Page 8 - HSBC (D) Teaching Note
P. 8
Introduction
Historically, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation, was established on the back of the drug
trade. Founded in 1865, HSBC became the major
commercial bank in colonial China after the conclusion of
the Second Opium War.
Today HSBC is one of the world’s biggest banks “with
more than 284,000 employees, over 6,900 offices around
80 countries spread over Europe, Asia-Pacific, Americas,
Middle East and Africa.” (5, 6) Its parent corporation,
HSBC Holdings plc, is headquartered in London, and its
Chief Executive Officer is located in Hong Kong.
HSBC operates through four Global Businesses:
