Global Witness reported concerns that HSBC allegedly contributed to human rights abuses by “doing business with Mexican drug lords, terrorist financers and pariah states” in the following press release:

- “Outrage at vast HSBC profits and bonuses despite role in drug money laundering”, Global Witness, 4 Mar 2013

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited HSBC to respond to the item above.  HSBC sent the following materials:

- HSBC's response [PDF]

- HSBC's press release on settlement with US authorities for inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering legislation, 11 Dec 2012 [PDF]

- HSBC’s Annual Report and Accounts, 4 Mar 2013:

• p. 6, extract from the Group Chairman's Statement, Enforcing global standards [PDF];
• pp. 10-11, extract from the Group Chief Executive's Business Review, Global standards [PDF];
• pp. 13-14, HSBC Values [PDF]; and
• pp. 510-511, Notes on the Financial Statements - 43, Legal proceedings and regulatory matters, Anti-money laundering and sanctions related [PDF]