Bank of China (Hong Kong) Issues Centenary Commemorative Banknote

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (“BOCHK”) announced  the issuance of its “Bank of China (Hong Kong) Centenary Commemorative Banknote” (the “Commemorative Banknote”) denominated in HK$100 in celebration of the centenary of Bank of China’s (“BOC”) service to Hong Kong. The Commemorative Banknote will be available for subscription from 28 September to 18 October (the “subscription period”). Net proceeds generated from the sale will be used for local community projects and charitable causes.

The ceremony was held on the 70th floor of the Bank of China Tower. Officiating guests included the Honourable Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) Government; Dr Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr Norman Chan, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Mr Wang Xiquan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of BOC; Mr Liu Guisheng, Chairman of the Board of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation; and Mr Yue Yi, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK.

Mr Wang Xiquan, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of BOC, said at the ceremony, “This year marks the centenary of BOC’s service to Hong Kong and the 100th anniversary of its internationalised operations. Since its establishment, BOCHK has been a pioneer in the overseas development of the national financial industry. While competing on the global stage, the Bank has been undergoing robust growth and making unique and important contributions to the invigoration and development of the nation, and Hong Kong’s economic growth at different times in the history. Major milestones in BOCHK’s centenary development can be found on the Commemorative Banknote. I believe that everyone who has been with BOCHK for many years will be deeply touched. BOC attaches great importance to both the local market and Hong Kong’s role in helping the internationalisation of the Group. The Head Office of BOC will give full support to its institutions’ development in Hong Kong and make greater contributions to the practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy, the enhancement of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, as well as Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability.”

The Honourable Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, said, “BOCHK has grown and thrived alongside with Hong Kong during its extraordinary journey over 100 years. As the sole clearing bank for Renminbi business in Hong Kong, BOCHK provides a comprehensive range of Renminbi clearing services to both domestic and overseas institutions after Hong Kong’s return to the Motherland. This helps strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global offshore Renminbi business hub and enhances its status as an international financial centre.”

Mr Yue Yi, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, “To mark the centenary of BOC’s service to Hong Kong, we take great pleasure in issuing the Commemorative Banknote. Its special design vividly tells the celebrated history of BOC’s centenary of service to Hong Kong, manifests BOC’s strength, and demonstrates its contributions to maintaining Hong Kong’s financial stability and promoting the economic growth and prosperity. The Commemorative Banknote is of great commemorative and collection value. As an integral part of the BOC Group, we are honoured to celebrate the centenary of BOC’s service to Hong Kong by issuing the Commemorative Banknote. Starting a new chapter in its history, BOCHK, which is deeply rooted in Hong Kong, will continue to adhere strictly to BOC’s strategic goal of ‘Serving Society and Delivering Excellence’ and will create a better future together with various sectors of the local community.”

The HK$100 denomination of the Commemorative Banknote is tinted mainly in red, an auspicious colour representing celebration. The front side of the Banknote features a famous local landmark – Bank of China Tower – superimposed by the image of the Bank of China Building, with the old Bank of China Hong Kong Branch and Bank of China Head Office in Beijing on the side. These buildings symbolise the glorious history of BOC’s centenary of service to Hong Kong. Also shown are the spectacular Great Wall of China and an ancient building pillar, which represent BOC’s strength. These images signify the contributions made by the Bank to maintain Hong Kong’s financial stability and promote its economic growth and prosperity. In addition, there is an antique gold coin embedded with the word “commemorate” written in Chinese Zhuan calligraphy (Seal Style), with the phrase “the BOC’s centenary of service to Hong Kong” adjacent to it.

The reverse side of the Commemorative Banknote features an image of a newspaper advertisement for the grand opening of the Bank of China Hong Kong Branch, which was upgraded from a sub-branch in 1919, and the logos of 12 of the member banks of the Bank of China Group in Hong Kong in 1983. There is also an image of the first HKD banknote issued by BOC in 1994, depicting both sides of Victoria Harbour viewed from the Peak, superimposed on the centre of the Commemorative Banknote. This special design tells the long and illustrious history of Hong Kong-based BOC and its service to the city over the past century. This memorable image is juxtaposed with the current skyline of Victoria Harbour and a modern container terminal. The combination of these new and historical images is a vivid reflection of how BOC has grown and prospered alongside Hong Kong. They also demonstrate that BOC has made great contributions to promoting Hong Kong’s economic and social development and strengthening its status as an international financial centre. The Commemorative Banknote has multiple security features, including a dynamic colour-changing pattern (antique coin), enhanced watermark (the Great Wall) and colour-changing windowed metallic thread

Altogether, five million Commemorative Banknotes will be issued, with a total of 3.24 million sets in three different packages available for subscription. The banknotes will be in sets of a Single Note (2.9 million sets) at HK$288, 3-in-1 Uncut Notes (300,000 sets) at HK$988 per set and 30-in-1 Uncut Notes (40,000 sets) at HK$13,888 per set. A total of 388 Charity Sets have also been selected from the Single Note, 3-in-1 Uncut Notes and 30-in-1 Uncut Notes for public bidding. Details will be announced in due course. Net proceeds generated from the sale of the Commemorative Banknote, after deducting all relevant costs, will go to local community projects and charitable causes in special honour of the centenary of BOCHK and as a demonstration of the Bank’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The Bank has appointed Ernst & Young to monitor the allotment procedure to ensure that it is fair and impartial. An applicant must be aged 18 or above in 2017 and hold a valid Hong Kong Identity Card. Every applicant can subscribe for up to five Single Notes, one set of 3-in-1 Uncut Notes and one set of 30-in-1 Uncut Notes. For their convenience, applicants may submit an online application via the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Centenary Commemorative Banknote website www.bochk100.com. Applicants can also subscribe to the Commemorative Banknote by dropping the completed subscription form into special collection boxes at the Bank’s branches. Subscription forms can be downloaded from the Commemorative Banknote website www.bochk100.com or obtained at any of the Bank’s branches.

When the total number of applications exceeds the gross available sale quantity in a particular category of the Commemorative Banknotes, the Bank will allot the Commemorative Banknotes by computer drawing. Applicants can check the application results at www.bochk100.com or through the Enquiry Hotline (852) 3988 2100 from 1 November. Successful applicants will be notified of the results and payment details from 2 November and will be required to pay in full by 5:00pm on 21 November. The Bank will notify successful applicants individually via their chosen notification method about the designated date, time and location for collecting the Commemorative Banknote(s). The collection period is from 20 December to 31 December.

For enquiries, please visit the Commemorative Banknote website www.bochk100.com or call the Enquiry Hotline on (852) 3988 2100.

About Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited

Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (“BOCHK”) is a leading commercial banking group in Hong Kong with strong market positions in all major businesses. We have the most extensive local branch network and diverse service platforms, including 196 branches, efficient e-channels of over 1,000 self-service machines, as well as Internet and Mobile Banking services. We offer a comprehensive range of financial, investment and wealth management services to personal, corporate and institutional customers. In accordance with the strategic plan of BOC Group, we have been driving our regional development through the acquisitions of Bank of China Limited’s (“BOC”) institutions in Southeast Asia and the establishment of a Brunei Branch. We are actively expanding our business in Southeast Asia and transforming BOCHK into an internationalised regional bank.