Hong Kong banks reward staff with gifts, extra holiday and lai see as they return to work

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Enoch YiuFebruary 20, 2026 at 12:00 AM

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Hong Kong banks are rewarding employees with gifts and monetary bonuses as they return to work following the Lunar New Year holiday. Banks like Bank of China (Hong Kong) are providing staff with a traditional "lai see" (red envelope) containing HK$500, along with expanded gift hampers. HSBC and Hang Seng Bank are distributing HK$500 electronically to their combined workforce of approximately 26,000, totaling HK$13 million. These gestures are intended to show appreciation for employees' hard work and reflect optimism for the upcoming year, with HSBC's CEO highlighting the Year of the Horse's symbolism of vitality and success. The practice is a common tradition in Hong Kong, with some banks distributing these benefits before the holiday period.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Lunar New Year 50% Maggie Ng 60% Bank of China (Hong Kong) 70% Hang Seng Bank ×270% HSBC ×380% Hong Kong ×590%

Keywords

lai see 90% hong kong banks 90% staff benefits 80% employee rewards 70% lunar new year 60% hsbc 50% bank of china 50% gift hamper 50% economic sentiment 50% hang seng bank 40%