About this collection
Arthur Morse joined HSBC in London in 1912. He worked his way around junior posts in Hong Kong and China before returning to London as Senior Manager, where he led the bank through the Second World War following Vandeleur Grayburn’s internment and death. Post-war he honoured banknotes signed under duress during occupation, and launched a generous lending strategy to get the economy running again. Huge crowds turned out on his retirement day in 1953 where the Governor described him as: ‘The man who since liberation has probably done more for Hong Kong than any other single individual… he is a very great citizen of Hong Kong’.
