So I'm a first year uni student applying to Investment Banking Spring Insight Weeks. I'm trying for everything from Goldman down, so it was natural for me to see that HSBC offers a spring week program. I did some research so I could answer the "why HSBC" question if it came up and I found this article that says HSBC openly supported the Hong Kong national security law that was such a big issue over the summer. Like, I get that they want to stay on China's good side, but this is just disgusting. I feel like I can't work for a company that openly supports the end of free speech and democracy. It just makes me angry. The whole assessment process they talked about "corporate values" and "doing the right thing" but they support something like this. It's low.
I'll do a spring insight if I get one from them, but after that I want to attend some kind of coffee chat or networking event they have--or maybe in the spring insight itself if I get it--and in front of everyone ask them "what the fuck" but in a really nice way. First I'll ask them about their company values. Then I'll say "I have a follow up question. The H in HSBC stands for Hong Kong. I understand it's a nuanced situation, but how do HSBC's corporate values that you've just described interact with what's happening now in Hong Kong?" And no matter what they answer to that I'll say this: "I have one more follow up question if I may: The national security law which HSBC publicly endorsed states that it's a crime to speak out against the Chinese government anywhere in the world, including here in the UK. Would HSBC fire, turn in, or otherwise sanction any of its employees at the request of the Chinese government because they exercised their right to free speech?"
I hope to do that in front of as many people as possible.
I get it that banks don't always do the right thing or stand for what's right. They have a very fine line to walk and they have their shareholders to think of. I understand. But I cannot tolerate them endorsing this shit. Free Speech and the Democratic Process aren't like political issues like gun/weapon sales or diversity and inclusion. They are the cornerstones of our society. To publicly and unequivocally endorse their removal is unacceptable, at least to me.
Article for reference: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/…
These protesters are terrorists... No problem with the government passing that law.
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