In 1865 a group of British Merchants in Hong Kong banded together to establish a bank to facilitate trade with China. A branch was opened in Hong Kong and one in Shanghai, hence these two cities formed part of the Bank’s name, The HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, now widely known as HSBC. It was a dream of young men and women seeking a banking career in 1960’s Hong Kong to join HSBC. It was the most reputable and envied bank then and people called it “The Bank”.
HSBC was very much a British run bank, all the bank executives were from Britain and were referred to as IO’s, International Officers. The IO’s were mobile and every couple of years were posted in various countries, thus giving them valuable international exposure. Time changed, and in 1960’s HSBC started to recruit local people to executive position. These local executives were referred to as RO’s, Resident Officers, and they were initially not eligible to overseas postings.
The New HSBC and the New Chartered Bank Side by Side 1990’s
Resident Officer’s post was the envy of every bank employee but hard to get. A University degree was the minimum requirement and I did not have one. There were some exceptional cases of promotion from the rank and file, where the incumbents were highly recommended by their manager or they were studying for a Diploma in Banking.
For many weekends I remember sitting at my girlfriend’s home dining table or on a quiet bench at Victoria Park, studying for the Banking Diploma, through a London Business School Correspondence Course. I naturally applied for the Resident Officer position at HSBC, also at Chartered Bank, a distant second choice. I sat with over 100 candidates for a preliminary written examination held in the imposing banking hall of the Chartered Bank Head Office for three hours. You guess right. I did not make it.
My late mother always talked about benefactor and guardian angel. Indeed, an angel came down to open a door for me. Here is the story.
A Mauritian friend of mine, named Jackie (a male), who moved to Hong Kong around the same time as me, had a girlfriend, a nice beautiful girl of Portuguese descent. Her name was Evelyne and she was the personal secretary of the Personnel Officer of HSBC. The Personnel Officer was a British Lady, tough, no nonsense and powerful, no staff dared to be on her bad side. Her name was Miss Unthank and she had undisputed authority over recruitment of local staff. Thus, Jackie secured a job as a result of the connection.
Shortly after, I met Jackie and lamented about my failure to join HSBC, I did not know that he was already a Resident Officer in training. Jackie introduced me to Evelyne who arranged an interview with Miss Unthank. “I will take in a second Mauritian and no more” was the comment made by Miss Unthank to Evelyne after my interview. I guessed that I should have somehow impressed Miss Unthank. I was the happiest person in Hong Kong, and I was and will always be grateful to all three “benefactors”. I look at them as three links of a chain, missing any one link made the chain no more.
Then, some turn of event shot dark clouds over my sky. The story is like this. HSBC sent me for a medical check-up, a requirement for all Officer’s employment, my X-Ray showed traces of Tuberculosis. I explained to the Doctor that I was completely cured and offered to provide him with a written confirmation from my Doctor. However, the Bank Doctor did not bother to wait and forwarded the unfavourable medical report to the Bank.
It was a devastating moment for me. My one and only chance for my dream Bank was shattered by the irresponsible action of one Doctor. “Is it not the duty of a Doctor to save life. This Doctor instead put a rope round my neck”, this thought run through my mind time and time again. Fortunately, all was not lost. Miss Unthank sent me to Ruttonjee Sanatorium which specialized in the treatment of tuberculosis, for a second opinion. She had no obligation to do this, but I was glad she did. Tuberculosis was a disease that was widespread in Hong Kong at the time. I was certified fine. This was my second chance.
Ruttonjee Sanatorium Converted to Ruttonjee Hospital in 1991.
No doubt, Jackie, Evelyne and Miss Unthank were all my guardian angels but I also believe that I must have been a good person in the first place, else why would any one care to extend you a hand.