Environmental performance and reporting: Perceptions of managers and accounting professionals in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study evaluates Hong Kong managers' perceptions of environmental performance and environmental disclosures by their firms. It also examines professional accountants' perceptions of environmental disclosures. The results of the study indicate that the vast majority of manager respondents considered environmental protection to be important for Hong Kong, but a review of environmental disclosures contained in annual reports indicates that there was a gap between perceived importance of environmental performance and actual environmental disclosures. This gap suggests that environmental disclosures on a voluntary basis have not encouraged managers to disclose voluntary information. So far as professional accountants are concerned, they did not express any strong feelings for environmental disclosures.