A reader writes to say that when he logged on to the HSBC website, he was dismayed at the advertisement that popped up.
It read: "AccidentSurance - Double indemnity on death or disablement caused by public transport accidents."
He said: "So soon after the awful National Day ferry disaster I think that trying to cash in on people's fears is inappropriate and callous."
So, was HSBC indulging in ambulance chasing? With this thought in mind we approached HSBC. Spokeswoman Laine Santana said the advertisement had been running since September 1 and was one of about a dozen that are on rotation on HSBC's website. The bank withdrew the ad on Monday after we called about it.
It has to be said that this public transport element does not normally feature prominently among HSBC's accident insurance products. Its Hong Kong website includes travel insurance, accident insurance, golfer's insurance, but nothing specific on public transport accidents. But a search on the internet comes up with TravelSurance Plus, offered by HSBC Singapore, which states under the heading of daily hospitalisation allowance, "Receive a lump sum of up to S$250,000 in the event of an accident that results in permanent disability or death. This sum doubles if the accident occurs while travelling on public transportation." So, in this description the public transport element doesn't even warrant a sub-heading in contrast to the prominence this aspect of the policy gets in the ad our reader complained about. The public transport aspect is also mentioned in an AccidentSurance fact sheet supplied to Lai See by HSBC. It is mentioned in the section on frequently asked questions. The ad seems an unfortunate coincidence, but we suppose HSBC must be given the benefit of the doubt.