Chinese banks: Hong Kong scramble

There seems little doubt that the first meaningful moves outside China by state lenders are likely to take place in Hong Kong. China’s special administrative region enjoys all the trappings of a sophisticated western banking market but crucially also has a close cultural affinity with the mainland.

China’s banks seek cautious steps onto world stage

Chinese whispers

Despite some modest initial deals, the real prizes in Hong Kong are yet to be won. The problem is that with so few available targets being chased by perhaps as many as 10 of China’s largest banks, the process risks descending into an unseemly scramble for a slice of Hong Kong’s lucrative yet elusive banking pie.

“There are really only about five targets left,” says a Hong Kong-based investment banker.

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