The Fourth-Generation HSBC Main Building Marks 40th Anniversary
With roots in Hong Kong dating back to 1865 at 1 Queen’s Road Central, HSBC has a 161-year legacy in the city. Since opening in 1986, the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building has become one of Hong Kong’s most iconic landmarks, recognised for its innovative design that helped define the city’s skyline. This year, the building marks its 40th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, HSBC welcomed back its architect, Norman Foster, who visited Hong Kong for the first time in eight years to attend the celebratory events.
A celebratory reception was held last night at the HSBC Main Building, attended by Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, the HKSAR; Winnie Ho, JP, Secretary for Housing, the HKSAR; Architect Norman Foster; Georges Elhedery, HSBC Group CEO; Dr Peter Wong, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; David Liao, Co-Chief Executive, Asia and the Middle East, HSBC; Surendra Rosha, Co-Chief Executive, Asia and the Middle East, HSBC; Maggie Ng, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Hong Kong, with more than 180 prominent leaders from the public, business, and arts and culture sectors.
Maggie Ng, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Hong Kong, said, “The fourth-generation HSBC Main Building is a powerful symbol of HSBC’s growth alongside Hong Kong. For 40 years, it has supported the daily interactions of millions of customers with colleagues. Its timeless modern design reflects Hong Kong’s vitality as an international financial centre and its unique character as a place where East meets West. HSBC will continue to partner with the Hong Kong community and contribute positively to society.”
Reinterpreting HSBC Main Building’s Architectural Aesthetics through Collaboration with Local Photographer
To support Hong Kong Arts Month, HSBC extended its long-standing support for local art by collaborating with Gary Ng, the first local photographer to win at the Architecture Photography Awards. Through his lens, Gary Ng re-examined and reinterpreted the architectural beauty of this iconic bank building. A series of his works was showcased at the celebratory reception, offering Norman Foster and other guests a fresh perspective on the building’s human-centric design and the stories behind its enduring architecture.
Built over seven years using cutting-edge technology, the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building quickly became a landmark in Central. Throughout the interior and exterior, it features bold design choices that challenged conventional architecture in the 1980s. Most notably, its “inside-out” design concept uses eight triangular steel trusses to form a suspended steel structure in place of traditional enclosed concrete walls, creating a unique and instantly recognisable feature of Central’s skyline. The building’s base is also deliberately elevated to create an open public plaza at ground level. Inside, a large open atrium emphasises light and transparency to support a more open working environment. The building is organised into five ”vertical villages”, designed as social hubs to encourage staff interaction and creativity. These human-centric design elements reflect HSBC’s long-standing connection with Hong Kong.
Beyond this collaboration, HSBC also supports local design and creative culture through its collaboration with the funding and community platform, Design Trust, an initiative of the local registered charity Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design. Supported by HSBC, Norman Foster participated in the ”Hong Kong Architectural Legacy Symposium”, organised by the Design Trust during this visit. Norman Foster engaged in a dynamic exchange with the local architecture community at the symposium and shared insights about his work, with the aim of passing on world-class architectural perspectives to the next generation.
(From left) Maggie Ng, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Hong Kong; Surendra Rosha, Co-Chief Executive, Asia and the Middle East, HSBC; Dr Peter Wong, Chairman, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; world-renowned architect Norman Foster; Georges Elhedery, HSBC Group CEO; Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Winnie Ho, JP, Secretary for Housing; and David Liao, Co-Chief Executive, Asia and the Middle East, HSBC, at the 40th anniversary reception of the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building.
Georges Elhedery, HSBC Group CEO (right), presents a commemorative gift to Norman Foster (left) at the reception, in recognition of his design of the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building.
David Liao, Co-Chief Executive, Asia and the Middle East, HSBC (right), speaks with Norman Foster (left) at the reception about the design concepts behind the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building.
Designed by Norman Foster, the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building is a landmark in Hong Kong, known for its high-tech and exposed structure.
HSBC collaborates with Gary Ng, the first local photographer to win at the Architecture Photography Awards, to capture the architectural beauty of the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building.
The open atrium of the fourth-generation HSBC Main Building is connected by 23 elevators and 62 escalators. The building is organized into five “vertical villages“ that serve as social hubs for staff interaction and creativity.
The fourth-generation HSBC Main Building elevates its base to create an open public plaza at ground level, reflecting HSBC's close connection with the local community.
The fourth-generation HSBC Main Building features a suspended steel structure formed by eight triangular trusses, in place of traditional enclosed concrete walls and creating a distinctive feature of Central’s skyline.
For media enquiries, please contact:
HSBC
Josephine Lee | 2996 6559 | josephine.p.w.lee@hsbc.com.hk
Wilfred Lee | 2288 1180 | wilfred.k.k.lee@hsbc.com.hk
Hill & Knowlton
Jenny Wong | 6547 3315 | jenny.wong@bursonglobal.com
Yury Leung | 5137 6651 | yury.leung@bursonglobal.com
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is the founding member of the HSBC Group. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 56 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,233bn at 31 December 2025, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.
DownloadThe Fourth-Generation HSBC Main Building Marks 40th Anniversary (5-page PDF 838KB)