Computer server disappeared while bank in Kwun Tong was being renovated
HSBC confirmed yesterday that a computer server containing data on 159,000 accounts had disappeared from one of its branches last month, but it insisted the risk of any security breach was very low.
Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time since the loss was discovered at its Kwun Tong branch on April 26 the bank said in a statement last night that the server held account numbers, customer names and transaction details, but no PINs, passwords or user IDs. The server is understood to have gone missing during renovations at the bank last month.
Earlier, HSBC Holdings executive director Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen had said he was not in a position to reveal more details as the case was being handled by police.
Police confirmed they had received a report from the Kwun Tong branch of a bank on April 26 saying a computer server had been stolen. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it had been notified of the incident by HSBC and was waiting for an investigation report from the bank.
Asked if affected customers would receive compensation, Mr Cheng said: 'I do not see there is any damage to the customers. If there are any complaints, we will deal with them.'
The bank's statement said HSBC was contacting affected account holders and had 'put in place preventative measures to ensure such an incident does not happen again'.