ASQ InfVoices - The Intersection of Quality and Social Responsibility in Hong Kong

The ASQ Influential Voice July Topic is "The Intersection of Quality and Social Responsibility" suggested by ASQ CEO Paul Borawski. I agreed the need of quality professionals to consider more one social responsibility (e.g. ISO 26000) and would like to share Hong Kong's situation for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Nowadays more and more companies are becoming increasingly aware of the need for socially responsibility. There is a reflection of growing concerns about environmental degradation, social inequality, corporate governance and other issues. Organizations are subject to increasing expectations of their various stakeholders, including customers, workers, trade unions, the community, non-governmental organizations, and lenders, insurers and investors. There are 7 cores Social Responsibility (SR) in ISO 26000 included Organisational Governance, Environment, Human rights, Labour Practices, Fair Operating Practices, Consumer issues and Community involvement / society development.

ISO 26000 is a guide to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) systematically. However, many companies in Hong Kong are only considered CSR as charity activities. Some manufacturers in Hong Kong/China (especially Toy factory) needed SA8000 certification to ensure human rights and labour practices, as well as, local law. It is because of customer requirement.

One of CSR activities in my company was "HKSTP supported the New Territories Walk for Millions on 15 February 2009". My article was summarized this activity below.
20090215 - Walk for Millions and Corporate Social Responsibility http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2009/02/walk-for-millions-and-corporate-social.html
Moreover, HKSTP has been awarded the “Caring Organization 2008/09” by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS). Most of charity activities we would like to participate but we have no plan to implement a system based on ISO 26001:2010 (Guidance on Social Responsibility).

Moreover, HKQAA is pioneer in Hong Kong to discuss and promote about the underlying principles of social responsibility, the issues that constitute social responsibility and how to implement and integrate social responsible behavior into existing organizational strategies, systems, practices and processes through HKQAA Symposiums since 2008. The following links are summaries of different HKQAA symposium.

20121126 - HKQAA Symposium 2011 - Performing Your Social Responsibility to Recreate the World - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2011/11/hkqaa-symposium-2011-performing-your.html
20101126: HKQAA Symposium 2010 – Sustainability Challenges (Part 1)
Part 1 - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2010/11/hkqaa-symposium-2010-sustainability.html

20101126: HKQAA Symposium 2010 – Sustainability Challenges (Part 2)
Part 2 - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2010/11/hkqaa-symposium-2010-sustainability_26.html
20091125 - HKQAA Symposium 2009 - An Evolution of CSR Era (Day 1)
http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2009/11/evolution-of-csr-era-hkqaa-symposium.html
20091126 - HKQAA Symposium 2009 - A Smaller Carbon Footprint (Day 2)
http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2009/11/smaller-carbon-footprint-hkqaa.html
20081212 - HKQAA Symposium 2008 - Green Day
http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2008/12/hkqaa-symposium-2008-green-day.html

Another certification body (SGS) cooperated with HKSQ to launch a seminar about CSR in 2010.
20101210 - New Trend of CSR & Sustainability Reporting Seminar (SGS)
http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2010/12/new-trend-of-csr-sustainability.html

Prof. Mok's book entitled "Corporate Social Responsibility in Hong Kong" (In Chinese) was issued and distributed during HKQAA Symposium 2011. I got Prof. Mok's signature.

Until now, the Intersection of Quality and Social Responsibility is not obviously. Many SR activities was responded by Communication and Publicity Department but not Quality Department. They focused on public image more than the indirectly impact on the quality of product, service and life. One of barrier for implementing ISO 26001 is extra resource need. It is not enough incentive especially for SME.