Since late January 2020, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus has grasped the headlines of various media outlets across the globe. Big businesses in the PRC are either temporarily shutting down stores or advising staff to work from home. As a range of PRC companies listed in Hong Kong have been severely affected by the virus, on 30 January 2020, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) released a joint statement to remind all Hong Kong listed companies to inform the Exchange about how their businesses have been affected by the outbreak of coronavirus1. Most PRC based listed companies have financial year ends on 31 December, and January through March is their busy period for the preparation of annual reports. However, current travel restrictions to and from PRC and Hong Kong have posed huge challenges for external auditors and also valuers, who often need to conduct on-site inspections and management interview for their work.