Anger after HSBC demands right to ‘snoop’ into safe deposit boxes of Hong Kong customers

A barrister has accused HSBC of trampling on the concept of personal privacy by demanding the power to snoop on customers’ safe deposit boxes and dump “offensive” items.

According to a letter sent to clients last month, a copy of which was obtained by the Post, the bank said that under new conditions of its leases for the lockers it had the right to dispose of any items it considered illegal, of an “offensive” nature or likely to be a “nuisance”, in any way it saw fit and without prior notice or consent.

The letter did not clarify what HSBC meant by “offensive” or “nuisance”, and did not explain under what circumstances bank staff would be able to inspect the boxes.

It asked clients to sign and return the letter within one month to confirm their acceptance of the updated conditions, so “we [HSBC] can continue providing you with the Safe Deposit Locker services”.

Barrister Neville Sarony, SC, said the updated conditions gave HSBC “totalitarian rights” over the contents of the boxes and offended against the concept of personal privacy. He said the effect of the terms was to give the bank a contractual right to open the boxes for inspection and deal with the contents at their absolute discretion.

“This is a ridiculous and grossly invasive power which makes a nonsense of the whole purpose of a safety deposit box,” Sarony said.