Hong Kong Journal of Social Sciences

This study examined the effect of internal corporate governance mechanisms on the financial performance of listed financial institutions on the Uganda Securities Exchange. We collected secondary data from a census of all the financial institutions from 2014 to 2023. In addition, primary data on governance and financial performance was obtained through interviews to supplement the secondary data. We employed both accounting-based (ROE) and market-based (Tobin’s Q) proxies to measure firm-financial performance. Based on the results, the agency theory fails to illustrate that the board of directors (BoDs) and the audit committee (AC) are effective in improving financial performance. However, ownership structure (OS) has a notably positive and significant effect on financial performance, highlighting the importance of different forms of ownership in a firm. Our study adds to the literature by demonstrating that the application of agency theory doesn’t have a significant effect on firm-financial performance in the Ugandan context. Moreover, it contributes to the present body of knowledge on ICGMs and firm-financial performance literature, particularly in the context of an emerging economy.

Keywords: Internal corporate governance mechanisms, financial performance, listed commercial banks, Uganda Securities Exchange.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.42

Despite the growing use of Smart Tourism Technologies (STTs) in heritage tourism, their effectiveness in shaping tourist experiences, heritage site image, and destination loyalty remains underexplored, particularly in Cambodia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This study examines how key STTs attributes—informativeness, accessibility, interactivity, personalization, and security—enhance tourists' experience with STTs and their loyalty with heritage destinations. It also examines the mediating role of heritage site image in this relationship. This study collected data on-site from 411 international tourists visiting all four of Cambodia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Smart-PLS 4.0 was used to evaluate the measurement and structural models. The results demonstrate that all STTs attributes positively enhance tourists perceived STTs experience. This perceived smart tourism experience subsequently impacts tourists' likelihood of returning to the heritage destinations and recommending them through word-of-mouth, which is partially mediated by the heritage site image. This study contributes to the limited body of research on the impact of STTs in heritage tourism by introducing a new conceptual model that positions heritage site image as a mediator between perceived STTs experience and destination loyalty. The findings offer practical insights for heritage stakeholders, including technology developers, by highlighting the critical role of informativeness, personalization, and interactivity in the design and implementation of STTs to enhance tourists’ experiences and strengthen the global appeal of Cambodia's heritage sites.

Keywords: Cambodia, smart tourism technologies, heritage site image, PLS-SEM, destination loyalty.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.41

This study examines the challenges in the Thai constitution-making process from a constitutionalism perspective. Employing a qualitative research approach, we analyzed 20 processes of drafting the Thai constitution from secondary documents, comparing past and present processes. Our analysis is grounded in the concept of constitutionalism, which comprises four key criteria: the legality of the constitution-making process, the constitution-making organization, the role of political representatives, and public participation. The findings indicate that the Thai constitution-making process is largely inconsistent with constitutionalism principles, with most processes originating from coups or their continuations. Although recent efforts have improved the process's form, only 3-5 processes meet the constitutionalism criteria. The lack of public participation in the constitution-making process has resulted in a constitution lacking political equity, negatively impacting Thailand's democratic system stability and contributing to ongoing political crises.

Keywords: Constitutional process, Thailand, Constitutionalism, Thailand's democratic system.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.40

This study employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating critical discourse analysis and cognitive linguistics to investigate the impact of the journey metaphor on U.S. presidential campaign slogans from 2000 to 2024. A comprehensive analysis of 20 years of slogans sourced from Wikipedia reveals a nuanced understanding of the metaphor's role in shaping political discourse and voter perceptions. The research identifies three dominant themes: "Vision for the Future" (37.04%), "Challenges and Solutions," and "Identity and Values." Notably, the emphasis on "Unity and Togetherness" has significantly decreased, indicating a shift in political messaging strategies. This study contributes to the existing literature on political discourse and campaign rhetoric, providing insights into the evolution of U.S. presidential campaign slogans and their implications for voter engagement.

Keywords: Emotional Connections, Journey Metaphor, Presidential Campaign Slogans, Political Discourse, Political Messaging, Voter Perceptions.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.39

This study examines the relationship between work environment and turnover intention, with a specific focus on the impact of three-shift work. Using survey data from a large hospital in South Korea and the job demands-resources model, we investigate whether three-shift work exacerbates the negative association between work environment and turnover intention. The findings indicate that a positive work environment can mitigate turnover intention, whereas three-shift work is associated with increased turnover intention. Notably, we found no evidence to suggest that nurses working in three-shifts perceive a weaker relationship between work environment and turnover intention. These results have implications for addressing the global nursing shortage and high turnover rates, suggesting that three-shift work may be a viable flexible work pattern. Furthermore, our study provides empirical support for the impact of three-shift work on employee perception, highlighting the need for managers to redesign work types, including three-shift schedules, to improve performance.

Keywords: work environment, turnover intention, three-shift work rotation, the job demand-resource model, nursing industry.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55463/hkjss.issn.1021-3619.64.38