Media365
Prime views of the fireworks, a reception with Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, lucky draws and investment seminars were some of the incentives Hong Kong banks were rolling out to attract wealthy mainland customers during the golden week holiday, which kicked off on Wednesday.
Hong Kong authorities have estimated that as many as 1.54 million mainland visitors, including 1,200 tour groups, would cross the border during the eight-day “golden week” holiday, which coincides with China’s National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“I like to watch the fireworks in Hong Kong and meet with my banker in one go during the golden week holiday,” said a priority private client of Standard Chartered Bank surnamed Liu from Nanjing.
“Hong Kong … allows me to invest in a wide range of overseas stocks, funds and other structured products,” she said. “The sound regulation [in the city] also makes me feel comfortable.”
Liu was among about 400 Standard Chartered clients to be given a “front row” view of the fireworks from the lender’s wealth centres in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
Golden week offered “golden opportunities” to sign up new customers as branch traffic increased by 30 per cent during the period, said Eliza Law, head of Standard Chartered’s affluent segment.
