Client Affairs
Hong Kong Banks Temporarily Shut Branches Amid Pro-Democracy Protests
Protests in Hong Kong against the Mainland’s attempts to control elections in the city-state have led to clashes with riot police, while a number of banks temporarily closed their branches.
Protests in Hong Kong against the Mainland’s attempts to control
elections in the city-state have led to clashes with riot police,
while a number of banks temporarily closed their branches.
One report by Bloomberg, quoting an email from the Hong Kong
Monetary Authority, said 36 bank branches had been shut. There
had been clashes in the Causeway Bay and Mong Kok areas. Reports
said large crowds were still near the government’s main offices
in the Admiralty district. HSBC, Standard Chartered and BNP
Paribas were among the banks affected, reports said.
The Bank of East Asia, Hang Seng Bank, China CITIC and Bank of
China (Hong Kong) issued press statements that some of their
branches had been temporarily closed.
China CITIC said branches in the Lippo Centre and CITIC Tower had
been closed.
“Bank of East Asia Limited announces that some of its branches
and SupremeGold Centres will be temporarily closed due to traffic
disruption. BEA has activated its Business Continuity Plan
to mitigate the impact of the event on the Bank's ability to
serve customers in the affected areas,” BEA said in a statement
earlier today.
“The Bank will resume service at the above mentioned branches and
centres as soon as public safety and convenience can be ensured.
An announcement will be posted on BEA's homepage once the
re-opening times of the affected branches and centres have been
determined,” it said.
Hang Seng Bank said outlets at the Causeway Bay Branch at 28 Yee
Wo Street and Mongkok Prestige & Preferred Banking Centre at 677
Nathan Road were shut until further notice. Services at other
locations “remain normal”.
Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (“BOCHK”) told customers that
“due to the unusual situation in the Admiralty and Causeway Bay
areas” it was closing services in the following branches “until
further notice”: United Centre Branch: Shop 1021, United Centre,
95 Queensway, Hong Kong, and Causeway Bay Branch: 505 Hennessy
Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
