The impact of social and economic development on corporate social and environmental disclosure in Hong Kong and the UK.

Xiao, Jason Zezheng; Gao, Simon S; Heravi, Saeed; Cheung, Yuk C Q

Abstract

This study compares corporate social and environmental disclosure
(CSED) in Hong Kong (HK) and the U.K. through a content analysis of
334 annual reports prepared by 69 listed companies over the period of
1993–1997. We find that U.K. and HK companies differed in the amount,
theme and location of CSED, and that there was an upward trend in the
amount of CSED in both U.K. and HK firms during the five-year period,
although U.K. firms increased more than HK firms. We argue that HK
and U.K.’s different stages of social and economic development, by creating
differential pressures and demand for CSED and exposing companies
to differential political costs and legitimacy threats, contributed
towards these differences in CSED.

Citation

Xiao, J. Z., Gao, S. S., Heravi, S., & Cheung, Y. C. Q. (2005). The impact of social and economic development on corporate social and environmental disclosure in Hong Kong and the UK. Advances in international accounting, 18, 219-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0897-3660%2805%2918011-8

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2005
• Deposit Date: Feb 26, 2008
• Print ISSN: 0897-3660
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Pages: 219-243
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0897-3660%2805%2918011-8
• Keywords: corporate; social; economic development; disclosure; Hong Kong; UK
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2111
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0897-3660(05)18011-8