HSBC celebrates 160 years with public art initiative turning city walls into community stories

Hong Kong – To mark its 160th anniversary, HSBC has partnered with Grey Hong Kong on an outdoor campaign that transforms walls across all 18 districts into vibrant murals celebrating the stories, textures, and character of Hong Kong.

Titled “HSBC 18 Districts Mural Stories”, the campaign brings together five local artists—AAFK (Anny and Felipe), Fever, Peck, and Sinic—to illustrate the unique identity of each district through public art.

Each mural reflects aspects of local culture, from dragon boat races in Stanley to nostalgic cafés in Yau Tsim Mong, aiming to foster a sense of pride and connection within the community.

Cheuk Shum, head of marketing for Hong Kong at HSBC, shared, “As part of our bank’s 160th anniversary, we wanted to extend the campaign to our communities, collaborating with local mural artists to reflect the unique culture of each of our 18 districts. We look forward to seeing all of you on social media with our mural art in the background! ”

To make the artworks more accessible, HSBC and Grey collaborated with the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) to produce audio descriptions for all 18 murals, allowing audiences to experience the stories through both sight and sound.

Ranging from an incense ash-painted fire dragon in Tai Hang to a glow-in-the-dark installation in Central, the murals represent more than creative expression—they serve as a shared narrative between the city’s history, its people, and the spaces they inhabit.

“Street art was something I grew up with, so it’s exciting to see how it now brings people together. This project gave us the chance to honour each district in a meaningful way. In Tai Hang, we even sourced the incense ash from the actual fire dragon to paint the mural, turning tradition into texture and history into something you can see and touch,” said Rick Kwan, executive creative director at Grey Hong Kong. 

“This project has given us the chance to create something lasting with a brand that’s always been part of Hong Kong’s history. These murals aren’t just art. There are 18 new reasons to explore, discover and connect,” added Duffy Lau, managing director at Grey Hong Kong.