Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits-Target Allocations (Details) (Hsbc North America [Member], HSBC North America Pension Plan [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total target asset allocations	100.00%
Domestic Large/Mid-Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total target asset allocations	9.90%
Domestic Small Cap Equity [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Total target asset allocations	3.30%
International Large Cap Equity [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	8.10%
International Small Cap Equity [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	3.20%
Global Equity [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	11.40%
Emerging Market Equity [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	5.40%
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	58.70%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
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Total target asset allocations	0.00%	1.00%