China and Hong Kong firms see greatest growth in whistle-blower reports in Asia-Pacific, but fail to act adequately, Baker McKenzie survey shows
- Some 74 per cent of mainland firms and 61 per cent from Hong Kong saw an increase in whistle-blowing complaints over the past year, compared with an average of 41 per cent in Asia-Pacific
- Leading Hong Kong firms should act as role models and demonstrate how whistle-blowing policies and disclosures should be handled, Baker McKenzie executive says
Mainland China and Hong Kong firms have seen the greatest growth in whistle-blower reports but have failed to respond adequately, a survey of five major Asia-Pacific markets by law firm Baker McKenzie has found.
Employers without the mindset and tools to navigate whistle-blowing complaints will become more vulnerable to risks such as regulatory sanctions, reputational damage and employee disengagement or claims, according to the law firm’s recent “Asia-Pacific Whistleblowing Landscape” report.
“[Companies] have to encourage a ‘speak-up’ culture. Part of that means that if somebody does raise complaints, you need to actually investigate,” Mini vandePol, Baker McKenzie’s head of investigations, compliance and ethics group in the Asia-Pacific region, said in an interview.
Some 74 per cent of mainland firms, and 61 per cent from Hong Kong, saw an increase in whistle-blowing complaints over the past year, compared with an average of 41 per cent in the region, according to the survey of 523 senior executives polled across five major markets, the others being Singapore, Japan and Australia.
However, companies on the mainland and in Hong Kong also received the highest number of complaints about how whistle-blower reports were handled, at 69 per cent and 42 per cent, respectively, according to the survey conducted by Baker McKenzie and Acuris Studios between January and March this year.