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perhaps half of their salaries and tell them not to come. would also be fair to them as they do not do any work.'
It
This concern for long term economic interests was rooted in a strong sense of vocation. As A17 declared in a different context, 'my whole career is in textiles. I don't want to lose my mill'. It is this vocational devotion that led to industrial strategies that appeared akin to the socially responsible orientation. The spinners provided dormitories for the workers, protected them against redundancy, took heed of public opinion not because these measures were intrinsically right, but because these would 'pay' in the long run.
It would be naive to assume that long range business interest and social responsibilities can always be reconciled. There is obviously a limit to the feasibility of synchronizing the two. The degree of incompatibility will vary according to how social responsibilities are collectively defined. In other words, the nature of the political system in which industry has to operate is relevant.
Ideal political environment
Because of the colonial set-up and the co-existence of Chinese communist and nationalist organizations in Hong Kong, political issues concerning colonialism and communism were regarded as sensitive matters by many inhabitants. Sometimes, discussions of these topics were avoided in public. One of my respondents glanced at the group of statements on the relation between politics and business and simply refused to make a choice. 'Politics no, I would not even look at them. No politics'. In order not to risk massive non-responses, I asked an open-ended question on their conception of the ideal political environment for industry. Their replies reaffirmed the findings on their attitude towards social responsibility. A number of them championed the classical capitalistic vision of free enterprise. The answer by B1 was illustrative:
'No social welfare for able-bodied persons. All welfare for the handicapped and the old only. Lower the tax. We don't want government help or government intervention. No government interference that would be utopia.'
148
perhaps half of their salaries and tell them not to come. would also be fair to them as they do not do any work.'
It
This concern for long term economic interests was rooted in a strong sense of vocation. As A17 declared in a different context, 'my whole career is in textiles. I don't want to lose my mill'. It is this vocational devotion that led to industrial strategies that appeared akin to the socially responsible orientation. The spinners provided dormitories for the workers, protected them against redundancy, took heed of public opinion not because these measures were intrinsically right, but because these would 'pay' in the long run.
It would be naive to assume that long range business interest and social responsibilities can always be reconciled. There is obviously a limit to the feasibility of synchronizing the two. The degree of incompatibility will vary according to how social responsibilities are collectively defined. In other words, the nature of the political system in which industry has to operate is relevant.
Ideal political environment
Because of the colonial set-up and the co-existence of Chinese communist and nationalist organizations in Hong Kong, political issues concerning colonialism and communism were regarded as sensitive matters by many inhabitants. Sometimes, discussions of these topics were avoided in public. One of my respondents glanced at the group of statements on the relation between politics and business and simply refused to make a choice. 'Politics no, I would not even look at them. No politics'. In order not to risk massive non-responses, I asked an open-ended question on their conception of the ideal political environment for industry. Their replies reaffirmed the findings on their attitude towards social responsibility. A number of them championed the classical capitalistic vision of free enterprise. The answer by B1 was illustrative:
'No social welfare for able-bodied persons. All welfare for the handicapped and the old only. Lower the tax. We don't want government help or government intervention. No government interference that would be utopia.*
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