The current television commercial for Standard Chartered Bank makes a good point: 'Can it not only look at the profit it makes, but how it makes the profit, and stands beside people, not above them?'
It raises an important issue: should companies consider their corporate responsibilities while pursuing shareholder returns?
Given the public outrage that erupted over the recent electricity tariff rises, this issue is very relevant to Hong Kong's power companies - Power Asset Holdings, formerly known as Hong Kong Electric, and CLP Group.
Despite that lofty statement, Standard Chartered is not going to give discounted rates to its customers any time soon. But it operates in a market with many competitors to keep it honest.
Power Asset Holdings is the sole provider of electricity for Hong Kong Island, and CLP for Kowloon. Without the checks of competition, the government regulates the rate of return to ensure the companies don't make excessive profits.
To this end, the government has a scheme of control agreement (SCA) with the power companies (the current 10-year SCA expires at the end of 2018), under which they may charge tariffs that result in them making a net return of 9.99 per cent on average net fixed assets. Green investments are allowed a higher return of 11 per cent of the relevant average net fixed assets.