Page 201 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

The bank was languishing due to under-performance. The main reasons
were the bad loans given under political pressure and infighting of
multiple Workers' Unions coupled with resultant multiple Officers
Associations. Target based improved financial performance with higher
efficiency and productivity was the mandate our Chairman got from the
Ministry of Finance.

It was a common report about him that he reacted instantly without even
listening to people. He was judgmental as well as temperamental. He had
met all the big borrowers and depositors within a couple of months to
assure them the best services under his regime. The customers felt that
it was a good gesture from the Chairman. Exodus of customers came to
a halt. Business started growing again. Public confidence got restored and
bank started getting positive publicity again. Things were on a positive
track.

We got a communication after about 5 months of his taking over as
Chairman that he would be visiting Hong Kong for 2 days in the month
of February. It sent shivers down the spines of all the expats on hearing
this. There were several apprehensions. All of us discussed the stance he
would take in Hong Kong, what he could ask, what he could see on our
desks etc. etc. And worst of them all, whether he would review the
vacancies on his personal visit here to send some of us back to India.
We started preparing ourselves on three major issues of general interest
to dignitaries like him:
a) What had been our experience so far at Hong Kong and what tasks
we had been handling currently?
b) How we found Hong Kong different from India including banking
practices?

c) What could be our suggestions for improving performance of the
Hong Kong Centre and the bank as a whole?

We all reassured ourselves that this occasion not being a detailed

198 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole