The scope of reporting covered by the System mainly includes the followings:

1. Issues concerning the Group’s financial matters, such as providing false financial data to external parties, using fictitious invoices for reimbursement or other fraudulent behaviour;
2. Major issues concerning the Group’s internal controls, such as major loopholes in business processes or procedures;
3. Issues concerning the Group’s staff members committing bribery or corruption;
4. Issues concerning the Group’s staff members being suspected of money laundering, terrorist financing, tax evasion, weapons proliferation financing or violation of sanctions requirements;
5. Other unethical or questionable practices of the Group’s staff members that may involve violation of legal and regulatory requirements or improprieties, as well as incidents likely to cause great damage to BOCHK’s reputation;
6. Any behaviour attempting to conceal the abovementioned misconducts.

For reporting falling into the aforesaid scope, the whistleblower should provide detailed information and supporting materials/proof or verifiable link of evidence.

For customer’s comment and suggestion on the Group’s services or products, they should be made to the Group’s relevant unit in charge of customer opinions handling for following up. If necessary, such opinions can be made via “Contact Us” as stated in the BOCHK website.

Whistleblowers can make a reporting within the scope as listed above to the General Manager of Group Audit of BOCHK, or directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of BOCHK. If the reporting concerns the General Manager of Group Audit of BOCHK, it should be made directly to the Chairman of the Audit Committee of BOCHK.

Whistleblowers may complete the “Whistleblowing Form” and submit via the following channels:

To the General Manager of Group Audit of BOCHK
Mailing address: Group Audit, 41F, Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Hong Kong
(the envelope should be marked “to be opened by addressee only”)
Email address: whistle_blower@bochk.com

To the Chairman of the Audit Committee of BOCHK
Mailing address: Group Audit, 41/F, Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Hong Kong
(the envelope should be marked “to be opened by addressee only”)
Email address: acchairman@bochk.com

The Group accepts anonymous reporting. Nevertheless, anonymous reporting, might lead to difficulties in following up owing to the inability to obtain further information from the whistleblower.  In this connection, whistleblowers are encouraged to provide their real identity and contact information for following up if necessary.

The Group encourages whistleblowers to report in good faith. The Group shall conduct fair and impartial, independent, as well as professional investigation and strive to keep the identity of the whistleblowers in strict confidence, protecting their legitimate rights/interests.

In the event of someone retaliating or seeking revenge against any whistleblowers who made reporting according to the System, the Group shall reserve the right to take necessary action against that person.

In the event of whistleblowers making unfounded reporting maliciously or abusing the reporting mechanism for personal objectives, the Group shall reserve the right to take necessary action against that person, so as to recover any damages or losses caused by the unfounded reporting.

1. Whistleblowers should keep his/her reporting confidential, including the facts, subject issues and parties involved, so as to avoid hindering the investigation.
2. Reporting and its related information are confidential information to the Group. Anyone handling or having access to the information shall strictly follow the legal requirements to protect the privacy and legitimate rights/interests of the whistleblowers and the parties being reported against. There should not be unauthorized disclosure, or the Group shall hold the relevant persons accountable.
3. The Group might have to disclose the identity of the whistleblowers in the course of investigation. If that happens, the Group shall wherever possible notify the whistleblower concerned in advance of the circumstance.
4. In case the investigation becomes criminal prosecution, the whistleblower concerned might have to provide evidence to the enforcement authorities directly and cooperate with the investigation. Besides, under certain circumstances, the Group is required to refer the reporting to relevant enforcement authorities without prior notice to the whistleblower or seeking his/her consent.

1. Upon receipt of reporting via channels under the System, the Group shall designate an officer-in-charge to promptly follow up on the case.
2. If the whistleblower has provided contact information, the officer-in-charge shall acknowledge receipt of the reporting to the whistleblower. The investigation results may also be provided to the whistleblower upon completion of the investigation where appropriate, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
3. In case there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a reporting may involve criminal offence or corruption, the Group shall report the case to the enforcement authorities in accordance with the applicable laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Once the case is referred to the enforcement authorities, the Group shall provide full support to the authorities in relation to the investigation.