Unlike most places in the world where a single central bank issues currency, three commercial banks in Hong Kong print their own banknotes for general circulation under license from the territory's Monetary Authority.
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The Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of China (Hong Kong) each print HKD10, HKD20, HKD50, HKD100, HKD500 and HKD1,000 bills - and now, HKD150 bills as well.
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HSBC, historical banker to the Hong Kong government and issuer of the majority of Hong Kong's bank notes, is now issuing two million HKD150 notes to celebrate the 150th anniversery of its foundation.
Established by Sir Thomas Sutherland in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China and Europe (most notably in opium). When London-based bank Overend, Gurney & Company collapsed in 1866 and precipitated the colony's first financial crisis, local upstart HSBC weathered the storm and emerged one of the colony's most important institutions.
In 2009, Standard Chartered also issued a limited run of HKD150 notes to celebrate its 150th birthday.
[Images via HKNet]
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