66-541: HSBC Main Building is a headquarters building of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation , which is today a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based HSBC Holdings . It is located on the southern side of Statue Square near the location of the old City Hall , Hong Kong (built in 1869, demolished in 1933). The previous HSBC building was built in 1935 and pulled down to make way for the current building. The address remains as 1 Queen's Road Central (the north facing side of
132-796: 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. 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. 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 . The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation maintains
198-678: 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. Today HSBC offers a range of financial products from a network of 9 offices. 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
264-500: A capital of HKD 5 million, the bank opened its doors in 1865. Wardley House was subsequently demolished and replaced by a second HSBC building that was completed in 1886. The main feature of the second building design was the division of the structure into two almost separate buildings. The building on Queen's Road Central was in Victorian style with a verandah, colonnades and an octagonal dome , whereas an arcade which harmonised with
330-492: A financial powerhouse. The building’s design was intended to convey openness and innovation, aligning with the city’s rapid modernization in the 1980s. Its prominent location on Statue Square and its alignment with Victoria Harbour reflect its integration into Hong Kong’s cultural and urban identity. Today, the building remains an architectural representation of the city’s global financial influence. The early British settlers in Hong Kong had an interest in feng shui ; thus, most of
396-656: 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. 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;
462-408: A minimalist glass envelope, the new lobby is designed to be deferential to Foster's structure and appears almost to be part of the original. The building was designed to not have lifts as the primary carrier of building traffic. The lifts only stop every few floors at atriums, groups of floors which are divided for specific functions. The floors are interconnected by escalators. The goal of this design
528-797: 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 . 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
594-571: A presence in the building from 15 October 2011 until their eviction in September 2012. The new building was designed by the British architect Norman Foster and civil & structural engineers Ove Arup & Partners with service design by J. Roger Preston & Partners. It was constructed by the John Lok / Wimpey Joint Venture. From the concept to completion, it took seven years (1978–1985). The building
660-426: A solution that minimizes environmental impact in the coastal city of Hong Kong. These features, integrated seamlessly into the high-tech design and sustainable architecture. The building was also designed to comply with safety regulations concerning typhoons and ability to shelter the public plaza on the ground floor level. The HSBC Building is more than a functional headquarters; it is a symbol of Hong Kong’s role as
726-411: A special cement blend which takes humidity and increases corrosion protection rather than corroding the cladding and steel. All flooring is made from lightweight movable panels, under which lies a comprehensive network of power, telecommunication, and air-conditioning systems. This design was to allow equipment such as computer terminals to be installed quickly and easily. Because of the urgency to finish
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#1732832960802792-535: Is 180 metres high with 47 storeys and four basement levels. The building has a modular design consisting of five steel modules, which were prefabricated in the UK by Scott Lithgow Shipbuilders near Glasgow and shipped to Hong Kong. About 30,000 tons of steel and 4,500 tons of aluminium were used. The HSBC Building is an example of high-tech architecture, with its modular design allowing for rapid on-site assembly. This approach enabled large open interior spaces and aligned with
858-399: Is a mirror system at the top of the atrium, which reflects natural sunlight into the building. Through the use of natural sunlight, this design helps to conserve energy and reduces energy consumption.The sun shades are provided on the external facades to block direct sunlight going into the building and to reduce heat gain.The building’s cooling system relies on seawater rather than fresh water,
924-584: Is considered to have "good feng shui". In the CBC Television series Doc Zone episode "Superstitious Minds", Writer, Researcher & Associate Producer Tom Puchniak asserts that the design of the nearby Bank of China Tower ignored feng shui principles, and created instant controversy by evoking two knife edges, one pointing towards the British Government House , another towards the HSBC building. After
990-578: Is expanding in competitive South Korean market, operating from a network of 11 branches, the first having been opened in Jemulpo in 1897. 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
1056-559: Is now one of the fastest growing foreign banks in India, both in domestic banking and support operations for worldwide operations (see Group Service Centres ). 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
1122-419: 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. 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. HSBC acquired
1188-425: Is to add a social dimension and social flow to each floor, allowing for conversations to occur between floors and creating "a village in the sky". This was to shift away from the social isolation of each floor which is present with central lift systems. The main characteristic of HSBC's Hong Kong headquarters is its absence of internal supporting structure. The inverted 'va' segments of the suspension trusses spanning
1254-552: 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
1320-735: The Bank of China building opened, a series of mishaps occurred, including the death of the Governor, and a downturn in the city's economy. It is alleged that HSBC installed two maintenance cranes on the roof, pointing directly at the Bank of China, to defend against the negative energy from the Bank of China building. According to feng shui master Paul Hung, this solved the problem, and HSBC experienced "no harmful results after that." When HSBC decided to build its third headquarters at 1 Queen's Road Central, opened in 1935, it commissioned two bronze lions from Shanghai-based British sculptor W. W. Wagstaff. This commission
1386-545: 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. 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) . Of the total notes in circulation measured by value, HSBC
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#17328329608021452-626: The Philippines. 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. Today, HSBC's flagship office remains at
1518-610: The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to set up a Wholly Foreign-Owned Bank (WFOB) in Vietnam in September 2008. 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. In 1991,
1584-631: The adjacent buildings was constructed on Des Voeux Road . It was designed by Clement Palmer in 1883. In 1934, the second building was demolished and a third design was erected. The new building opened in October 1935. Upon completion, the building stood as the tallest building in Hong Kong and "the largest building in the Far East", "the tallest structure in South East Asia", and "tallest building between Cairo and San Francisco". The third design used part of
1650-462: The bank have been offered fair redundancy packages. On 9 and 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. HSBC established its Shanghai branch office on 3 March 1865 and has had a continuous presence in the city since then, except during the Japanese Occupation. Until
1716-535: The bank recently partnered with the Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation to give scholarships to people with blindness. 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
1782-623: 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
1848-611: 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, 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
1914-559: 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
1980-420: The building was served by Des Voeux Road Central , which was the seashore, making Queen's Road the main entrance, in contrast to the current primary access coming from Des Voeux Road). The first HSBC (then known as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Company Limited) building was Wardley House, used as an HSBC office between 1865 and 1882 on the present site. In 1864 the lease cost HKD 500 a month. After raising
2046-457: The construction at double-height levels is the most obvious characteristic of the building. It consists of eight groups of four aluminium-clad steel columns which ascend from the foundations up through the core structure, and five levels of triangular suspension trusses which are locked into these masts. A corrosion protection system is present because of Hong Kong's hot and humid climate. It introduces cementitious barrier coating, this process uses
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2112-539: The demolition of the building in 1981, the lions were temporarily moved to Statue Square, opposite the main entrance. As a mark of the respect the lions were held in, the move to Statue Square and the move back in 1985 were accompanied by the chairman Sir Michael Sandberg and senior management of the Bank. The placement of the lions both temporarily and in their current locations was made only after extensive consultations with feng shui practitioners. The lion named Stephen has shrapnel scars in its left hind-quarters dating from
2178-560: The earliest buildings in Hong Kong, and many buildings constructed thereafter, were built with the philosophies of feng shui in mind. The Chinese believe that those who have a direct view of a body of water—whether it is a river, a sea, or an ocean—are more likely to prosper than those who do not (water is strongly associated with wealth in feng shui). The HSBC building has a wide open area (the Statue Square) in front of it, with no other buildings blocking its view of Victoria Harbour ; thus, it
2244-466: 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
2310-490: The fighting in the Battle of Hong Kong . When this pair of lions was used as the model for the pair commissioned for the new UK Headquarters of HSBC in 2002, Zambian-born New Zealand sculptor Mark Kennedy was asked not to reproduce these "war wounds" in the copies as the shrapnel marks were seen as historical battle-scars. The following is a list of bronze copies and re-casts of the HSBC lions: Various other HSBC branches throughout
2376-606: 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
2442-495: The idiosyncratic practice of calling its ATMs Electronic Teller Card (ETC) machines. The HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building is located in No 1 Queen's Road Central in the Central district on Hong Kong Island . It was also home to HSBC Holdings 's headquarters until the latter firm's move to London to meet the requirements of the UK regulatory authorities after the acquisition of
2508-500: The land of the old City Hall , and was built in a mixed Art Deco and Stripped Classical style. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945, the building served as the government headquarters. It was the first building in Asia to be fully air-conditioned . By the 1970s, the bank had outgrown its headquarters; departments were scattered into offices all over Central, and it
2574-1066: The largest and most profitable banks operating in the country. It has achieved leadership in Corporate Banking, Capital Markets and Credit Card issuance. 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 ) 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. HSBC initially opened for business in Thailand in 1888, becoming
2640-461: 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
2706-415: The locally incorporated bank has 12 branches incorporating 10 HSBC Premier Centres and 33 Automated Teller Machines in Singapore. 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. HSBC
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2772-559: 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. The subsidiary, HSBC Qianhai Securities, is a 90% HSBC-owned joint venture. In 1959 HSBC acquired The Mercantile Bank of India, London and China , established in October 1853 in Bombay . HSBC
2838-405: 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. 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
2904-810: 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. Its 2 retail branches will be closed in March and June 2012 respectively. In Vietnam, HSBC first opened an office in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1870, but it
2970-514: 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. The retail and wealth business operated through
3036-449: The paws and noses of the statues hoping for luck and prosperity. During World War 2 , the lions were confiscated by the Japanese and sent to Japan to be melted down. The war ended before this could happen, and the lions were recognised by an American sailor in a dockyard in Osaka in 1945. They were returned a few months later and restored to their original positions in October 1946. During
3102-678: The principles of high-tech design , emphasizing exposed systems and functionality. The original design was heavily inspired by the Douglas Gilling designed Qantas International Centre in Sydney (currently known as Suncorp Place ). The new lobby and its two-part Asian Story Wall were designed by Greg Pearce, of One Space Limited. Pearce was also the Principal Architect of the Hong Kong Airport Express (MTR) station. Conceived as
3168-466: The project, the construction of the building relied heavily on off-site prefabrication; components were manufactured all over the world. For example, the structural steel came from Britain; the glass, aluminium cladding and flooring came from the United States while the service modules came from Japan. A notable feature is that natural sunlight is the major source of lighting inside the building. There
3234-472: 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
3300-736: 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. 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
3366-425: The time, it was the most expensive building in the world (c.a. HK$ 5.2 billion, roughly US$ 668 million). The decision to replace the previous headquarters marked the bank's goals for modernization and role in growth as a financial center. The first major addition to the building, designed by Hong Kong's One Space Ltd, was completed on 23 November 2006, in the form of a ground floor lobby that improves security access to
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#17328329608023432-510: The traditional High Street roles of retail banking , commercial banking , corporate banking to investment banking , private banking and global banking. 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
3498-529: The upper floors and creates a prestigious reception area. Its design and construction included the installation of the "Asian Story Wall", a multimedia installation consisting of twin banks of 30 seamless plasma screens (the largest installation of its kind in Hong Kong) displaying archived bank heritage and artworks. The atrium of the HSBC building was the site of the Occupy Hong Kong protests which maintained
3564-497: 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. HSBC's operations in New Zealand are as
3630-545: The world feature small-scaled replicas of these originals, with varying degrees of faithfulness. Other HSBC branches often feature guardian lions to different designs, such as Chinese guardian lions . In 2003, the Hong Kong Tourism Board developed a harbour lighting plan called " A Symphony of Lights ", a large-scale multimedia show featuring lighting, laser, music, and occasionally special pyrotechnics effects during festivals, to promote tourism in Hong Kong. The show
3696-519: 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 . Scott Lithgow Scott Lithgow, Limited was a Scottish shipbuilding company . The company was formed in 1967 by the merger of Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company and Lithgows . Scott Lithgow
3762-514: Was based in Port Glasgow and Greenock on the lower Clyde in Scotland . Scott Lithgow was nationalised and subsumed into British Shipbuilders in 1977. Reorganisation of Scott Lithgow in 1981 saw all the assets of its subsidiary companies transferred under the direct operational control of Scott Lithgow. From 1980, the company became the centre of British Shipbuilders’ Offshore Division and it
3828-705: Was based on the illumination of key buildings on the Hong Kong Island side, and was best viewed from the Kowloon side across the Victoria Harbour . The HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building was one of the participating buildings in the show. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ( Chinese : 香港上海滙豐銀行有限公司 ), commonly abbreviated as HSBC and formerly known as HongkongBank ( Chinese : 滙豐 ; Cantonese Yale : Wuihfūng ; styled Wayfoong by
3894-429: 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
3960-450: 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,
4026-415: 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 . The company's business ranges from
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#17328329608024092-656: Was granted a new banking licence in 1968 its operations have grown to make it one of the largest foreign banks operating in Indonesia. 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
4158-402: Was hoped that the offshore semi-submersible market would lead the yard back to profitability. However the Ocean Alliance semi-submersible construction was a disastrous contract for the company, with the rig eventually delivered four years late and at a loss of over £200 million. In 1984 Trafalgar House bought the company and the Company ceased to trade in 1993. This article about
4224-414: Was inspired by two earlier lions that had been ordered for the new Shanghai office opened in 1923. Cast by J W Singer & Sons in the English town of Frome , to a design by Henry Poole RA , these lions had quickly become part of the Shanghai scene, and passers-by would affectionately stroke the lions in the belief that power and money would rub off on them. They became known as Stephen and Stitt: Stephen
4290-419: Was named for A. G. Stephen , the Chief Manager of HSBC in 1923, and G. H. Stitt, the then Shanghai Manager. Stephen is depicted roaring and Stitt is at rest, which was said to represent the characters of these two famous bankers. Like the Shanghai lions, the Hong Kong lions became objects of veneration, and foci of the Bank's perceived excellent feng shui. People are known to still bring their children to stroke
4356-425: Was obvious that such a "solution" to the space limitations could not continue indefinitely. In 1978, the bank decided to replace it with a new building intended to symbolize the bank’s modernization and the city’s increasing prominence in global finance. Construction began in 1981 and concluded in 1985. The current building is a steel suspended structure designed by Norman Foster, was finished on 18 November 1985. At
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