[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31997]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE HSBC FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VITO FOSSELLA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 25, 2003

  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest 
condolences and sympathy to the victims of the tragic terrorist attacks 
in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday. Following the attacks last weekend on 
two synagogues in Istanbul, yesterday's attacks are further evidence of 
the war on terrorism our country and our allies are facing. I am 
pleased the House passed H. Res. 453 today expressing condolences to 
the families of the individuals murdered and to those injured in the 
terrorist attacks. We must continue to stand in solidarity with Turkey 
in the fight against terrorism.
  In addition, on behalf of my New York Delegation and all my 
colleagues, I would like to express my profound regret to the more than 
40 employees at HSBC who were injured. As of today, many of those 
employees are still in critical condition, while it has cost others 
their own lives.
  Often referred to as the ``World's Local Bank'', HSBC employs people 
in over 80 countries, including 50,000 in the United States, with over 
400 offices in my home state of New York and in Staten Island. While 
the headquarters was attacked as a symbol of global commerce, I take my 
hat off to the HSBC employees in Turkey for re-opening their office 
today and for their leadership in committing to stay in Turkey and not 
backing down in the face of terrorism. Again, I extend my deepest 
sympathies to the entire HSBC family on the tragic loss of their 
colleagues.

                          ____________________