HSBC Hong Kong - question on lost account

[dirty boy]

Odd question, never had this crop up before.

I act for an elderly gentleman (mid 90s) who lived in Hong Kong during his 50s. Today, he tells me as he's getting old, he doesn't think he'll ever get back to HK and therefore wants me to retrieve the funds in his Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. He thinks there was around £25k left in it back in either 1972 or 1980.

Does anyone have any idea on how to trace this account? Last year he was kicked out of his home and it was sold and he moved into a home. He has no family or dependants so all paperwork has been destroyed, he literally has a handful of possessions (skipper certificates, signed thank you letter from Winston Churchill etc) so I'm at a loss as to how to help him.

As you can imagine, phoning HK you get asked for bank details etc before you get anywhere and i'm very doubtful I can help anyway.

I turn to the PH collective to offer their wisdom on whether there's anyone I can write to?

[williamp]

Start by writing to the bank in the UK., head office.

[NickXX]

I have found HSBC HK very helpful when I have contacted them before by email. I would start by sending them an email: [e-mail]

[dirty boy]

Cheers.

It's a start, just hope it finds its way onto the desk of someone helpful!