HSBC celebrates 160 years in Hong Kong with display of the bank’s heritage and innovation
Extensive line-up of anniversary festivities includes a special installation at HSBC’s iconic headquarters, plus an array of community events
HSBC marked its 160th anniversary with a vibrant celebration at its famous Hong Kong headquarters at 1 Queen’s Road Central, the same address where the bank first opened its doors on March 3, 1865. This landmark occasion not only honoured the bank’s rich heritage, but also highlighted its ongoing evolution as a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s financial landscape.
The anniversary celebration started with Luanne Lim, CEO of HSBC Hong Kong, sharing muffins with bank staff. The muffins were handmade by iBakery, a social enterprise that supports the development of individuals with disabilities. Staff also enjoyed a unique lion dance and drum performance that unfolded across several levels of the Main Building’s atrium, which included the lions, sporting LED lights, performing a routine choreographed to a pop song.
Also included in the celebration was the unveiling of a special 160th anniversary Rube Goldberg machine, which artistically illustrates HSBC’s journey from its founding to the present day. The installation, located on the ground-floor plaza of the HSBC Main Building, was created exclusively to mark this anniversary.
This innovative display serves as a time machine, offering viewers a glimpse into the bank’s growth over the past 160 years in about 160 seconds. The installation showcases HSBC’s deep roots in Hong Kong while also looking towards the future, highlighting key milestones in the bank’s history such as the origins of the hexagonal logo and the transformation of digital services.
From March 4, members of the public will have the opportunity to engage with the machine, in addition to viewing the installations of a giant birthday cake and a neon-light time tunnel that symbolise HSBC’s past and present.
Lim said: “For 160 years, HSBC has embraced innovation and progress while staying true to its core mission: creating opportunities for customers and making a positive impact on society, through both challenging and prosperous times. Over the decades, we have grown alongside Hong Kong, a thriving international financial centre, and we are honoured to be part of this journey.
“To mark this occasion, HSBC is hosting a series of events that bring together our customers, employees and the wider community. These include arts and sports activities, the HSBC Global Investment Summit and the HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival.”
HSBC’s diverse programme of events for its 160th anniversary year is designed to celebrate the bank’s impressive history while engaging with the Hong Kong community. Highlights include an opportunity for the public to share their stories of the bank on social media platforms, with selected entries earning RewardCash credits or limited-edition Octopus cards.
This month will also see HSBC celebrate 160 years through art and sports. The bank is a Lead Partner of M+ and major sponsor of the museum’s Special Exhibition, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia – A Conversation”, which will run from March 15 to July 13. The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, which the bank has proudly sponsored for decades, will take place from March 28 to 30. This year’s event will be hosted for the first time at the main stadium of the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park, of which HSBC is the Premier Founding Partner.
In addition, HSBC’s second Global Investment Summit will take place from March 25 to 27 in Hong Kong. It will feature a line-up of world-class experts including former Italian prime minister and former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, Ark Invest founder and CEO Cathie Wood, IBM chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, and Apollo Global Management president Jim Zelter, who will offer their perspectives on the global economy.
On April 5 and 6, the HSBC Hong Kong Community Festival will be held at Central Market, showcasing district-focused projects funded by The Hongkong Bank Foundation through the HSBC Community Partnership Programme. Last year, these projects made a meaningful difference in the lives of more than 431,000 people across the city, including young people, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, special HSBC-themed sails will be raised on the traditional Chinese junk boat, Dukling, as it makes its famous Victoria Harbour crossings. HSBC will also be supporting a variety of financial, arts and cultural events around the city designed to connect the local community with an international audience.
As HSBC commemorates this significant milestone in Hong Kong, these and other 160th anniversary celebrations and events promise to serve as memorable tributes to the bank’s legacy as well as its vision for the future.