Which of these banks are NOT authorized to issue currency notes in Hong Kong?

The story behind the answer

OCBC is not authorized to issue currency notes in Hong Kong because only three banks hold that privilege: HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), and Bank of China (Hong Kong), all under authorization and strict regulation by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. This unusual system dates back to Hong Kong’s colonial-era banking practices and continues today; notably, the government issues the purple HK$10 note, while the three banks issue HK$20 and above, each with distinct designs but fully backed under the linked exchange rate system.

Memory tip: Think “the HKD trio” — HSBC, Standard Chartered, Bank of China. OCBC is Singapore-based, so it’s out of Hong Kong’s note-issuing club.