly utilized the Company's properties in any manner.
The Company's properties mean those properties legally owned by or entitled to the Company, including all the tangible, intangible assets, commercial secrets or other professional information and business opportunities beneficial to the Company.
2.6
Principle Regarding Thrift and Environment Protection
2.6.1
Employee shall always stick to the principle of hardworking and thrift, and resist any extravagance, waste and luxury entertainment. Employee shall be subject to strict budget management, and should save as much as possible in duty performance and activities.
2.6.2
Employee is obligated to abide by environment protection policies, laws, regulations and rules in performing duties and shall minimize the discharge of harmful substance and negative environment impact as legally required.
Section 3 Principle Regarding Conflicts of Interests
3.1
The business decisions and behaviors of the Company shall be based on the best interests of the Company and shareholders instead of the personal considerations of employees. In case of any conflict of interests between the employees and occupational behavior, the employee shall make independent and correct business judgment in the best interests of the Company and shareholders.
3.2
The "conflict of interests" hereunder refers to any conflict, actual or potential, between personal interests and corporate interests, or personal interests and obligations, including but not limited to:
(1)
Any act or any interests of the employee that may directly or indirectly impair his or her fair and efficient performance of duties.
(2)
Employee or his or her family members receive any improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company.
3.3
Employees shall not:
(1)
bribe others or receive bribe or other unlawful income as a result of the position in the Company;
(2)
make unlawful or improper benefits for himself or herself, or family members or other person as a result of the position in the Company;
(3)
seize or cause others to seize business opportunities of the Company by taking unfair advantage of the position or resources in the Company, unless the Company has known and waived such opportunity in writing;
(4)
seek for personal benefits in any manner through the corporate assets;
(5)
engage in, independently or jointly or for any other party, any business competing with the Company;
(6)
establish or maintain any direct or indirect consulting, advisor or employment relationship with any competitor of the Company;
(7)
engage in any other act impairing the interests of the Company.
3.4
The employees shall follow the rules below in settling any conflict of interests:
(1)
abide by the Articles of Association and rules of the Company, loyally perform duties, avoid conflict of interests, safeguard the best interests of the Company and shareholders;
(2)
promptly report to same-level corporate supervisory department if there is any actual or potential conflict of interests in performing the duties.
3.5
When getting aware of the conflict of interests below, defined as severe conflict of interests, any employee shall report to the Supervisory Department within 5 business days thereafter:
(1)
the employee holds majority equity capital or other investor equity in any customer, supplier or competitor of the Company;
(2)
in any consulting, advisor or employment relationship with any customer, supplier or competitor of the Company;
(3)
receive any major benefits from any company having existing or potential business relationship with the Company;
(4)
engage in important business activities that occupy and disperse the time or energy commitment to the duties in the Company, and are independent from the interests of the Company;
(5)
assume any position in charge of supervision, examination, performance evaluation, compensation and benefits of any of his or her immediate family members or in any other manner.
3.6
The above rules of conflict of interests shall also apply to the above behaviors of immediate family members of the employees of the Company.
Section 4 Relations between Employees and Relevant Parties
4.1
Relations with customers:
4.1.1
Uphold the service philosophy of "Customer Service Culture", quickly respond to customer demands, honor promises, provide outstanding services to customers, truthfully inform the customers of any information about services and products of the Company in the principle of integrity in compliance with Rule 2.4 and Sections 5 hereunder, disclose no misleading, severely incomplete or fake information to customers;
4.1.2
Fairly and honestly treat customers; under equal conditions, each employee shall fairly treat all customers, fully respect customer's freedom in purchasing of services or products, and not impose unfair obligations upon or unequal business conditions to the customers against the intention of the Company through agreements or any other means; It is prohibited to take any act violating the current laws and regulations on customer interests protection, anti fraud and bribery, anti unscrupulous competition and anti monopoly;
4.1.3
Cautiously handle the arrangement of sales-related commission, discount, credit and allowance in the marketing process within legal, reasonable and proper range; provide sponsorship, gift, entertainment and business treatment to customers in the legal interest of the Company, and control such offer within the legal, reasonable and proper range; prohibit building up customer relation via bribing, discount and other illegal means or other means negative to the Company.
4.2
Relations with Suppliers:
4.2.1
The employees shall fairly treat the suppliers, select suppliers via fair competition or bidding, and make comprehensive, independent, objective and fair consideration of the supplier qualification, product or service quality, business credit, quotation and after-sales services via bid invitation or other fair/reasonable means in light of the current rules of the Company;
4.2.2
Employees shall follow the rules below in business relation with supplies on behalf of the Company:
(1)
Abide by the provisions in Rule 2.1 hereof; prohibited from any unscrupulous competition, any behavior violating anti monopoly/corruption/bribing regulations;
(2)
Voluntarily protect legal interests of the Company, receive no bribe, discount or any other material benefits from suppliers that may prejudice independent business judgment of employees;
(3)
Stick to the corporate culture, respect the corporate culture of the supplier, treat suppliers and business representatives in generally accepted business etiquette, and not disclose any trade secrets or other confidential information of the supplier as mutually agreed or regulated.
4.3
Relations with competitors:
4.3.1
In market competition, the Company is committed to trustworthy cooperation for mutual benefits in pursuit of a fair, orderly and efficient market competition order. The Company, upholding the principle of legal management and operation, prohibits employees from any occupational behaviors violating current laws and regulations about anti unscrupulous competition and anti monopoly. Any employee, becoming aware of any violation or potential violation of current laws and regulations about anti unscrupulous competition and anti monopoly by the Company or competitors, shall immediately report to the relevant departments of the Company.
4.3.2
In marketing process, highlight the market promotion through service, product and brand, prohibited from any unscrupulous competition means through exaggeration or distortion of facts, imputation of competing product quality, service quality, financial conditions and business reputation of competitors;
4.3.3
In the market research, obtain competitor information of products, service and marketing strategies through legitimate sources, prohibited from gaining any trade secrets or other confidential information of any competitor through illegal or improper sources;
4.3.4
Be extremely cautious in negotiation with competitors; in principle, any employee shall shun from any discussion of any topic that may constitute monopoly, limitation of competition or unscrupulous competition behaviors, and immediately notify the relevant departments of the Company.
4.4
Relations with regulatory authorities:
4.4.1
Submit to lawful administration of the telecom market by regulatory authorities, and maintain close communications with the government to help safeguard legitimate interests of the Company;
4.4.2
In respect of the relationship with regulatory authorities or officers, the employees shall take due consideration of the anti-corrupt rules governing the government officers and control such behaviors within legal range, and it is prohibited to offer any benefits to regulatory officers that may impair his or her fair judgment. It is prohibited to bribe, directly or indirectly, any regulatory officer in the name of the Company, or take any act violating the spirit of anti-corruption/bribe regulations, or violating civil servant policies, laws, regulations and administrative rules about part-time job in companies;
4.4.3
Provide services to the government pursuant to Rule 4.1 hereof about customer relationship, and policies, laws, regulations and administrative rules about anti-corruption/bribe, government procurement, bid invitation and bidding;
4.4.4
Ensure true, complete, accurate and prompt disclosure to the government in any form, such as reports, applications, certificates and declarations; promptly communicate with the preparation organs of the Company if there is any misleading information, material omission, material mistakes, significant misunderstanding or other error in any information furnished to the government, and disclose to the government through the disclosure department of the Company for immediate correction.
4.5
Relation with other employees:
4.5.1
Employees shall respect the dignity, religious belief and personal privacy of others, and are prohibited from harassing others in any manner, and any behavior resulting in threatening or hostile working environment.
4.5.2
All employees shall be devoted to teamwork from the macro perspective, forge the conscientiousness of joint creation and advance, be open-minded in sharing knowledge, experience and the joy of success with others, and try to excel over the average team level in terms of personal competence and contribution.
Section 5 Principle of Information Disclosures
5.1
Any public information disclosure of the Company shall be subject to uniform arrangement by the competent information department, without the consent of which no employees are allowed to make any public information disclosure or disclose any non-public corporate information, or publicly disclose or publish any personal comment on and opinion about the Company in the capacity of the employee of the Company or in the name of the Company.
5.2
All financial statements, accounting records, business analysis report, research report and other documents prepared by the Company shall accurately and explicitly reflect the facts.
5.3
Employees shall be acquainted with and abide by the information disclosure policies of the Company, and ensure all documents submitted to regulatory authorities and public disclosure documents in compliance with all applicable regulatory policies, laws, regulations and administrative rules in all material aspects.
5.4
The employees, in charge of or supervising any documents submitted to regulatory authorities, or public disclosure of corporate business, financial, performance and forecast information, shall join with concerned employees for thorough examination and analysis of the information to be disclosed in light of the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness, in an effort to ensure the true, complete, accurate and prompt disclosure.
5.5
Employees shall also follow the rules below regarding disclosure:
(1)
be acquainted with the applicable disclosure requirements of the Company;
(2)
prohibited from knowingly disclosure, or in exercise of reasonable care should have known, by himself or herself or causing any other party, of any misleading, significantly incomplete or fake information to internal or outside person (e.g., independent auditor, regulatory authority and media).
Section 6 Principles of Reporting
6.1
Unless otherwise stipulated hereunder, any employee may report to the same-level Supervisory Department of any violation or pending violation of this Code, which shall report to the management to take proper preventive and punitive measures against any actual violation.
6.2
In case of any violation or pending violation of this Code by general manager, deputy general manager and similar senior executives of non-legal person branches (collectively "Management Member", same as legal person entity), any employee may report to the superior Supervisory Department, which shall report to the superior management for settlement as set above.
6.3
In case of any violation or pending violation of this Code by Executives of legal-person companies, any employee may report to same-level Supervisory Committee or supervisor, who shall report to the same-level Board of Director fro settlement as above.
6.4
It is prohibited to retaliate on any reporting employee.
Section 7 Appendix
7.1
This Code constitutes the guideline document of the occupational ethics of Employees. The occupational behaviors of Employees are also governed by applicable government policies, laws, regulations, administrative rules, Articles of Association, and current rules of the Company.
7.2
The Board of Directors and management of the Company shall supervise the enforcement of this Code as stipulated hereunder.
7.3
This Code shall take effect upon the approval of the Board of Directors of the China Communications Services Corporation Limited.
7.4
Any termination or modification of the Code shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited in the form of board resolutions pursuant to the Articles of Association.
7.5
This Code shall be interpreted by the Board of Directors of China Communications Services Corporation Limited.