Page 171 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

49. Dilemma to accept or not to

accept Diwali gift hampers

A bout 4-5 days before Diwali, we used to start getting Diwali

gift hampers from some of our customers. These contained
chocolates and butter cookies mostly and some added a
bottle of premium scotch such a Jack Daniels or Chivas or
Black Label whisky or a suit length. I had never had this kind of experience
in India and considered such acceptance of gifts not desirable in light of
my past experience.

I had a natural reluctance to accept but their staff would leave them near
my table telling me that it was an old custom every year. When first time,
I refused to accept one gift hamper containing a bottle of whisky, a valued
customer's employee who brought the gift, reported it to his employer.
I got a call from that customer who almost shouted at me saying, "Do
you think I am bribing you? You should know the courtesies and culture
here in Hong Kong. You have to accept it if you respect your customers."
I narrated this episode to my Branch Head who had second Diwali there.
He told me that it was a customary Diwali celebration in Hong Kong. He
counseled me that I could decide about banking transactions without
considering these gift hampers. He also cautioned me that if I do not
follow the customs here, customers would be unhappy with me as they
would treat this as a disrespect to them and arrogance on my part.

He advised me that we had to adjust to local practices without getting
prejudiced by who has given what gift. Moreover, our bank also invited
valued customers over Diwali Dinner or whenever some dignitary from
our Head Office from India visited Hong Kong. He counseled me to take
it in ordinary course there. Actually, I had been very shy in India in mixing

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