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.

美国正成为汇丰(HSBC)未来总部所在地的认真选项，与香港形成竞争。按资产计算为欧洲最大银行的汇丰正考虑将其总部迁出英国。

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，汇丰对英国政客发出了警示，在大选前两周宣布将评估是否将总部迁出英国。股东们欢迎这项被高额税收和严厉监管“逼出来”的评估。

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.

大选后，英国政治气候转向有利于伦敦金融城，汇丰在银行征费(bank levy)方面赢得了重大让步——银行征费是英国政府在金融危机之后出台的专门针对银行业的税收。但一位最近与汇丰高管会晤过的律师表示，高管们感觉英国财政部和监管机构的态度仍不友善。

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.

人们一直认为，如果汇丰决定将总部迁出伦敦，最有可能搬至香港，因为该行曾在那里设立总部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，对汇丰最终被中国控制的政治风险的担忧日益增长，促使该行重新考虑候选地。

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.

为汇丰提供顾问服务的机构表示，美国是经济规模足够大、能够欢迎汇丰那么大体量的银行的少数国家之一。银行家们也认为，美国的监管更容得下大型全能银行。

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”.

汇丰董事长范智廉(Douglas Flint)向英国《金融时报》表示，该行正处于考虑搬迁总部的“中途”，“董事会听取了监管和经济框架等方面的陈述，做了一些准备。但我们还没有讨论相对利弊”。

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.”

汇丰十大股东之一表示：“我会说，香港将是最佳地点，因为汇丰的历史在那里，但香港存在政治风险。美国不得不是一个认真的选项。就银行资本要求和足以容纳汇丰的资产负债表规模而言，那里的监管机构更为友好。我认为美国将会欢迎汇丰这样的银行。”

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.”

汇丰十大股东的另一家表示：“我认为更长期而言，如果汇丰搬迁的话，香港必定是首选。但美国肯定也是一个选项，但我会说这是第二选项。”