About this collection
Two bronze lions, Stephen and Stitt, have stood guard outside our Hong Kong head office since the 1930s. They are a hugely popular landmark in the city and an enduring symbol of HSBC. Passers-by still rub their paws for good fortune and HSBC is frequently nicknamed ‘the lion bank’ by locals. In the 1970s, the famous sculptures inspired a cartoon lion who spearheaded marketing campaigns in print and on television. Named ‘Leo’, this friendly go-getter announced branch openings, welcomed clients to head office and encouraged children to save for a rainy day. These print advertisements from fifty years ago show Leo in action.
