CONFIDENTIAL
Popied to
Hack 10215
CALL BY THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE: 23 JUNE 1981
Present:
The Rt Hon The Lord Carrington
Sir Murray MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVO
KCMG MC
Mr Nicholas Ridley MP
Mr A E Donald CMG
Mr R D Clift
Mr R M J Lyne
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK (HSBC) BID FOR THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
1. Sir M MacLehose said that he had seen the Governor of the Bank of England on 22 June. He had tried to convince Mr Richardson that the question should be left to the Monopolies Commission but clearly Mr Richardson still hoped that Sir Murray might be able to intervene to get the bid withdrawn.
2. Lord Carrington said that he had made quite clear to Mr Richardson that this was not possible.
3. The probable concerns of the Bank of England were discussed. On the question of control over HSBC, Sir M MacLehose said that in practice control would be practicable. Mr Ridley observed that Mr Richardson was clearly worried that he would lose the type of close relationship which he now had with the Big Four Banks in the UK. Sir M MacLehose said that he had gone carefully through this point with Mr Richardson, assuring him of the Hong Kong authorities' readiness to discuss the problem of prudential supervision and reminding him that the Chairman of HSBC had expressed readiness to provide full information on the Bank's assets and accounts.
4. Lord Carrington said that he feared that this was not the main reason for the Bank of England's opposition. They were concerned at establishing a precedent which would open the flood gates for other non-UK-registered banks to move in. Sir M MacLehose agreed that the decision on the HSBC bid could affect the attitude of foreign banks although in practice it was very difficult to see that any of the other major clearing banks could be taken over. But in any case there was a difference between the HSBC and non-British banks. It would be possible to tell the French or the Germans that a takeover by the HSBC did not establish a precedent. Mr Ridley observed that it might be possible to take action by amendment to the Banking Act.
5. Sir M MacLehose said that he thought sheer distrust of the HSBC, which was not really justified, lay at the heart of the Bank of England's opposition. It was interesting that Mr Richardson had asked when he could see him again. Clearly he was concerned at the possibility that the Monopolies Commission might decide not to intervene against either the HSBC or the Standard Chartered bid.
CONFIDENTIAL
/6.