HSBC executives at Tuesday's AGM might have been bracing themselves for an onslaught of shareholder questions about the handsome pay package awaiting William Aldinger when he takes the reins as chairman and chief executive of HSBC America.
Mr Aldinger's remuneration promises more than US$56 million over the next three years and, as one of the largest pay packages ever offered to a director of a British listed company, it has created a furore among British shareholders.
But fortunately for HSBC, Hong Kong shareholders had more basic concerns on their mind and seemed distracted by the retirement of the bank's chief executive officer, Sir Keith Whitson.
Shareholders quizzed Sir Keith on everything from HSBC's dividend payout plans to its charity contributions, as well as his outlook for Hong Kong's recovery and his own retirement plans after 42 years at the bank. One particularly sentimental elderly shareholder had written Sir Keith a farewell poem.
But Lai See takes its hat off to the shareholder who had perhaps the most simple request for the chief executive.
'Will you serve better refreshments next year?' she asked.