A27 – 11/16APPENDIX 27Appendix 27Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting GuideThe Guide1. This Guide comprises two levels of disclosure obligations: (a) “comply or explain” provisions; and (b) recommended disclosures.2. An issuer must report on the “comply or explain” provisions of this Guide. If the issuer does not report on one or more of these provisions, it must provide reasons in its ESG report. The issuer is encouraged, but not required, to report on the recommended disclosures of this Guide. For guidance on the “comply or explain” approach, issuers may refer to the “What is “comply or explain”?” section of the Corporate Governance Code and Corporate Governance Report (“Corporate Governance Code”) in Appendix 14 of the Main Board Listing Rules.3. An issuer must disclose ESG information on an annual basis and regarding the same period covered in its annual report. An ESG report may be presented as information in the issuer’s annual report, in a separate report, or on the issuer’s website. Regardless of the format adopted, the ESG report should be published on the Exchange’s website and the issuer’s website. Where not presented in the issuer’s annual report, the issuer should publish this information as close as possible to, and in any event no later than three months after, the publication of the issuer’s annual report. Overall Approach4. This Guide is organised into two ESG subject areas (“Subject Areas”): Environmental (Subject Area A) and Social (Subject Area B). Corporate governance is addressed separately in the Corporate Governance Code.5. Each Subject Area has various aspects (“Aspects”). Each Aspect sets out general disclosures (“General Disclosures”) and key ...
