勢色不對，立即撤退，止蝕離場，是外資的一貫做法，袋鼠幫也是這樣。澳洲第二大銀行西太平洋銀行 (Westpac Bank) 撤出香港和中國，有幾個原因：
第一：因為違反反洗黑錢和反恐怖活動的金融法規，九月底 Westpac 與澳洲交易報告分析中心（AUSTRAC）達成和解，同意支付破紀錄（澳洲標準）的 13 億澳元（72 億港元）罰款。因為要繳交巨額罰款，於是拿員工開刀，是跨國金融機構的慣技，匯豐和渣打也是這樣，而且首先拿香港的員工開刀（因為本地的銀行業打工仔女沒有工會也沒有集體談判權亦即是得罪你們沒有手尾跟）。根據英語傳媒的報導，Westpac 的違規行為還牽涉東南亞國家的兒童賣淫，違反商業道德，請參考＜延伸閱讀＞部份所提供的英語材料。
第二：中美關係惡化，多位港官和京官被美國列入制裁名單，銀行要跟他們切割，否則最壞的情況是被美國的金融系統拒諸門外。中國和澳洲的關係也好不到那裡，過去十幾個月內多次交鋒（例如：澳洲關閉境內大學的孔子學院，中國政府呼籲學生不要去澳洲留學）。而澳洲跟英國和美國一樣，已經暫停跟香港的引渡協議，即是對香港的司法制度投不信任票。袋鼠幫眼見在香港做生意的政治風險增加，也見到「大貓」（匯豐）因為依賴中國市場要下跪（之後依然被中國政府針對），覺得不化算，寧願走人。銀行業因為金錢被捲入政治，是常見的事，匯豐、渣打、中銀和德意志都是好例子，袋鼠幫也不例外。我們香港人會告訴你：公務員通常用匯豐戶口出糧（支薪），所以「大貓」有可能被美國佬制裁（於是在香港的股價一度跌破三十元港幣的心理關口）。「大貓」同時被美國和中國針對（提示：孟晚舟＋Skycom），還要被年輕人的怒火焚燒，百年老店，淪落至此，令人感嘆。森林大火，「大貓」燒焦，袋鼠彈開，不難理解。中共永遠不明白，強迫跨國企業表態只會趕走外資。自絕財路＋自給自足＝內循環？自己想。
第三：疫情反覆，經濟停擺，從武漢封城計起已經持續九個月，企業的現金流減少甚至停頓，令銀行業的壞賬增加。可見未來，低息環境將會持續一段時間，銀行業生意難做，再加上高層因為承擔責任下台，倒不如趁機調整策略和進行業務重組。此外，銀行業還要面對金融科技發展所帶來的挑戰（例如：法定貨幣數碼化＋電子支付平台普及）。商業模式改變＋經營困難＋監管收緊＋繳交罰款＝裁員無可避免。金融業的本質，就是不穩定，從員工的角度看，不可能一生一世。如果是香港人或本地生，在外資金融機構的發展空間非常有限，很大機會去到中層便止步，如果是後勤部門更加是裁員高危。如果是高學歷和年過三十的中年人，去到中層被裁，轉工有困難，可能要轉行或創業，再加上香港的社會環境惡化，政府管治水平低落，前景黯淡，部份人也許趁機移民，導致人才流失。
結論：一葉知秋。
插圖來源：
圖左：互聯網
圖右：www.fotosearch.com
參考資料／延伸閱讀：
為削減開支 西太平洋銀行撤出中港等亞洲市場
香港經濟日報 2020/10/14
https://inews.hket.com/article/2776829/
節錄：澳洲西太平洋銀行（Westpac Bank）表示，評估全球業務後，決定退出包括本港及內地在內的多個亞洲市場，聚焦澳洲和紐西蘭業務。《路透社》報導，作為澳洲第二大銀行的西太平洋銀行，因疫情期間壞帳增加，加上須向澳洲當局支付鉅額和解罰款，該行周三（14 日）宣布將撤出香港、北京、上海、孟買和雅加達，並將國際業務併入新加坡、倫敦和紐約分支。知情人士向《路透社》表示，西太平洋銀行估計需要 1 至 2 年時間完成上述工作，預計會影響 150 名至 200 名員工，大部分來自香港和上海。該行表示，上述調整有助削減逾 50 億澳元（逾 278 億港元）的風險權重資產，改善其資本效率。西太平洋銀行早前被指違反反洗錢及反恐金融法，上月與澳洲交易報告分析中心（AUSTRAC）達成和解，同意向 AUSTRAC 支付 13 億澳元（72 億港元）罰款，是澳洲歷來金額最高的民事罰款。
Westpac bank to pay record
Australian fine over laundering breaches
BBC (24 September 2020)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54275165
Extract: Australia's Westpac bank has negotiated to pay a record A$1.3bn (£0.7bn;
$0.9bn) fine for the nation's biggest breach of money laundering laws. Last
year, Australia's financial crime watchdog said the bank had failed to adequately
report over 19 million international transactions. Some payments were
potentially linked to child exploitation, officials said. The nation's
second-biggest lender has apologised for its "failings".
Westpac is the second top Australian bank to pay huge fines for
breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. If the
billion-dollar fine is approved by a court, it will be the largest civil
penalty in Australian corporate history. However, the fine could have been
larger. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac) said
the transactions had amounted to 23 million law breaches, with each carrying a
maximum penalty of A$21m. Concerns about child exploitation came after Austrac
identified payments made to suspected operators in the Phillipines. Australian
media has since linked the bank to individual cases, including an alleged
paedophile's suspected use of Westpac's transfer system to pay for child sex
overseas.
Westpac settles AUSTRAC
money laundering case with $1.3 billion fine
By senior business correspondent Peter Ryan, business
reporter Michael Janda and political reporter Matthew Doran
www.abc.net.au (Sept 24, 2020)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-24/westpac-settles-austrac-money-laundering-case/12696438
Extract: Westpac has reached a deal with financial crime watchdog
AUSTRAC to settle more than 23 million alleged breaches of anti-money
laundering laws by paying a record $1.3 billion penalty. The penalty is the
biggest in Australian corporate history, and is almost double the previous
record $700 million fine paid by the Commonwealth Bank for almost
54,000 money laundering breaches, revealed by the ABC in 2017. In a statement, AUSTRAC
said Westpac had admitted to breaching the Anti-Money Laundering and
Counter-Terrorism Financing Act more than 23 million times. AUSTRAC said the
breaches included suspicious transactions associated with possible child
exploitation as well as failure to assess risks of money laundering and
terrorism financing. AUSTRAC had initially identified a dozen specific
customers who had made suspicious transactions to the Philippines that were indicative of child exploitation activities.
However, a further review of historical transactions by Westpac in
conjunction with the regulator found a further 250 customers with suspicious
transactions to the Philippines, South-East Asia or Mexico — all of which
should have been picked up much earlier if Westpac had proper monitoring
systems in place. In a statement, Westpac's chief executive Peter King once
again apologised for the contraventions. "We are committed to fixing the
issues to ensure that these mistakes do not happen again. This has been my
number one priority," he said. The scandal, which erupted in late
2019, forced the resignation of then Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer
and the retirement of chairman Lindsay Maxsted, along with other board and
executive changes.
Westpac is expecting to
fork out more than $1 billion as a result of its money laundering scandal. It
would be the biggest corporate fine in Australian history.
JACK DERWIN
Business Insider Australia
(APR 14, 2020)
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/westpac-austrac-fine-1-billion-provision-cba-2020-4
Extract: Westpac has revealed it expects the ongoing AUSTRAC
investigation will cost it $1.03 billion. The investigation alleges the bank
violated anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws some 23 million times
in just five years, allowing money tied to child exploitation to flow
unfettered. This would be the largest fine in Australian corporate history,
with the current record standing at $700 million and paid by the Commonwealth
Bank in 2018.
While it had been speculated the bank may have to pay the country’s
first $1 billion corporate fine, its the first official admission by either the
regulator or the bank that both were headed for that very large ballpark. When
the penalty is handed down, it will obliterate the previous record of $700
million, currently held by the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) after its ‘intelligent deposit
ATMs’ were found to have broken the same laws. It’s unenviable territory to
find yourself in, particularly as the bank flagged a further $400 million
profit hit to its bottom line from an unexpected surge in hardship cases
related to the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent government shutdown. While Westpac
may be comfortable with a billion-dollar fine, it’s worth noting CBA’s own
penalty eventually came in at twice the amount it initially designated.
Westpac’s then may still have some way to blow out.
Commonwealth Bank offers
to pay record fine in laundering case
BBC (4 June 2018)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-44351257
Extract: Australia's Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has said it will pay a $700m (£400m;
$530m) fine for breaching anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing
laws. The scandal relates to 53,000 suspect transactions that the bank did not
immediately report to authorities. Last year, Australia's
financial intelligence agency accused the lender of "serious and
systemic" law breaches. If a court approves the fine, it will be the largest
civil penalty in Australian corporate history.
Most of the breaches related to the bank's deposit machines, which
could accept up to A$20,000 in cash at a time, anonymously if the person
depositing was not a Commonwealth customer. The bank failed to meet deadlines
for reporting transactions over the legal threshold of A$10,000, according to
Austrac. Commonwealth Bank said the breaches were due to a coding error, which
meant the machines failed to automatically report the transactions.
Australia's
banking and financial services sector has been rocked by a series of scandals
over the last decade. In December, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull established
a royal commission inquiry to investigate the scale of wrongdoing. Among
allegations to hit Commonwealth Bank, the inquiry heard that the lender
had collected fees from customers it knew had died. In May, the bank also
admitted to losing the bank records of almost 20 million people. The lender has
also been investigated over whether it adequately informed shareholders about
all potential liabilities related to the anti-money laundering case. Former
chief executive Ian Narev brought forward his retirement last year as the
bank faced pressure over the scandal.
Why
is Australia investigating its banks?
BBC (12 February 2018)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42983881
Extract: Finance is Australia's
biggest industry, and its banks are some of the most profitable in the world.
But now the nation's highest form of public inquiry is examining misconduct by
the nation's banks and financial institutions. The royal commission follows a
decade of scandals that have rocked the sector. How dominant are Australia's
banks? Australia's "Big Four" - Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, National
Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac - collectively have about 80% of the country's
banking market. A recent government-funded report found the sector was "unquestionably
strong", but criticised levels of competition and transparency. What have
been the scandals? All four major banks have faced misconduct allegations. They
include:
- Risky financial advice: Commonwealth Bank customers lost
millions of dollars due to inappropriate advice from financial planners.
- Dodgy mortgages: About 20 NAB bankers were sacked after issuing
home loans based on incorrect or incomplete documentation.
- Rate-rigging lawsuits: All four banks were accused of
manipulating a key interest rate benchmark.
- Alleged breaches of anti money laundering laws: Commonwealth
Bank admitted it was late to disclose 53,000 suspect ATM transactions.
Analysts estimate that Australian banks have paid more than A$1bn
(£550m; $780m) in penalties and compensation since the 2008 financial crisis. Despite
this, the banking giants have continued to post large profits, sometimes
at record levels.
Westpac - Our history
https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/westpac-group/company-overview/our-history/
Extract: Westpac has a long and proud history as Australia's
first and oldest bank. It was established in 1817 as the Bank of New South
Wales under a charter of incorporation provided by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
In October 1982 it changed its name to Westpac Banking Corporation following
the acquisition of the Commercial Bank of Australia.
When we opened our doors for business the first employee was Joseph Hyde Potts.
As a porter and servant, he received a weekly ration from the King's stores and
an annual salary of 25 pounds.
Westpac - Our businesses
https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/westpac-group/company-overview/our-businesses/
Extract: Westpac is Australia’s
oldest bank and company, one of four major banking organisations in Australia
and one of the largest banks in New Zealand. We provide a broad range of banking and financial services in
these markets, including consumer, business and institutional banking and
wealth management services. Our business comprises four key customer-facing
divisions which operate a unique portfolio of brands including Westpac,
St.George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA, BT and RAMS. Through these brands we serve
over 13 million customers. The Group’s four customer-facing divisions are:
Consumer – responsible for sales and service to consumer
customers in Australia under the Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA,
BT and RAMS brands.
Business – responsible for sales and service to micro,
small-to-medium enterprises, commercial business and Private Wealth clients in
Australia under the Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA, BT brands
and Capital Finance. The division also provides specialist services for cash
flow finance, trade finance, automotive and equipment finance, property
finance, treasury and auto finance loans.
Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) – delivers a broad range of
financial products and services to commercial, corporate, institutional and
government customers with connections to Australia
and New Zealand. Customers are supported through branches and subsidiaries located
in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the United
States and the United Kingdom. WIB is also responsible for the Group’s Pacific Banking operations
providing a full range of banking services in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Westpac New Zealand – responsible for sales and service of banking, wealth, and
insurance products for consumer, business and institutional customers in New Zealand, operating under the Westpac New Zealand, Westpac Life and BT Funds
Management (NZ) brands.
China Learns the Hard Way That
Money Can’t Buy You Love
Few countries have soured more rapidly against China
than Australia, as decades of influence-building by Beijing come to
naught.
By Salvatore Babones
Foreign Policy (October 14, 2020)
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/14/china-australia-money-influence/
Extract: China has long had Australia
in its sights, and money is its favored weapon. China
accounts for roughly a third of Australia’s
export earnings. Until recently, it was also a big investor in Australia.
Chinese international students occupy 10 percent of all university places in Australia,
and Beijing has funded Confucius Institutes at 13 of Australia’s
37 public universities. China-linked donors fund several Australian think tanks
advancing China-friendly policies. Nearly every major public institution in Australia
has a “China strategy.” China’s presence looms even larger in Australia’s
much smaller neighbor, New
Zealand. If there’s
one region of the (notionally) Western world where China has
staked its claim to the future, it’s in the Antipodes.
Yet the proportion of Australians who hold a favorable view of China
has plummeted from 64 percent to just 15 percent over the last three years,
according to a Pew Global Attitudes poll released last week. (New Zealand wasn’t surveyed.) The proportion of Australians who view China
unfavorably has risen to 81 percent, with only 3 percent undecided. Australia’s
changing mood on China is part of a global shift, but it’s the most extreme reversal among
the 12 countries Pew regularly surveys and started before the coronavirus.
Despite a widespread and long-standing perception in Australia
that its economic future depends on China, it
turns out that — at least when it comes to public diplomacy — money can’t buy
you love.
China has
certainly spent the money. Australian ethics professor Clive Hamilton’s 2018
book “Silent Invasion”（無聲的入侵）traced the many paths through which Chinese and China-linked money
has informed and potentially influenced Australia’s public debates, from
massive donations to political parties to the takeover of local
Chinese-language media to luxury junkets for journalists and politicians to
visit China. The controversial China-born and based businessman (and Australian
citizen) Chau Chak Wing has given tens of millions of dollars to Australian
universities — and has made a series of donations to patriotic Australian
causes like veterans’ charities and the Australian War Memorial. A confidant of
Chinese President Xi Jinping, he has fought — and won — repeated lawsuits
against Australian media that accused him of bribery and spying for China.
王曉玟：中共如何利用民主摧毀民主
—— 專訪《無聲的入侵》作者漢密爾頓
報導者（2019-04-12）
https://www.twreporter.org/a/interview-clive-hamilton-silent-invasion-china-influence-in-australia
節錄：澳洲為什麼在短短不到 15 年間，徹底被中國滲透？澳洲學者克萊夫．漢密爾頓（Clive
Hamilton）描繪了被中國無聲無息入侵的原因：「因為澳洲和紐西蘭環境開放，有大量中國移民，又堅守多元文化主義，是中共黨國撬動美國同盟、用以測試各種滲透與顛覆手法的練兵場。」當澳洲最大的獨立出版社 Allen & Unwin 打電話來說要延遲出版他的新書，漢密爾頓十分震驚。「我相信，這是第一次，西方聲譽卓著的出版社，必須在自己的國家審查批評中國的書籍。當然，這件事本身就證實了我整本書的論點。」現任澳洲查爾斯史都華大學（Charles Sturt University）公共倫理中心哲學教授的漢密爾頓說。
漢密爾頓去年（2018）在澳洲出版的新書《無聲的入侵》，詳細羅列了超過一千名中共的耳目、內線、間諜，全面滲透澳洲的真實事件。從政界到媒體，從大學到小學，從房地產到農牧業，澳洲的民主在中共「銳實力」入侵之下，顯得天真脆弱，「簡直就像童子軍要對抗教父柯里昂。」漢密爾頓比喻。所謂的銳實力（sharp power）是指一個國家透過操縱性外交政策，企圖影響及控制另一國家政治制度的行為，通常發生在威權國家想要影響他國的內政。漢密爾頓說，銳實力和軟實力不同，中共發展的銳實力並非要贏得認同和好感，而是利用華僑社團與新移民介入澳洲政治，擴大社會對立，讓澳洲自亂陣腳。
延遲出版的消息，早讓此書引發國際媒體注目，《紐約時報》（The New
York Times）和 BBC 都報導澳洲異議之聲被遏制。新書 2018 年 2 月一上市，更引發熱切討論，激化澳中關係；3月，中國外交部發言人華春瑩稱這本書「惡意炒作」和「抹黑攻擊」。批評中國的書不少，但漢密爾頓在過去親中的澳洲，大膽指出中國正企圖將澳洲變為傀儡國家，短短 15 年間，攏絡澳洲前總理鮑勃．霍克（ Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke）、保羅．基廷（Paul Keating）、陸克文（Kevin Rudd），將前政要變成中共的新買辦，中國資金同時大筆湧入澳洲的農地、房地產、大學。無聲無息間，中國搖身一變成為澳洲官界、學界、產業的最大金主，也成為澳洲第二大地主。漢密爾頓大鳴澳洲自由與法治的警鐘。澳洲是目前全球主要經濟體中，最依賴中國的國家。中國是澳洲最大貿易夥伴， 2018 年中國佔澳洲出口高達 34.1%。根據 KPMG 的報告，澳洲自 2007 年已成為中國對外投資第二大國，累計投資達 900 億美元，僅次於美國的 1,000 多億美元。中國目前在澳洲擁有的農地，也僅次於英國，是澳洲第二大地主。
Confucius Institutes: The
growth of China's controversial cultural
branch
By Pratik Jakhar
BBC (6 Sept 2019)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-49511231
Extract: According to China,
its Confucius Institute (CI) is "a
bridge reinforcing friendship" between it and the world. But to its
critics the government-run body - which offers language and cultural programmes
overseas - is a way for Beijing to spread propaganda under the guise of
teaching, interfere with free speech on campuses and even to spy on students.
In recent weeks, a flurry of universities around the world have shut down
programmes operated by the institute. And in Australia,
an investigation is even under way into whether agreements between universities
and the institute have broken anti-foreign interference laws.
Foreign influence in Australia?
In July, Australian media reported that local universities hosting CIs had
signed agreements which gave China
decision-making authority over teaching at the facilities. Then in late August, New South Wales
announced it was scrapping programmes run by the CI in its schools altogether. An education department review in the
Australian state said that while there was no evidence of "actual
political influence", a number of factors "could give rise to the
perception that the Confucius Institute is or could be facilitating
inappropriate foreign influence in the department".
China's 'hybrid war': Beijing's mass surveillance of Australia and the world for secrets
and scandal
By political editor Andrew Probyn and political
reporter Matthew Doran
www.abc.net.au (Sept 14, 2020)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-14/chinese-data-leak-linked-to-military-names-australians/12656668
Extract: A Chinese company with links to Beijing's military
and intelligence networks has been amassing a vast database of detailed
personal information on thousands of Australians, including prominent and
influential figures. A database of 2.4 million people, including more than
35,000 Australians, has been leaked from the Shenzhen company Zhenhua Data
which is believed to be used by China's intelligence
service, the Ministry of State Security.
Zhenhua has the People's Liberation Army and the Chinese Communist
Party among its main clients. Information collected includes dates of birth,
addresses, marital status, along with photographs, political associations,
relatives and social media IDs. It collates Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,
Instagram and even TikTok accounts, as well as news stories, criminal records
and corporate misdemeanours. While much of the information has been
"scraped" from open-source material, some profiles have information
which appears to have been sourced from confidential bank records, job
applications and psychological profiles. The company is believed to have
sourced some of its information from the so-called "dark web".
The company's chief executive Wang Xuefeng, a former IBM employee,
has used Chinese social media app WeChat to endorse waging "hybrid
warfare" through manipulation of public opinion and "psychological
warfare". Of the 35,558 Australians on the database, there are state and
federal politicians, military officers, diplomats, academics, civil servants,
business executives, engineers, journalists, lawyers and accountants. The
military sector appears to be of particular interest to the company. The
database tracks promotion prospects of officers and political networks. Australia's
fledgling space industry is also of some interest to Zhenhua. Zhenhua Data,
established in 2018, is believed to be owned by China Zhenhua Electronics Group
which in turn is owned by state-owned China Electronic Information Industry
Group (CETC), a military research company which had an association with
the University of Technology Sydney until 2019.
U.S. State Department issues
sanctions warning to banks over Hong Kong crackdown
By David Brunnstrom, Matt Spetalnick, Patricia
Zengerle
Reuters (OCTOBER 15, 2020)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-hongkong-report/u-s-state-department-issues-sanctions-warning-to-banks-over-hong-kong-crackdown-idUSKBN26Z2UC
Extract: The U.S. State Department on Wednesday warned international
financial institutions doing business with individuals deemed responsible for China’s
crackdown in Hong Kong that they could soon face tough sanctions. In a report to Congress,
the State Department named 10 people, including Hong Kong’s chief executive
Carrie Lam, all of whom have already been sanctioned, and said within 60 days
it would identify financial institutions that conduct significant transactions
with them.
Wednesday’s State Department document did not add any new
individuals to the list nor did it name any banks or other financial
institutions that might be at risk for penalties. But the report put the firms
on notice that they could be subject to so-called secondary sanctions,
including restrictions on U.S.
loans, foreign exchange, property transactions, exports and transfers, in
addition to measures against their executives. Senior British and U.S.
politicians have recently criticized HSBC and Standard
Chartered after the banks backed China's
national security law for the territory.
The U.S. Hong Kong Autonomy Act that Trump signed into law on July
14, required the State Department to list those people deemed responsible for
communist-ruled China’s failure to meet its obligations toward Hong Kong within 90 days and
which makes them liable for sanctions. It also requires a list of any financial
institutions that knowingly conduct significant financial transactions with
such persons no more than 60 days after that. It allows the U.S.
president to impose sanctions on individuals as soon as they are named and
calls for sanctions on the financial institutions no later than a year after
they are identified.
In June, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused HSBC of
“corporate kowtows” to Beijing. HSBC has faced mounting pressure from China on
one side and Britain and the United
States on the other
in recent months over its stance on Hong
Kong. In June HSBC’s Asia-Pacific CEO,
Peter Wong, signed a petition supporting Beijing’s plans to
impose new security legislation on Hong Kong, prompting strong criticism from the U.S. and
British governments. Hong Kong is HSBC’s most profitable market and expansion across China is
central to its growth strategy, making a close relationship with Beijing critical.
Release of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act Report
PRESS STATEMENT
MORGAN ORTAGUS, DEPARTMENT
SPOKESPERSON
US Department of State (OCTOBER
14, 2020)
https://www.state.gov/release-of-the-hong-kong-autonomy-act-report/
Extract: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has systematically
dismantled the autonomy that Beijing promised to the Hong Kong people and the world in a UN-registered treaty. Through the
imposition of the National Security Law, the CCP has crippled democratic
institutions, human rights, judicial independence, and individual freedoms in Hong Kong. The United States has publicly condemned an increasing number of problematic actions
taken by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to stifle dissent and eviscerate Hong Kong’s autonomy. These
include the installation of a mainland security agency, mass arrests of
peaceful protestors, the politically motivated delay of the September 2020
Legislative Council elections, and the capture and detention of Hong Kong democratic activists
attempting to leave Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Autonomy Act requires the Secretary of State to submit
a report to Congress identifying foreign persons who are materially
contributing to, have materially contributed to, or attempt to materially
contribute to the failure of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
to meet its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration or Hong Kong’s Basic Law. This
year’s report includes ten PRC and Hong Kong officials whose actions have undermined freedoms of assembly,
speech, press, or the rule of law, or whose actions have reduced the high
degree of autonomy of Hong Kong. On August 7, the United States imposed sanctions on these same individuals under Executive Order
13936. The release of this report underscores our ongoing objection to Beijing’s actions
that are intentionally designed to erode the freedoms of the people of Hong Kong and impose the CCP’s
oppressive policies.
美國警告金融機構勿與林鄭月娥在內被制裁人士交易
RTHK
2020-10-15
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1554804-20201015.htm
節錄：美國國務院正式警告國際金融機構，切勿與被指打壓香港民主而被制裁的人進行業務往來，否則這些金融機構可能面對制裁。根據路透社取得華府向國會提交的報告，國務院列出 10 名因打壓香港民主而被美國制裁的人，包括行政長官林鄭月娥，又指華府會在 60 日內披露涉及與該批被制裁人士，有重要商業往來的金融機構名單。美國財政部是在 8 月宣布，制裁林鄭月娥等香港與內地官員及前官員，指他們破壞香港自治，限制公民言論及結社自由。
匯控及渣打憂遭制裁 匯控曾失 30 元
Infocast (2020 年 10 月 15 日)
節錄：美國總統特朗普在 7 月中簽署香港自治法。華府到 8 月向包括行政長官林鄭月娥在內的 11 名內地及香港官員實施制裁，最新報告列出被制裁的個人名單中，前警務處長盧偉聰的名字未有列席，華府會在隨後的 60 日內，列明那些金融機構同被制裁的人進行重大交易，各間機構可在 30 日內結束同這 10 人的交易，否則會被制裁。英美政界人士早前批評匯豐控股（港股編號：0005）及渣打集團（港股編號：2888），支持實施港區國安法。外界注視兩行會否被華府制裁，今早股價受壓。匯控跟隨美國 ADR 失守 30 元（港幣）大關口，曾跌 2.23%。渣打報 35.6 元（港幣），挫 2.2%。
特區不滿妖魔化港區國安法 促美避免損害國際金融體系
RTHK 2020-10-15
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1554983-20201015.htm
節錄：特區政府表示，強烈反對美國國務卿根據所謂《香港自治法案》而發表的報告，指報告妖魔化及抹黑《港區國安法》，認為所謂「制裁」正是美國霸權主義又一例子，對香港的金融機構不具法律效力，促請美國避免採取有可能損害國際金融體系的措施。
外交部駐港公署堅決反對美國「香港自治法」報告
RTHK 2020-10-16
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1555031-20201016.htm
節錄：外交部駐港特派員公署對美國政府炮製「香港自治法」報告，公然污蔑香港國安法，蠻橫制裁中方人員，赤裸裸干預屬於中國內政的香港事務，表示堅決反對，並予以嚴正批駁。發言人說，美方炮製報告，歇斯底里詆毀香港國安法，別有用心抹黑中央和特區政府撥亂反正之舉，氣急敗壞制裁中央和特區官員，赤裸裸為反中亂港分子撐腰打氣，再次暴露美方唯恐香港不亂、企圖遏制中國發展的險惡用心，美方應糾正錯誤，立即停止以任何方式干預香港事務、干涉中國內政。
相關的文章：
德意志＋鐮刀幫＋美國總統
2020 年 7 月 23 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2020/07/blog-post_23.html
節錄：金融罪案＋國際政治＋新舊媒體間諜戰，稱得上＜驚天大陰謀＞。捲入其中的銀行和傳媒都是歷史悠久的百年老店，同樣淪為權鬥工具或棋子。故事還在發展中，牽涉重重黑幕，還有很多未解的疑團（例如：死於非命的德銀高層）。這是一齣真實版的 House of Cards，適合用來拍電影或長篇電視劇。故事情節非常國際化，人物場景跨越德國、俄國、美國、中國和香港，展現人性黑暗和複雜的一面，是陰謀電影的格局。
金融中心的黑暗面
2020 年 1 月 15 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2020/01/blog-post.html
節錄：難怪小朋友在網上論壇這樣寫：「香港失去集資和走資的功能，令支共（中共）無法借錢還債，加速支爆 (China meltdown)。終極攬炒，玉石俱焚！香港失去最重要的戰略價值，但可以加快獨立的過程，那是我們唯一的出路！」從這個角度看，匯豐獅子遭逢火劫（提示：星火同盟），令藍絲大媽落淚，年輕黃絲卻處之泰然，當中的情緒落差，也就不難理解。
隱身術
2019 年 9 月 27 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-post_27.html
節錄：早於 2018 年初中美貿易戰爆發之前，紅色資本的海外併購活動已經遇到困難。西方國家基於國家安全考慮，對中資說不（提示：倫敦交易所），又或者設置障礙。中資的回應方式，是動用港人、台商、南洋華僑甚至親共洋人(Panda Hugger) 當人頭或 Frontman，讓大股東可以退居幕後。這些雕蟲小技，曾經欺騙外資銀行的華為公主孟晚舟（提示：匯豐＋Skycom）應該懂。
前記者（一）
2011 年 8 月 1 日
http://xiaoshousha.blogspot.hk/2011/08/blog-post.html
節錄：2009 年 3 月 9 日，匯豐（港股編號：0005）的股價創下港幣 33 元的歷史低位，香港股市哀鴻遍野，股民損失慘重。有香港網民把匯豐的商標改成一隻蟹，英文名字則改成 The Hongkong & Shanghai Big Crab, HSBC （原名：The Hongkong & Shanghai
Banking Corporation, HSBC），寓意股民被綁，有如大閘蟹。
Disintermediation（非中介化）
2018 年 3 月 28 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.hk/2018/03/disintermediation.html
節錄：當中國自以為強大，不再需要香港這個中間人，匯豐有份栽培的首富李嘉誠（提示：和黃）選擇在這個時候退休。可見未來，香港不會再有另一個李嘉誠，也不會再有另一間匯豐，因為英國人的餘蔭已經被消耗得七七八八。至於香港的轉型之路，則受制於畸形的政治制度以及滲透各行各業的紅色勢力，註定困難重重。年輕人找不到出路，起來翻桌子，不難理解。
登上懸崖峭壁的女子
2017 年 3 月 29 日
http://xiaoshousha.blogspot.hk/2017/03/blog-post_29.html
節錄：工作上，林鄭月娥面對一大群紅色背景的毒男（狠毒男人）。在經濟層面，林鄭月娥同樣面對紅色勢力所帶來的挑戰。英資裁員（例如：匯豐、渣打、國泰），外資金融機構的後勤部門遷移到東九龍，把中環的甲級商廈讓給中資。人傻錢多的中資繼續高價搶地，令麵粉（地價）貴過麵包（樓價），華資地產商見狀讓路。中資進駐資產市場所帶來的扭曲，普羅大眾都感受得到。
離岸中心（四）
2009 年 1 月 18 日
http://xiaoshousha.blogspot.hk/2009/01/blog-post_18.html
節錄：翻查資料，1941-1953
年間的匯豐銀行大班叫 A
Morse，此君在抗戰後期曾經透過英國駐重慶的辦事處與國民政府取得聯繫。中國歷史上，匯豐曾經先後為清廷和國民黨提供服務。以英國人的務實作風，跟國民黨打完交道之後，再應酬共產黨，左右逢源，從中取利，絕對有可能。
遲早要還
2020 年 6 月 7 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2020/06/blog-post.html
節錄：大國相爭，買辦死先，是香港的命運。金融中心地位受損，是最低消費 (Minimum charge) 或附帶傷害 (Collateral damage)。中美兩國處於半戰爭狀態，局部開火，平民百姓被誤傷或誤殺，私人財產被破壞或充公，也很常見，無法避免。至於美軍空投炸彈的命中率，請參考二戰時期的紅磡觀音廟幾乎被誤炸事件，阿彌陀佛！所以香港人又開始移民和撤資了。
Know Your Customer
2019 年 11 月 2 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2019/11/know-your-customer.html
節錄：香港的營商環境發生質變，不論是華資、中資還是外資，都需要重新評估在香港做生意的風險，重新審視這個城市所潛藏的權力體制和遊戲規則，也要重新認識年輕一輩的黃絲顧客。華資可以派錢或捐地自保，外資可以分階段撤出香港，但是中資沒有這些選項。
地獄黑仔王
2020 年 8 月 13 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2020/08/blog-post.html
節錄：中美關係惡化，蔓延到金融領域，在美國有業務的中資銀行可能有麻煩，萬一被排除於美元結算系統以外，日常營運肯定會受影響，今次中銀又是首當其衝。根據國際傳媒的報導，中銀內部已經進行相關研究，開始準備應變計畫，請參考＜延伸閱讀＞部份所提供的英語報導。至於經濟蕭條和失業高企對於傳統銀行業所帶來的挑戰，這個博客的讀者應該懂，無須長篇大論。
數碼貨幣 (Part 2)
2020 年 10 月 7 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2020/10/part-2.html
節錄：在中美關係惡化的背景下，中國央行與其被動地回應，被（國際社會）邊緣化，倒不如採取主動，爭取成為設定行業標準的先行者 (First Mover)，順便把法定貨幣（人民幣）數碼化（提示：化粧＋喬裝＋黃子華），一來保住中國央行的地位，二來保障國家主權及金融安全，三來讓中國可以繼續進行對外貿易（即：對抗美元霸權或繞過貿易制裁），一舉數得。
No more panda hugger
2019 年 9 月 13 日
https://xiaoshousha.blogspot.com/2019/09/no-more-panda-hugger.html
節錄：外資冷眼旁觀過去的三個多月內，香港的抗爭者得到甚麼待遇，開始明白跟中共交易的代價，就是要絕對臣服及交出靈魂。跪還是不跪？單膝還是雙膝？還是這個老問題。英國人沒有膝蓋或骨頭硬，所以只能向中國的皇帝（乾隆）單膝下跪？那個藉口已經行不通了。那是清朝，今日的中華帝國已經復興了，不會向洋人割讓土地（香港），而是向洋人發號施令。
草船借箭
2015 年 6 月 5 日
http://xiaoshousha.blogspot.hk/2015/06/blog-post.html
節錄：過去兩、三年，中國的
FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) 和 ODI (Overseas Direct Investment) 的金額接近持平。外資大行經濟師的看法：前者降，後者升，趨勢持續的話，幾年之後 ODI 將會超越 FDI ，走出去的會超過引進來的。對西方國家的跨國企業來說，中國的實體經濟早已不再吸引，下一輪的投資熱點可能是跟美國關係改善的緬甸或古巴。因應形勢轉變，偉大祖國試圖透過香港，引導外資進入金融市場，透過另一管道，讓洋鬼子繼續為中國的經濟增長提供動力。
16/10/2020
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