匯豐可能將總部遷至美國 US vies with Hong Kong as HSBC ponders moving base from Britain

The US is emerging as a serious alternative to Hong Kong as the possible headquarters for HSBC, as Europe’s biggest bank by assets considers shifting its base from the UK.

美國正成爲匯豐(HSBC)未來總部所在地的認真選項，與香港形成競爭。按資產計算爲歐洲最大銀行的匯豐正考慮將其總部遷出英國。

HSBC fired a warning shot to British politicians in April by announcing a review of whether to leave the UK two weeks before the general election. Shareholders welcomed the review, which was driven by concerns about excessive tax and regulation.

今年4月，匯豐對英國政客發出了警示，在大選前兩週宣佈將評估是否將總部遷出英國。股東們歡迎這項被高額稅收和嚴厲監管“逼出來”的評估。

The UK political climate has shifted in favour of the City of London since the election, with HSBC winning a notable concession on the bank levy, a sector specific tax introduced by the UK government after the financial crisis. But one lawyer who met its executives recently said they felt the attitude of the Treasury and regulators was still hostile.

大選後，英國政治氣候轉向有利於倫敦金融城，匯豐在銀行徵費(bank levy)方面贏得了重大讓步——銀行徵費是英國政府在金融危機之後出臺的專門針對銀行業的稅收。但一位最近與匯豐高管會晤過的律師表示，高管們感覺英國財政部和監管機構的態度仍不友善。

Hong Kong has long been considered the most likely destination for HSBC if it does decide to move, as the bank was based there for more than 100 years.

人們一直認爲，如果匯豐決定將總部遷出倫敦，最有可能搬至香港，因爲該行曾在那裏設立總部100多年。

However, growing concerns about the political risk of the bank ending up under Chinese control have prompted a rethink, according to people familiar with the matter.

然而，知情人士表示，對匯豐最終被中國控制的政治風險的擔憂日益增長，促使該行重新考慮候選地。

Advisers to HSBC say the US is one of the few countries with an economy big enough to be able to comfortably welcome a bank of its size. Bankers also view US regulation as more accommodating of large universal banks.

爲匯豐提供顧問服務的機構表示，美國是經濟規模足夠大、能夠歡迎匯豐那麼大體量的銀行的少數國家之一。銀行家們也認爲，美國的監管更容得下大型全能銀行。

Douglas Flint, chairman of HSBC, told the Financial Times the bank was “about halfway through the process” of considering moving its domicile and had “prepared the ground by giving presentations to the board on the various aspects, like the regulatory and economic framework, but we have not had any discussion of the relative merits”.

匯豐董事長範智廉(Douglas Flint)向英國《金融時報》表示，該行正處於考慮搬遷總部的“中途”，“董事會聽取了監管和經濟框架等方面的陳述，做了一些準備。但我們還沒有討論相對利弊”。

One top-10 shareholder in HSBC said: “I would say Hong Kong would be the best location as that is where HSBC have their history, but there is political risk in Hong Kong. The US has to be a serious option. You have a more friendly regulator in the way they look at bank capital and they have the balance sheet to take on HSBC. I think the US would love to have a bank like HSBC.”

匯豐十大股東之一表示：“我會說，香港將是最佳地點，因爲匯豐的歷史在那裏，但香港存在政治風險。美國不得不是一個認真的選項。就銀行資本要求和足以容納匯豐的資產負債表規模而言，那裏的監管機構更爲友好。我認爲美國將會歡迎匯豐這樣的銀行。”

Another top-10 shareholder in HSBC said: “I think longer term Hong Kong must be the favoured location, if the bank is going to move. But the US is definitely an option too, but I would have said it was the second option.”

匯豐十大股東的另一家表示：“我認爲更長期而言，如果匯豐搬遷的話，香港必定是首選。但美國肯定也是一個選項，但我會說這是第二選項。”