Frequently asked questions on Webb-database

  1. What does code "U" mean?
  2. What do the "From" and "Until" dates mean?
  3. What is total return and CAGR?
  4. Are the data guaranteed to be accurate?
  5. Are the data up to date?
  6. Are the data complete?
  7. I'm an important person in HK. Why am I not in Webb-database?
  8. We are an important organisation in HK. Can you add us to Webb-database?
  9. We are a company registered in HK. Can you remove us from Webb-database?
  10. Does Webb-database breach privacy laws?
  11. Where is Webb-database published?
  12. What are Webb-database Governance Ratings and Webb-database Trust Ratings?

1. What does code "U" mean?

In Webb-database, "U" in the Officers, Advisers or Adviserships tables means the person no longer holds that position but we do not know when the person ceased to hold the position.

2. What do the "From" and "Until" dates mean?

For positions, we use the right-open interval convention for time periods, which means that the period includes the "from" date but excludes the "until" date. The until date is the first date on which the person no longer holds a position. The reason we use this convention is that it makes it easier to see who replaced a person, by matching a departing person's "until" date with an incoming person's "from" date. It also makes it easier to see when a person has changed position in an organisation, as the two dates will match. For directorships, the "Until" date is the date of resignation, removal or death.

If a person's appointment or resignation date is not known exactly, then we record the nearest month or year, and our site only shows what we know.

If an "until" date is in the future, then it is the date on which the term of appointment is expected to expire. This is most common for government appointments to statutory or advisory bodies.

3. What is total return and CAGR?

The total return is the Webb-database Total Return on the ordinary shares of the company over the period in which the person holds or held the position, or since 3-Jan-1994 if the directorship began earlier. For more information on the calculation, see the notes on Webb-database Director League Tables and the notes on Webb-database Total Returns. The Compound Annualised Growth Rate (CAGR) is the annualised rate of return.

4. Are the data guaranteed to be accurate?

No, but we try our best. Unfortunately, when published sources name individuals, they do not always identify them. To identify them would be to provide enough information to be 100% certain of the exact person to whom the name refers. It is very rare for sources to publish a unique identifier, such as an ID card number, which would allow us to be certain (assuming that an index of ID cards was available for verification). All we can do is make all reasonable efforts to avoid the two main types of error:

Multiple identity usually arises because the person has used variations of his or her name in different instances - for example, using a married name rather than a maiden name. Mistaken identity usually arises where two sources use the same name and in such similar contexts that we have assumed them to be the same person. We attempt to distinguish between them by reference to age, gender and any other biographical information we can find. That is why, if you search for common names in our database, you will sometimes find a year number such as (1965) in the name, which is the estimated year of birth (based on a published age), to distinguish from someone else. Rarely, two people will have the same name but unknown ages or identical ages, in which case we use other characteristics such as their title or principal affiliation. As a result, each name used is unique within the database, and each person has a unique ID number which the database assigned to them.

Secondly, there may be data which was accurate when entered, but has become inaccurate as a result of subsequent events or the passage of time. If our information is outdated, please tell us and provide updated information.

5. Are the data up to date?

We aim to keep track of changes in directorships of HK-listed companies, District Councils, Legislative Council, Executive Council and statutory and advisory bodies as announced by the HK Government via press releases or in the Gazette. These updates are usually done within a few days of announcement if not sooner. Many of the other positions have been entered based on a one-off disclosure or review. If you spot outdated information, please help us by sending us a link to the new information.

We check the SFC register of licensed persons regularly. We check the Companies Registry regularly for changes in the name and status of companies incorporated or registered in HK, but we cannot check directorships of non-listed companies, as these are hidden behind a pay-wall.

6. Are the data complete?

Coverage in Webb-database varies depending on the subject. We cover the directors and advisers (auditors, bankers, lawyers and so on) of all HK-listed companies since 1-Jan-1990, including delisted ones. Let us know if you spot errors. For companies not listed in HK, directorship data is not maintained but occurs sporadically as we go through HK disclosures, so you will not see the entire board of most non-HK-listed companies. We cover members of statutory and advisory bodies, since the Gazette went online in May-2000. For some of those bodies, we have been able to glean information from online Government press releases since 1-Jul-1997. We cover the District Councils since they took over from the District Boards in 1999. We cover the Election Committee for Hong Kong's Chief Executive since it was established in 1996. We include data on all SFC-licensed entities and their past and present Responsible Officers and Representatives since 1-Apr-2003. We include data on all companies registered at the Companies Registry since records begin (registration was not compulsory until 1911). 

8. I'm an important person in HK. Why am I not in Webb-database?

We're sorry we missed you! Please write and tell us why you think you should be included in the database. We reserve sole discretion to include or exclude you. There is no charge for inclusion. We also reserve the right to include unimportant people! All information must be verifiable from publicly available sources.

9. We are an important organisation in HK. Can you add us to Webb-database?

Yes. Just send us complete information on the full names and, preferably, to reduce mistaken identity, the year of birth of the members of your governing body (e.g. board of directors or council), and please keep us updated! We reserve the sole discretion to include or exclude your organisation. There is no charge for inclusion. All information must be verifiable from publicly available sources.

10. We are a company registered in HK. Can you remove us from Webb-database?

No. We maintain a complete database of every company ever incorporated or registered in HK, including its date of incorporation (or for non-HK companies, the date of registration in HK), past and present names, type and status, as recorded in the HK Companies Registry. These data are public information, and when you incorporate or register a company in HK, with the privilege of limited liability, you are not entitled to keep the company secret.

11. Does Webb-database breach privacy laws?

Of course not!

All of the data in Webb-database are previously-published information from public sources, including but not limited to listed company annual reports, government and company announcements, judgments, gazettes, published birth announcements, obituaries, statutory disclosures and information reported or appearing in newspapers and other journals. All that we do is bring it all together in one easily-accessible database.

13. Where is Webb-database published?

You are accessing Webb-database on a server in Dallas, USA, and it is accessible in all good countries and territories via the internet.

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