See that guv, a bank with a heart of gold

We always knew HSBC was a bank with a big heart; now Bloomberg News tells us the bank pays the cleaners at its London Docklands headquarters well above the going rate: GBP5 (about HK$61) an hour compared with the more prevalent legal minimum pay of GBP4.20.

The HSBC cleaners' pay rate has been hailed by the East London Communities Organisation (Elco), a lobby group for low-paid workers, which comprises special interest groups including churches, mosques and trade unions.

'We are delighted that the contract cleaners at HSBC are getting the highest rate in the area but we still believe they do not earn enough to support a family in London,' an Elco spokesman said.

Elco had a hand in giving the bank's cleaners a better deal; back in May it bought HSBC shares so it could get into the HSBC annual meeting and put some pertinent pay-related questions to highly paid chairman John Bond.

'HSBC is not without sympathy for the organisation's ultimate objective, a better life for those it represents,' a bank spokesman told Bloomberg.

Double booked: The Hong Kong Jockey Club knows how to spoil its patrons. Regular diners at the club's Derby Room have been invited to 'a unique Dom Perignon Dinner' on December 3. Guest of honour at the dinner will be the big-name bubbly's international public relations man.