Internet corporate reporting by listed firms in Hong Kong

Introduction: This paper studies the relationships between the degree of Internet corporate reporting and the characteristics of Hong Kong’s listed firms which use this innovation. Method: Applying our previously developed research framework, we performed an empirical study by adapting the research questions to the local context, identifying proxies for measuring the variables in the formulated hypotheses, and collecting two rounds of data over a three-year period for hypothesis testing. Analysis: We analysed the data quantitatively, identified and visualised the patterns of data, and performed statistical tests to validate the formulated hypotheses. Results: We found that the degree of a firm’s Internet corporate reporting is positively associated with several of its characteristics, including the level of corporate governance and previous experience of adopting such a reporting practice. Moreover, the relationships between the degree of Internet corporate reporting and a firm’s size, revenue and stock trading activity are very similar and exhibit a distinctive pattern. Conclusions: Clear relationships exist between several characteristics of a firm and its degree of Internet corporate reporting. Our previously developed research framework can be adapted to study such a reporting practice in other regions or local contexts.