The two lions statues guarding HSBC’s headquarter in Hong Kong have made their return after being vandalized by protestors earlier this year.

The nearly 10-month restoration completed today with the reintroduction of the two bronze statues named «Stephen» and «Stitt».

«Stephen and Stitt have watched over HSBC Main Building for 85 years,» said HSBC’s APAC CEO Peter Wong in a statement. «Through good times and bad, they have been an enduring part of Hong Kong's story.»

In January this year, the twin lions were defaced and damaged due to the bank's perceived support for anti-democracy efforts including the decision to freeze $9 million in funds from entities set up to assist protestors.

Enemies Everywhere?

HSBC has been the most frequently featured financial firm in the crossfire between Beijing and the international community, beginning with its involvement in the Huawei scandal which recently led to accusations that it entrapped the Chinese tech firm for detection by Washington. 

And in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, it was repeatedly being attacked from all sides. This included condemnation of Wong’s decision to publicly support the national security as well as ex-chief executive of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying’s comments that it could not «afford to make Chinese money while following the West in doing things that undermine Chinese sovereignty, dignity and people's feelings». 

More recently, the British government approved new visas for around 3 million Hong Kongers born before the handover to Beijing, in a move that U.K.’s foreign secretary Dominic Rab said was a commitment to «not duck our historic responsibilities to its people» over claims of breaking the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. 

«China is the U.K.’s Partner»

Despite threats against HSBC, there are signs of easing relations with the U.K. which is undergoing an exit from the European Union. China’s ambassador to the U.K. Liu Xiaoming recently spoke of the country as a «partner» of the U.K. rather than a «rival» or «enemy». 

«We are saddened by the current difficulties and setbacks in China-U.K. relations, the responsibility for such a situation lies solely with the British side,» Liu said in a state media report, calling the China opportunity as neither a threat nor a challenge to the U.K.

«By holding a Cold War mentality and colonial mindset, [the British] are unable to view China's development objectively and rationally; instead, they are engulfed in full anxiety and suspicion.»