Bitcoin Forum

Could not believe this - went to HSBC and also BOC and neither banks would *let* you *open* an account despite having sufficient ID. In the mainland you just go into any bank with your passport and they open an account with zero questions.

Rather surprising to say the least.

*looks at the Bitcoins slowly building up in his account*

NYAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! :D

They aren't getting my money now :P

A US passport? Perhaps it's time to get a second, non-US passport...?

have you thought about going to one of a hundred different accounting firms in HK that will open an account on your behalf?

Neither Aussie nor Chinese passports helped.

Hong Kong *used* to be well known for its easy and convenient banking. Not the story now though.

Not worth the hassle and am now determined *not* to ever have a another bank account at all. :-)

hahaha, this is funny....

I will put more thinking time to this. lol...

The answer to do business with HSBC (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213) is to be a high roller with shitloads of money, where those monies come from is of secondary importance. Ordinary business owners or individuals, nah - why should they care..

On a more serious note: Did you mention you are into bitcoin while trying to open the account(s)?

This is really good advice, even in countries like the US.

Its simple... you're a foreigner and this is the rules they set for foreigner.

You need to prove that your money is part of a whitewashing operation.

Of course that is their right - the point was in mainland China there are no such silly rules (and last time I was in Australia there were not either).

BTW am guessing if enough noise was made in the Chinese blogoshere then soon Hong Kong passport holders will find they cannot open bank accounts in mainland China. :)


Of course I didn't mention anything about Bitcoin (not that I think they would have had any idea about what it was). Funnily enough the situation of staff actively *preventing* people opening accounts reminds a bit of when bank staff were *showing* people how to use internet banking prior to half of them losing their jobs (as they were no longer needed with everyone now using internet banking).

Direct banking is a blessing  ;D  Especially now that one can deposit checks online, unless they are very large of course.

now that you mention it, that kind of marketing strategy reminds me of an episode called cartmanland

If you can provide an image of yourself with a stack of cash, preferrably together with some Mexican or Columbian narcotics gang (use props like guns, weapons and packages of cocaine to your chosing), with a subtle suggestion that they better make you an account, then you're more likely to succeed.

For those who didn't get it, this wasn't a serious suggestion. LOL.

That is amazing. Asking people to ask people to be able to use your own money.  ???