IT'S been a good year for the Hang Seng Bank, according to chairman Sir Quo-wei Lee. Despite the many challenges faced by the banking sector in the past year, Sir Quo-wei, last year's Businessman of the Year in the DHL/South China Morning Post Hong Kong Business Awards, is optimistic about the future. He said: 'I think we [the bank] have not done too badly in the last year.' He said the award he received last year was an honour for him personally and the bank. Despite Hang Seng Bank posting a 10.6 per cent increase in attributable profits to $7.42 billion for the year ending December 31, 1994, it has been a troubled year for the banking industry. The government's deregulation plans and a slumping property market have had an effect on the territory's banks. Sir Quo-wei urged the Government to show caution in any banking deregulation moves. Sir Quo-wei is one of Hong Kong's most experienced and eminent bankers. He joined the bank as a cable clerk 50 years ago and became chairman in 1983. One of his most notable achievements was negotiating the sale of 51 per cent of the bank to Hongkong Bank in 1965. He said the relationship between the two banks could not be better: 'They know our management, so have left us to run the bank. Since the merger we have grown and have never looked back.' Sir Quo-wei has also served as chairman of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and holds several directorships. He also finds time for community service and is involved with several educational institutions. He helped establish the Community Chest and still supports the organisation. Sir Quo-wei said that in the future the bank planned to be 'conservatively aggressive'. Sir Quo-wei is full of praise for Hong Kong's businessmen. 'I think businessmen in Hong Kong are very shrewd, forward thinking people, they know what to do when opportunity comes.'