LONDON (Reuters), Feb 14 - A former boss of HSBC,Stephen Green, has stepped down from his position with afinancial services lobby group after allegations that the bankhelped hundreds of people dodge taxes during his time in charge.
Green decided to step down as chairman of TheCityUK'sadvisory council, an unpaid position, with immediate effect, theorganization said in a statement on Saturday.
"He doesn't want to damage the effectiveness of TheCityUK inpromoting good governance and doing the right thing so hasdecided to step aside from chairing our Advisory Council," GerryGrimstone, chairman of the TheCityUK's board, said.
"This is entirely his own decision," Grimstone said,describing Green as "a man of great personal integrity."
HSBC has admitted failings in compliance and controls in itsSwiss private bank after media allegations that it may haveenabled clients to avoid paying tax.
The bank's chief executive Stuart Gulliver said on Fridaythat HSBC had sometimes failed to live up to the standardsexpected of it.
Lawmakers in Britain's parliament are due to considerwhether to quiz Green over the allegations. He was HSBC chairmanfrom 2006 until 2010 before he became UK trade minister in 2011,a position he held until 2013. He has so far declined to commenton the allegations. (Reporting by William Schomberg; Editing by Hugh Lawson)