At a time when many Hong Kong enterprises are demonstrating an
increasing concern for ethics and the environment, it seems they
still have a long way to go to becoming good corporate citizens,
according to the results of a recent survey.
The survey of attitudes toward corporate social responsibility
(CSR) was jointly organized by the Committee on the Promotion of
Civic Education (CPCE) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
Based on a sample of 10,094 businesses from different sectors
and of various sizes, the survey revealed that Hong Kong
enterprises are largely unaware of the concept of CSR. Only 23
percent of the respondents were familiar with the term.
Pang King-chee, chairman of the CPCE, said the study focused on
four dimensions of CSR: A corporation's commitment to ethical
practices, minimizing the negative impacts of its work,
contributions to society and improving employees' wellbeing.
Only 9 percent of the firms queried had systems to implement,
monitor and evaluate CSR programs. Large companies were generally
more aware of CSR, and companies that were aware of CSR had better
CSR practices than those that were not.
Of the four areas mentioned in the survey, Hong Kong enterprises
scored highest in their commitment to ethical practices. More than
80 percent of respondents said they provided accurate pricing
information to customers and protected customers' personal
data.
The companies also performed well when it came to minimizing
their impact on the environment, as more than 70 percent of the
respondents had energy-saving policies or measures in place.
The firms did less well in the area of looking after employees.
Only 65 percent kept close watch on the working environment in
their facilities, and only 58 percent reviewed employees' benefits
on a regular basis.
Giving back to society ranked low on many companies' agendas,
with only 18 percent of the respondents saying they had donated
money to charity in the past 12 months. Thirty-seven percent did
not give any sort of assistance, such as non-monetary donations or
voluntary work, to charity.
"Many companies practice CSR only when it helps commercial
interests, which explains why they performed better in the first
two dimensions," Pang said. "It's encouraging to see, though, that
more than 70 percent believed CSR could benefit them in the long
run."
Joseph Chan, director of HKU's Center for Civil Society and
Governance, said adopting CSR is a gradual process that can help
build team spirit and enhance cost effectiveness in the long
run.
"Some Hong Kong companies have a genuine interest in CSR, even
though they lack sufficient knowledge of the institutional
mechanisms required," Chan said. "They can start with encouraging
their employees to take up volunteer work, which will help build
the company's reputation."
(China Daily November 13, 2007)