Membership
Program
Membership
Program

Incorporate CHO concepts

Membership Program

About CHOA

The Chief Happiness Officer Association Limited (CHOA) is a non-profitable organization founded in 2021 with the mission to build a platform for all stakeholders to co-create a happy and healthy environment in every organization, thus advancing corporate culture excellence in Hong Kong and the Region.

“CHO” refers to “Chief Happiness Officer”. According to the United Nations’ Annual World Happiness Rankings released in 2022, HK ranked 81th among 146 countries and cities. In such a cosmopolitan city, we believe that there are ways to pursue happiness and everyone deserves a happy life.

In the CHOA, we trust that corporations can lead the CHO movement by transforming companies’ culture. Not only can employees bring happiness related extra performance to the corporations, but their happiness will also be spread from the working environment to their families and the community. It is going to be critical that the business world effort is mobilized to advocate this change.

Membership Categories

Members of the Association comprise of the following 5 types of membership:
  1. Founding Member (Only applicable in 2022 application)
  2. Corporate Member
  3. SME Member
  4. Individual Member
  5. Student Member

Eligibility and Designation

1. Founding Member (Only applicable in 2022 application)

  1. Founding Membership is applicable to corporations only, but not for individuals.
  2. Corporations or organizations with over 50 employees can apply for the Founding
    Membership.
  3. Corporations or organizations must fulfill the following requirements:
    1.  Have a valid business registration and with a physical business address in Hong Kong;
    2. Might be asked to provide proof such as bank statements.
  4. The designated Committees of CHOA have the right  to reject any application  for membership, or  terminate an existing membership, and refuse any nomination of company representatives and is not  bound to state the reason for doing so.

2.Corporate Member

  1. Companies or Organizations with over 50 employees can apply for the Corporate Membership.
  2. Companies or Organizations must fulfil the following requirements:
    1. Have a valid business registration and with a physical business address in Hong Kong;
    2. Might be asked to provide proof such as bank statements
  3. The designated committees of CHOA have the right to reject any application for membership, or terminate an existing membership, and refuse any nomination of company representative and are not bound to state the reason for doing so.
Download Application form (PDF)
Apply Online

3. SME Member

  1. Companies or Organizations with less than 50 employees can apply for the SME Membership.
  2. Companies or Organizations must fulfil the following requirements:
    1. Have a valid business registration and with a physical business address in Hong Kong;
    2. Might be asked to provide proof such as bank statements.
  3. The designated committees of CHOA have the right to reject any application for membership, or terminate an existing membership, and refuse any nomination of company representative and are not bound to state the reason for doing so.
Download Application form (PDF)
Apply Online

4. Individual Member

  1. Individual applicant must fulfill the following requirements:  
    1. Have 5 years or above working experience; or
    2. Being employee of CHOA Members, with 3 years or above working experience.
  2. The designated Committees of CHOA shall have absolute discretion in respect of each application to decide conclusively whether he/she has or has not fulfilled the conditions applicable to his/her case. The decision of the designated Committees of CHOA is final and shall not be subject to any appeal.
Download Application form (PDF)
Apply Online

5. Student Member

  1. Individuals are post-secondary college full-time students who are interested in advocating happiness culture in Hong Kong.
  2. The designated Committees of CHOA shall have absolute discretion in respect of each application to decide conclusively whether he/she has or has not fulfilled the conditions applicable to his/her case. The decision of the Directors is final and shall not be subject to any appeal.
Download Application form (PDF)
Apply Online

Membership Rights

1. Founding Membership (Only applicable in 2022 application)

  1. Founding Members should appoint 3 representatives of the  company in order obtain the eligible voting rights.
  2. Founding Members shall be eligible to:
    1. Encourage to participate in our activities of the association;
    2. Be given 3 votes for all general meetings of the Association for different resolutions and to elect or stand for election of Head of the Committee of the Association;
    3. Propose actions and make proposals for amendments to resolutions, subject to the final discretion of the Directors of the Association.

2. Corporate Membership

  1. Corporate Member should appoint 2 representatives of the corporation or organization in order to obtain the eligible voting rights.
  2. Corporate Member shall be eligible to:
    1. Encourage to participate in our activities of the association;
    2. Be given 2 votes for all general meetings of the Association for different resolutions and to elect or stand for election of Head of the Committee of the Association;
    3. Propose actions and make proposals for amendments to resolutions, subject to the final discretion of the Directors of the Association.

3. SME Membership 

  1. SME Member should appoint 1 representative of the corporation or organization in order to obtain the eligible voting right.
  2. SME Member shall be eligible to:
    1. Encourage to participate in our activities of the association;
    2. Attain 1 vote for all general meetings of the Association and to elect or stand for election of Head of the Committee of the Association;
    3. Propose actions and make proposals for amendments to resolutions, subject to the final discretion of the Directors of the Association.

4. Individual Membership and Student Membership

  1. Individual Members shall have no voting rights at all the general Meetings.
  2. Individual Member and Student Member shall be eligible to:
    1. Encourage to participate in our activities of the association;
    2. Participate in related sub-committees of the Association by invitation only.

Membership Benefits

1.Founding Membership (Only applicable in 2022 application)

Enhance Employer Branding as CHO Company

  1. Opportunity for a seat on “CHOA Board of Founding Members” recognition as one of the main groups that are leading the community to co-create a happy and healthy environment in workplace.
  2. Designation of “CHOA Founding Members” will be awarded to Founding Members and such designation will be shown in all of the CHOA publications or programmes when the corporate or organization is referenced.
  3. Acknowledgement of participation in leading the market transformation through actual implementation in their sector.
  4. Free listing of members’ logo on CHOA’s Website and promotional materials.
  5. Free listing of business opportunity to all members on CHOA’s “Membership Benefit Programme” Webpage.
  6. Free listing of comprehensive company information on CHOA’s “Membership Directory” Webpage.

Attend Networking Events to Share Best Practices on Building Positive CHO Organizational Culture

  1. Enjoy membership discounts to participate in CHO Appreciation Awards.
  2. Invitation to attend an annual CHO forum to meet with the advisory groups, CEOs, and HR elites.
  3. Invitation to CHOA’s networking events and company visits.

Attend CHO Workshops and Continuous Learning Support

  1. Enjoy membership discounts on the Certificate of Induction Chief Happiness Officer Programme awarded by The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong & CHOA.
  2. Enjoy membership discounts on workshops organized by CHOA, such as Psychological Wellness Programmes, Digital Transformation, CHO GEAR Leadership Programme, Design Thinking Workshop, etc.
  3. Free access to CHO Review publications.

 Other Exclusive Benefits for Members

  1. Enjoy special membership discounts and promotions offered by our supporting partners.

2. Corporate Membership and SME Membership

Enhance Employer Branding as CHO Company

  1. Free listing of members’ logo on CHOA’s Website and promotional materials.
  2. Free listing of business opportunity to all members on CHOA’s “Membership Benefit Programme” Webpage.
  3. Free listing of comprehensive company information on CHOA’s “Membership Directory” Webpage.

Attend Networking Events to Share Best Practices on Building Positive CHO Organizational Culture

  1. Enjoy membership discounts to participate in CHO Appreciation Awards.
  2. Invitation to attend an annual CHO forum to meet with the advisory groups, CEOs, and HR elites.
  3. Invitation to CHOA’s networking events and company visits.

 Attend CHO Workshops and Continuous Learning Support

  1. Enjoy membership discounts on the Certificate of Induction Chief Happiness Officer Programme awarded by The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong & CHOA.

  2. Enjoy membership discounts on workshops organized by CHOA, such as Psychological Wellness Programmes, Digital Transformation, CHO GEAR Leadership Programme, Design Thinking Workshop, etc.
  3. Free access to CHO Review publications.

Other Exclusive Benefits for Members

  1. Enjoy special membership discounts and promotions offered by our supporting partners.

3. Individual Membership and Student Membership

  1. Invitation to exclusive membership
  2. Enjoy membership discounts on CHOA’s activities including CHO Appreciation Awards, seminars, workshops organized by CHOA, such as Psychological Wellness Programmes, Digital Transformation, CHO GEAR Leadership Programme, Design Thinking Workshop, etc.
  3. Enjoy membership discounts on the Certificate of Induction Chief Happiness Officer Programme awarded by The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong & CHOA.
  4. Opportunity to attend an annual CHO forum to meet with the advisory groups, CEOs and HR elites.
  5. Invitation to CHOA’s networking events and company
  6. Free access to CHO Review publications.
  7. Enjoy special membership discounts and promotions offered by our supporting  partners.

Application Terms and Conditions

  1. Completed a membership application form.
  2. Paid the annual membership fee to retain the membership
  3. Any members should agree with the Association’s objective and promote the same objective of the
  4. Membership and membership fee are neither transferable nor
  5. The membership year of the Association shall be from the 1st day of January to the 31st day of December of each calendar
  6. All applications for membership are subject to approval and acceptance by designated Committees of CHOA.
  7. The membership fee payable by members shall be of such amount or amounts as shall be determined by the designated Committees of CHOA. The designated Committees of CHOA may at its discretion adjust the subsequent annual membership fees for members on a yearly
  8. The membership of each member shall be valid for the membership year for which the prescribed annual membership has been paid in accordance with these Articles and may be renewed on an annual basis for the ensuing membership year subject to payment of the prevailing annual membership fee therefore from time to time prescribed by the designated Committees of CHOA.

Membership Renewal Terms and Conditions

  1. Renewal notice will be sent by email in early-November every year. (Hardcopy renewal notice along with payment advice will be sent on request only).

Termination/ Cancellation of membership

  1. A member may withdraw from membership of the Association by giving 14 days’ notice to the Association in
  2. Membership will be expired on the last day of each Calendar Year and may be renewed for the ensuing membership year on payment of the prescribed annual membership fees 30 days prior to the end of the calendar
  3. If members wish to reinstate the membership after it has been cancelled, they are required to apply it again.
  4. Membership will be terminated if the member has a criminal offence or is imprisoned or, in the opinion of the designated Committees of CHOA, shall have left Hong Kong to escape trial or shall be dismissed from the public services with disgrace.
  5. CHOA reserves the right to terminate a membership if a member is found to be acting inappropriately or acts in violation of the core values of CHOA.

Membership Fee

Fee Schedule: Annual Subscription

Founding Members

HK$2,800 (For renewal only)

Corporate Members

HK$2,800 (join between 1st Jan and 31st Mar)

HK$2,100 (join between 1st Apr and 30th Jun)

HK$1,400 (join between 1st Jul and 30th Sep)

HK$700 (join between 1st Oct and 31st Dec)

SME Members

HK$800 (join between 1st Jan and 31st Mar)

HK$600 (join between 1st Apr and 30th Jun)

HK$400 (join between 1st Jul and 30th Sep)

HK$200 (join between 1st Oct and 31st Dec)

Individual Members

HK$200 (join between 1st Jan and 31st Mar)

HK$150 (join between 1st Apr and 30th Jun)

HK$100 (join between 1st Jul and 30th Sep)

HK$50 (join between 1st Oct and 31st Dec)

Student Members

Free

  1. The membership fee is an annual subscription based.
  2. The annual subscription fee for the first year will be on pro-rata basis subjected to the time of joining.
  3. The designated Committees of CHOA shall have absolute discretion in respect of each application to decide conclusively whether he/she has fulfilled the conditions applicable to his/ her application or not. The decision of the designated Committees of CHOA is final and shall not be subject to any appeal.

Pilot Programme in 2023

Chief Happiness Officer Recognition

  • The award-winning recognition programme will be launched in 2023 Q2 & Q3.
  • It aims at recognizing corporations or organizations that create an outstanding employee experience.
  • Chief Happiness Officer Recognition is a process that includes:
    1. Happiness Index Survey completed by a sample pool of employees.
    2. Employee feedback and analysis provided to organizations.
    3. Recognition will be issued by CHOA if the organizations attain a 70% or above average score in the survey
  • If necessary, CHOA can provide consultant service to corporations or organizations to enhance happiness culture at workplace and arrange second Happiness Index Survey 6 months after the first survey. CHOA will provide the service fee quotation to the corporations or organizations.
  • Happiness Index Survey is to measure how the employees perceive the organization and themselves in the following aspects:
    1. Individual perceived happiness experience
    2. Internal management orientation
    3. Team orientation
    4. Digital transformation in empowering employees
  • Pilot Participation fee is applicable for CHOA Founding, Corporate and SME Members. It is based on the number of employees that will affect the number of survey submissions. The fees include data collection, analysis and a report of the scores.

  • Corporations or organizations with more than 100 employees will be entitled to a 45-minute consultation for analysis of survey findings.

Contact us for the application procedures!

signature events in 2023

CHO Appreciation Awards 2023

  • The CHO Appreciation Awards 2023 will be held in 2023 Q4 and the Award Presentation Ceremony is tentatively scheduled on 23rd November 2023 (Thursday).

  • Objective of CHO Appreciation Awards 2023 includes:

    1. To recognize corporations or organizations dedicated to creating great workplace cultures through efforts to improve employee recognition, employee engagement, and overall employee experience.

    2. To honor, award and thank corporations or organizations and their culture building team for their tremendous effort in driving corporate happiness culture.

    3. To promote psychological wellness and corporate happiness awareness in the workplace.

    4. To promote talent sustainability and unleash power for transformation in psychological wellness and working environment in the business world.

    5. To establish an active exchange of best practices among the awardees and the community.

  • The judging process includes enrollment form submission, written paper submission, happiness index surveys submission and final presentation for selected finalists.

  • Corporations or organizations that attained Chief Happiness Officer Recognition can be exempt from happiness index surveys submission.

  • Participant fee includes:

    1. Administration fee for every entry.

    2. Promotion fee for Top 10 Happiest Company To Work For Award & The Happiest SME To Work For Award.

    3. Promotion fee for Special Awards.

    4. Entry tickets for Award Presentation Ceremony.

    5. Promotional package from other media channels, i.e. i-Cable Communication Limited (Optional).

  • CHOA members enjoy a special discount on the administration fee.