The Hong Kong branch of banking giant Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) has lost a computer server with client data involving about 159,000 accounts, the bank confirmed on Wednesday.

The missing information included account number, name of account holders and the amount involved in some transactions but no pins or account names, HSBC said.

The bank said it has reported the case to police after the server went missing during renovation work at its Kwun Tong branch in April and that, with multiple security measures in place, there were few chances that the incident could lead to exploitation.

Neither will it affect the banking services as the bank has backed up copies of the data in its central computer system, local broadcaster RTHK quoted the bank as saying.

The bank disclosed the number of clients affected after local media speculated on the loss, saying that it has been trying to contact the customers involved.

The Monetary Authority has demanded that the bank contact all the affected customers and explain what measures could be taken to avoid potential losses thereof.

Some customers were unsatisfied with the banking giant's slow move in announcing the incident. Charles Mok, chairman of the local Internet Society, said he was concerned.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)