HSBC (Hong Kong)

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The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
  • HSBC
  • HongkongBank
Native name
香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司
FormerlyThe Hongkong and Shanghai Bank
Company typePublic limited company
(Origin: Body Corporate formed by Special Ordinance)[1]
IndustryFinancial services
Founded3 March 1865; 159 years ago (1865-03-03) in British Hong Kong[2]
Incorporated on 14 August 1866; 157 years ago (1866-08-14)[3]
FounderSir Thomas Sutherland
HeadquartersHSBC Main Building, 1 Queen's Road Central, Central, ,
Hong Kong
Key people
Peter Wong
(Chairman)
David Liao
(Co-CEO)
Surendra Rosha
(Co-CEO)
ProductsRetail banking, commercial banking, investment banking, mortgage loans, private banking, wealth management, credit cards, finance and insurance
Number of employees
68,294 (2014) Edit this on Wikidata
ParentHSBC
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.hsbc.com.hk
HSBC
Traditional Chinese香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司
Simplified Chinese香港上海汇丰银行有限公司
Cantonese YaleHeūnggóng Seuhnghói Wuihfūng ngànhòng yaúhhaahn gūngsī
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese滙豐
Simplified Chinese汇丰
Cantonese YaleWuihfūng

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (Chinese: 香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司), commonly known as HSBC and formerly known as HongkongBank (Chinese: 滙豐; Cantonese Yale: Wuihfūng; styled Wayfoong by the bank), is the Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific subsidiary of the HSBC banking group, for which it was the parent entity until 1991. The largest bank in Hong Kong, HSBC operates branches and offices throughout the Indo-Pacific region and in other countries around the world. It is also one of the three commercial banks licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to issue banknotes for the Hong Kong dollar.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank was established in British Hong Kong in 1865 and was incorporated as The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1866, and has been based in Hong Kong (although now as a subsidiary) ever since. It is the founding member of the HSBC group of banks and companies, and, since 1990, is the namesake and one of the leading subsidiaries of the London-based HSBC Holdings PLC. The company's business ranges from the traditional High Street roles of retail banking, commercial banking, corporate banking to investment banking, private banking and global banking.

Hong Kong banking[edit]

An HSBC ATM at Tai O, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
The HongkongBank Foundation

Under the HSBC brand, the bank maintains a network of around 220 branches throughout Hong Kong, from which it offers a wide range of financial products and services. For some time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the bank was known by the name HongkongBank in its native city, although it now trades as HSBC. During that period, it also adopted the idiosyncratic practice of calling its ATMs Electronic Teller Card (ETC) machines.

Headquarters[edit]

The HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building is located in No 1 Queen's Road Central in the Central district on Hong Kong Island.[4] It was also home to HSBC Holdings plc's headquarters until the latter firm's move to London to meet the requirements of the UK regulatory authorities after the acquisition of the Midland Bank in 1992. It was designed by British architect Norman, Lord Foster, and was the most expensive building in the world based on usable floor area at the time it was built.[5]

Hong Kong dollar bank notes[edit]

A HK$20 note issued by the HSBC

HSBC is one of the three commercial banks which are authorised to issue banknotes for Hong Kong - the other two being the Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong).[6] Of the total notes in circulation measured by value, HSBC is the most prolific issuer, its notes representing 67.7% of those in issue. Hong Kong is unusual in that it is one of the few countries or territories where commercial banks are still permitted to issue their own banknotes.

Closure of bank accounts[edit]

In June 2023, it was reported that HSBC had closed the bank accounts of the pro-democracy League of Social Democrats (LSD), and had refused to give reasons for its decision.[7]

Other Hong Kong operations[edit]

Hang Seng Bank[edit]

HSBC acquired a 62.14%, controlling interest in the local Hang Seng Bank in 1965 during a crisis of the latter. The Hang Seng Index for stock prices in Hong Kong is named after the Hang Seng Bank.

PayMe[edit]

In 2017, HSBC launched the PayMe brand and mobile app, which features as a social payment app in Hong Kong, available to all non-HSBC users.[8]

HSBC Insurance[edit]

HSBC Insurance provides insurance products and services to international and local brokers, agents and direct customers in Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, Singapore, India and Malaysia.

Asia Pacific operations[edit]

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation maintains a network of around 600 offices in 20 countries in Asia Pacific, as well as owning of a number of HSBC banks operating in various countries and holding the group's stakes in further lenders, particularly in China.[9]

Operations of the group in the Asia Pacific are under this subsidiary, and it forms the regional headquarters for Asia Pacific. This means that it is responsible for entities such as HSBC Bank Australia Limited, Hang Seng Bank Limited, HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad (since 2009), HSBC Bank (Vietnam), HSBC Bank (Taiwan) and HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited, and the management of stakes in Bank of Communications (19.9%), Barrowgate Limited (24.64%) and Industrial Bank. But excluding the majority of the HSBC's Private Banking business in Asia Pacific.[9][10]

Bangladesh[edit]

HSBC started operations in 1996. The bank primarily focuses on urban areas and has branches in most areas of the capital city of Dhaka, it also has branches in the city of Chittagong. The bank also has a good number of ATM booths in the cities present, it also has booths in most five star hotels.

HSBC Bangladesh is rated 'AAA' in the Long-term and ST-1 rating in the Short-term, which are the highest level of ratings for any bank or financial institution in Bangladesh.[11]

HSBC Bangladesh offers a comprehensive range of financial services such as commercial banking, consumer banking, payments and cash management, trade services, treasury, and custody and clearing. The bank also offers offshore banking in the Export Processing Zones, this is only limited to investors in the EPZs. A special service called NRB Services is also available for non-resident Bangladeshis, this service allows consumers to maintain accounts in US Dollars, Pound Sterling and Euros. People using this service can freely remit money from Bangladesh to any part of the world and can access their money from any HSBC booth around the world.

HSBC Bangladesh has a help centre which operates on a daily basis. It is one of the very few banks in the country to offer day night banking. It also has begun to support education initiatives for people with disabilities; the bank recently partnered with the Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation to give scholarships to people with blindness.[12]

Brunei[edit]

On 6 April 2016, HSBC Brunei commenced winding down its operation in Brunei as a part of HSBC Group global review. The bank which comprise retail, commercial and global banking services will no longer take on any new accounts, facilities or business from that date. Employees of the bank have been offered fair redundancy packages.[13] On 9 & 10 November 2017, all HSBC Brunei branches and ATMs had ceased its operations. The remaining accounts were all transferred to the local, Baiduri Bank on the same date.

China[edit]

HSBC logo

HSBC established its Shanghai branch office on 3 March 1865 and has had a continuous presence in the city[14] since then, except during the Japanese Occupation. Until the economic reforms of the late 1970s, its activities were mainly in inward remittances and export bills, however its activities now span a wider range.

On 6 August 2004, HSBC announced that it would pay US$1.75 billion for a 19.9% stake in Shanghai-based Bank of Communications. At the time of the announcement, Bank of Communications was China's fifth-largest bank and the investment by HSBC was eight times bigger than any previous foreign investment in a Chinese bank. The industry considered this move, giving HSBC a lead in the race to grab pieces of mainland China's banking market. A year earlier, HSBC had joined with Hong Kong's Shanghai Commercial Bank to purchase an 11% stake in Bank of Shanghai (HSBC paid US$62.6 million for an 8% stake) and US$733 million for a 10% stake in Ping An Insurance.

On 1 April 2007, the mainland China offices of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation transferred to its subsidiary HSBC Bank (China), and it started operations on 2 April.

In July 2022, HSBC became the first foreign lender to open a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) committee in its Chinese investment banking subsidiary.[15] The subsidiary, HSBC Qianhai Securities, is a 90% HSBC-owned joint venture.[15]

India[edit]

In 1959 HSBC acquired The Mercantile Bank of India, London and China, established in October 1853 in Bombay. HSBC is now one of the fastest growing foreign banks in India,[16] both in domestic banking and support operations for worldwide operations (see Group Service Centres).

Indonesia[edit]

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation opened its first Indonesian office in Jakarta in 1884. Having been able to restart its operations after the Second World War, it was again forced to close in the mid-1960s, however the bank was granted a new banking licence in 1968 its operations have grown to make it one of the largest foreign banks operating in Indonesia.[17]

Japan[edit]

HSBC opened its first Japan operations in Yokohama in 1866, followed by branches in other trading ports such as Osaka, Kobe and Nagasaki. It was heavily involved in the early development of Japan's current monetary system, and consulted with the government regarding fiscal policy, currency printing and related matters.

HSBC does not conduct ordinary retail banking in Japan, but conducts investment banking in Tokyo and Osaka. Since 2007 it has expanded its HSBC Premier private banking services for the "Mass affluent" market or high-net-worth individual clients. HSBC Premier has seven Premier branches in Japan including centers in the Hiroo, Akasaka, Marunouchi(flagship), Ginza, Yokohama, Ikebukuro, areas of Tokyo and one in Kobe.

In December 2011, HSBC announced to selling its private bank in Japan to Swiss peer Credit Suisse for an undisclosed sum, but at the end of October 2011 the value of the gross assets included in the sale was about $2.7 billion. It was a strategy to cut $3.5 billion annual costs by quitting businesses or countries where it lacks scale which Credit Suisse has a larger business in Japan than HSBC and in line with a global business restructuring it announced that will see it cut 30,000 jobs as it pares back small or inefficient operations.[18][19]

New Zealand[edit]

HSBC's operations in New Zealand are as a branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, which first gained a licence from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on 22 July 1987.[20] Today HSBC offers a range of financial products from a network of 9 offices.[21]

Philippines[edit]

HSBC's history in the Philippines dates back more than 110 years with the establishment of their first branch no. 90 Rosario Street (Now Quintin Paredes Street) in Binondo, Manila in 1875. In its early years of operation, HSBC serviced the booming Philippine sugar industry. At the turn of the century, it financed railways that connected provincial towns across Luzon to Manila. During the American regime, HSBC was called to advise on Philippine currency reform. Its current headquarters are in Fort Bonifacio. Today, HSBC Philippines operates in key Philippine cities such as Cebu and Davao. It has ended Citibank and Standard Chartered's duopoly on international banking in the Philippines.

Singapore[edit]

HSBC Singapore branch head office located at Collyer Quay, Central Area, Singapore
Marina Bay Financial Centre, which is new HSBC Singapore headquarter

In Singapore, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited operates as a full service bank with its headquarters in Collyer Quay. It opened its doors in December 1877. In 2016, HSBC has created a locally incorporated bank in Singapore and has moved its retail and wealth business from HSBC Singapore Branch to the locally incorporated bank.[22][23] Today, HSBC's flagship office remains at the original Collyer Quay site where its first branch was opened. Its main office is located at Mapletree Business City in Pasir Panjang, HarbourFront.

HSBC Singapore is a Qualifying Full Bank and offers a comprehensive range of financial services including commercial banking, investment and private banking, insurance, forfaiting and trustee services, and securities and capital markets services.[24]

The retail and wealth business operated through the locally incorporated bank has 12 branches incorporating 10 HSBC Premier Centres and 33 Automated Teller Machines in Singapore.[25]

In the 1960s, a group of Indonesian forces bombed the HSBC building in Singapore, just a few months after Singapore was granted its independence from Malaysia. A number of people were killed and the two military officers responsible for the bombing were tried and executed.[26]

South Korea[edit]

HSBC is expanding in competitive South Korean market, operating from a network of 11 branches, the first having been opened in Jemulpo in 1897 .

Sri Lanka[edit]

HSBC has been present in Sri Lanka for 120 years. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited established its first branch in Colombo Sri Lanka on 1 July 1892, just 27 years after it began operating in Hong Kong and Shanghai. It has established itself as one of the largest and most profitable banks operating in the country. It has achieved leadership in Corporate Banking, Capital Markets and Credit Card issuance.

Taiwan[edit]

HSBC's presence in Taiwan dates back to 1885 when The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation appointed an agent in Tamsui. A full service branch was established in Taipei in 1984. The bank now has a network of 8 branches (Hyperlink to service channel[clarification needed]) nationwide, including Taipei, Jianguo, Banqiao, Tianmu, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung. In 2007, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation acquired The Chinese Bank in Taiwan. The acquisition made HSBC's nationwide branch network increase to 47.

Thailand[edit]

HSBC initially opened for business in Thailand in 1888, becoming the first commercial bank in the country. HSBC has made significant contributions to the establishment of solid foundations for Thailand's financial and banking sectors. For example, in 1889 HSBC issued the first banknotes in Thailand. HSBC also issued the first foreign loan to the Thai government for its railroad construction project. HSBC's main branch office in Thailand is situated in Bangkok on Rama IV Road opposite Lumpini Park. In 2011, Phase 2 of the new Financial Sector Master Plan allowed foreign banks to open up to two branches in the Kingdom of Thailand in preparation for full retail operations. Accordingly, a second branch was opened on Thonglor (Sukhumvit 55) in early 2011.

In January 2012 HSBC announced the sale of its Thailand retail banking operations to the Krungsri Group (Bank of Ayudhya) and its intention to maintain only corporate banking business in Thailand.[27] Its 2 retail branches will be closed in March and June 2012 respectively.[28]

Vietnam[edit]

The former HSBC building in Saigon at 9 Ben Chuong Duong, now used by the State Bank of Vietnam, along with the nearby 17 Ben Chuong Duong building

In Vietnam, HSBC first opened an office in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1870, but it was closed in 1975. In 1992, HSBC reopened a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City and opened another in Hanoi. In August 1995, HSBC opened a full-service branch in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2005, HSBC also opened its second branch in Hanoi and established a representative office in Can Tho.

On 29 December 2005, HSBC acquired 10% share capital of Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), one of the largest joint stock commercial banks in Vietnam by equity. In July 2007, HSBC became the first foreign bank to increase its stake in Techcombank to 15%. In September 2008, HSBC completed the increase of its stake in Techcombank to 20%, became the first foreign bank in Vietnam to hold a 20% interest in a domestic bank.

In September 2007, HSBC acquired 10% share capital of Bao Viet Holdings, becoming the sole foreign strategic partner of Vietnam's leading insurance company. In October 2009, HSBC signed an agreement to increase its shareholding in Bao Viet Holdings to 18% from 10% for VND1.88 trillion (approximately US$105.3 million).

On 1 January 2009, HSBC started operating its locally incorporated entity and became the first foreign bank to incorporate in Vietnam, after gaining approval from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to set up a Wholly Foreign-Owned Bank (WFOB) in Vietnam in September 2008.

Financials in Hong Kong dollars[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Operating income, bln 81.01 94.51 114.8 154.0 139.0 155.1 171.4 187.6 217.3 259.2 233.6 235.9 232.7 255.2
Net profit, bln 36.55 37.20 42.61 65.31 54.98 50.21 63.28 73.90 90.72 129.1 92.18 99.98 84.80 96.02
Total assets, trln 2.487 2.673 3.151 3.952 4.260 4.361 5.040 5.607 6.065 6.439 6.877 6.954 7.549 7.943
Total equity, bln 100.1 114.4 165.4 245.9 216.5 260.2 320.1 371.3 473.1 522.2 608.3 635.9 679.1 753.0

Leadership[edit]

  • Chairman: Peter Wong (since June 2021); non-executive chairman
  • Chief Executive: David Liao and Surendra Rosha (since June 2021); co-chief executives

Former chairmen[edit]

In 1991, the superseding position of group chairman of HSBC was formed; since then, the chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has been held as an independent position, held concurrently by the chief executive of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, or held by the group chief executive of HSBC ex-officio.[37]

  1. William Purves (1991–1994), also HSBC group chairman until 1998
  2. John Gray (1994–1996), concurrent chief executive
  3. John Strickland (1997–1999)
  4. David Eldon (1999–2005)
  5. Vincent Cheng (2005–2010); first local Hong Kong Chinese chairman
  6. Michael Geoghegan (2010–2011); group chief executive from 2006 to 2011
  7. Stuart Gulliver (2011–2017); concurrent group chief executive
  8. John Flint (2017–2019); concurrent group chief executive
  9. Laura Cha (2019–2021); non-executive chairman

Former chief executives[edit]

In 1991, the superseding position of group chief executive of HSBC was formed, with the Chief Executive of the Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation now being the Asia-Pacific regional head.[37]

  1. John Gray (1993–1996)
  2. David Eldon (1997–1999)
  3. Aman Mehta (1999–2004)
  4. Michael Smith (2004–2007)
  5. Sandy Flockhart (2007–2009)
  6. Peter Wong (2010–2021)

Cultural references[edit]

Left lion statue (Stephen)
Right lion statue (Stitt)
The lion statues of HSBC Main Building in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the local population sometimes refers to the bank as 獅子銀行, "the Lion Bank", after the pair of lion sculptures outside the bank's headquarters, which also appear in some banknotes. Local films and television series set in Hong Kong, especially comedies, use this nickname when referring to the bank.

Although the Hong Kong Government changed the official spelling of "Hongkong" to "Hong Kong", by the instructions of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on 3 September 1926,[38] HSBC uses the older Hongkong, as the bank's name was conceived before the official declaration of the modern two-word name, and it was decided to retain the single word spelling in the bank's name: Hongkong.

The English humorist P. G. Wodehouse was a junior employee at the bank's London office in Lombard Street from 1900 to 1902, and used the bank as an inspiration for some of his early work, especially his 1910 novel Psmith in the City.[39]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hong Kong Companies Registry Company registry numbers: SO0000027 and 0263876.
  2. ^ "HSBC's history". HSBC Holdings plc. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  3. ^ "The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance (Number 2 of 1866)". Legislative Council of Hong Kong (digitalised by the University of Hong Kong (Hongkong University Libraries)). Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Contact Us." HSBC. Retrieved on 12 September 2011. "The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation LtdThe Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation - Hong Kong Address:GPO Box 64, Hong Kong, 1 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong SAR, China"
  5. ^ HSBC Headquarters Hong Kong - The World's Most Expensive Building. ilovehongkong.org Retrieved 2018-06-03
  6. ^ Note-issuing Banks from HKMA website. Retrieved 2018-06-03
  7. ^ Mok, Lea (2 June 2023). "HSBC terminates bank accounts of Hong Kong opposition party League of Social Democrats without giving reason". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. ^ "HSBC to launch new mobile P2P payment platform in the 'next few days'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  9. ^ a b Group structure | HSBC Holdings plc Simplified structure chart - Group structure | HSBC Holdings plc
  10. ^ "Webb-site Who's Who Database - Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (The)". The Webb Site.
  11. ^ "Credit Rating Agency in Bangladesh". Archived from the original on 26 December 2009.
  12. ^ "HSBC's support for visually impaired". The Daily Star. 16 October 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  13. ^ "HSBC Brunei Public Announcement". 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  14. ^ "List of HSBC branches in China". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009.
  15. ^ a b "HSBC installs Communist party committee in Chinese investment bank". Financial Times. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  16. ^ "List of HSBC branches in India". Archived from the original on 31 January 2009.
  17. ^ "List of HSBC branches in Indonesia". Archived from the original on 1 February 2009.
  18. ^ "UPDATE 4-Credit Suisse buys HSBC's private bank in Japan". 21 December 2011.
  19. ^ "HSBC Sells Japan Private-Banking Unit". Wall Street Journal. 21 December 2011.
  20. ^ "List of registered banks in New Zealand, Reserve Bank of New Zealand". Archived from the original on 11 December 2004.
  21. ^ "HSBC International Networks". Archived from the original on 17 June 2006.
  22. ^ HSBC to incorporate its local operations in May, Yahoo news 2016-02-05 Retrieved 2018-05-20
  23. ^ HSBC SINGAPORE TO TRANSFER ITS RETAIL BANKING AND WEALTH MANAGEMENT BUSINESS TO LOCALLY INCORPORATED SUBSIDIARY BY 9 MAY 2016, HSBC Press Release 2016-02-05 Retrieved 2018-05-20
  24. ^ "HSBC Bank Singapore » BanksinSG.COM". BanksinSG.COM. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  25. ^ HSBC Branch listing Retrieved 2018-05-20
  26. ^ "MacDonald House attack still strikes home in S'pore". The Jakarta Post.
  27. ^ "HSBC Statement released in Jan 2012 - Changes to HSBC business operations in Thailand. Retrieved 2018-06-03". Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  28. ^ HSBC closing down in Thailand. Investvine.com 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2018-06-03
  29. ^ "Annual Report and Accounts 2017" (PDF). The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Annual Report 2005" (PDF). The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  32. ^ "Annual Report 2008" (PDF). The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  33. ^ "Annual Report 2010". The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  34. ^ "Annual Report 2012". The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  35. ^ "Annual Report 2014". The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation limited. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  36. ^ "香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司2016年報及賬目" (PDF). HSBC. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  37. ^ a b Lan, Rixu (2015). Transformation of China's Modern Banking System. Enrich Professional Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62320-080-0.
  38. ^ "Hong Kong Government Reports Online". sunzi1.lib.hku.hk.
  39. ^ McCrum, Robert M. (2004), Wodehouse: A Life, New York & London: W.W. Norton, pp. 85, ISBN 0-393-05159-5.

Further reading[edit]

  • King, A. H. ed. Eastern banking: essays in the history of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (1983) online

External links[edit]