Maximum Rate of Interest It is intended that the rate of interest hereon shall never exceed the maximum rate, if any, which may be legally charged on the loan evidenced by this Note ("Maximum Rate"), and if the provisions for interest contained in this Note would result in a rate higher than the Maximum Rate, interest shall nevertheless be limited to the Maximum Rate and any amounts which may be paid toward interest in excess of the Maximum Rate shall be applied to the reduction of principal, or, at the option of HSBC, returned to the Company.