THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1981
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CALL FOR SOCIAL AUDIT SYSTEM
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A CALL FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A +SOCIAL AUDIT+ SYSTEM IN HONG KONG CAME FROM THE HON ANDREW SO.
SPEAKING DURING THE POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR SO SAID SOCIAL AUDIT, A CONCEPT EVOLVED IN THE SIXTIES, IS A SYSTEM UNDER WHICH CONTINUING ACCOUNT IS KEPT OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
+AS IN FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING, HE POINTED OUT, A TALLY IS MADE OF EACH OF THE SOCIAL COSTS, INCLUDING SUCH DISADVANTAGES AS LAYING OFF STAFF OR AIR POLLUTION AND SOCIAL BENEFITS AS SELF-DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES OR SUBSIDISING COMMUNITY SERVICES.
+ALTHOUGH THIS CONCEPT IS STILL NASCENT, IT WILL PERFORCE BECOME THE BEST MEANS TO CHECK AGAINST CORPORATE SOCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS MEASURE CORPORATE CONSCIENCE,+
MR SO NOTED THAT SOME PROGRESSIVE CORPORATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE ARE ALREADY DEVELOPING SUCH A SYSTEM.
IN FRANCE, HE SAID, THE PRACTICE HAS EVEN BEEN LEGISLATED AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS ENGAGED MORE THAN 750 EXPERTS TO CONDUCT A SOCIAL AUDIT EVERY FINANCIAL YEAR SINCE 1978.
WHILE ADMITTING THAT HONG KONG IS A UNIQUE PLACE WHERE IMPORTED CONCEPTS OR SYSTEMS MIGHT NOT BE PRACTICAL, MR SO TOLD MEMBERS THAT HONG KONG HAS A GREAT NEED TO ESTABLISH SOCIAL STANDARDS AGAINST WHICH ITS ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES CAN BE JUDGED.
*WE HAVE TO TRAIN EXPERTS SIMILAR TO SOCIAL AUDITORS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. ABOVE ALL, WE HAVE TO RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR SOCIAL AUDIT, HE STRESSED.
IN RECENT YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE GREAT EFFORTS TO EFFECT ADMINISTRATIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT TO IMPROVE OUR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WOULD INVOLVE MORE THAN
JUST GOVERNMENT OR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS, HE ADDED.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE AND CALL UP ALL OUR CORPORATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS TO GIVE DUE ATTENTION TO THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES INSTEAD OF THINKING ONLY OF ECONOMIC GAINS,
THE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED DISTRICT BOARDS MAY CONSIDER
EMPHASIS ING THIS ASPECT OF THEIR WORK, HE SAID.
MR SO ALSO SAID THAT IF A SOCIAL AUDIT REPORT IS PUBLISHED IN FUTURE, IDENTIFYING WHICH OF OUR POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTS THE HEALTH OF OUR WORKERS, WHICH POLLUTES OUR AIR OR WATER, WHICH ERODES THE MIND OF OUR YOUTH AND AT THE SAME TIME PRESENTING WAYS AND MEANS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, IT WILL CERTAINLY AROUSE WIDE PUBLIC INTEREST.
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