Chase Manhattan Bank, Marina House

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 03:11

Reading about Marina House on this website reminded me of the Chase Manhattan Bank newspaper ad I still have.  I don't recall when the ad appeared and in which newspaper (SCMP?) as I unfortunately did not include this information in my clipping.  My face (and bad hair cropping) is the one directly above the caption, Smiles are everywhere at Chase Manhattan.

The bank was first located at 15 Queen's Road Central, with a branch in Mongkok.  I worked at the bank sometime in 1968 up until the time I left Hong Kong in late 1974, and was executive secretary to three general managers during my time there.  Each general manager stayed at the bank-owned or rented house at 4 Island Road and had access to the bank car and chauffeur.  David Rockefeller, who was Chairman and CEO of Chase, visited the branch when he was in Hong Kong to attend the first Asian Investment Forum.  He came up to me, shook my hand and said, "Hello, I'm David Rockefeller"! I remember attending the press conference and reception held at the Hong Kong Hilton.

I enjoyed working at Chase and seeing some of the well-known clients and people who came by.  Ted Koppel was then the Hong Kong Bureau Chief of ABC News and stopped in regularly.  Caroline Kennedy, then in her teens, came in to cash a personal check.  She was apparently visiting her aunt whose husband was a professor at the Chinese University in Shatin.  The most interesting person to visit was Tennessee Williams.  He was on a cruise and  stopped in for bank business.  I was able to get his autograph which he signed, with the added message, Greetings from Hong Kong!  I also remember the Parisian Grill across the street from the bank and the lady who sold newspapers and magazines at the corner of Marina House. 

 

Date picture taken
1970 (year is approximate)
Shows place(s)