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Benjamin Hung expects a bigger income contribution from commercial banking in Hong Kong this year. Photo: Thomas Yau

Liquidity concerns to slow loan growth in Hong Kong

KANIS LI

Bank lending will increase in Hong Kong more slowly this year amid concerns about shrinking liquidity arising from the winding down of the bond-buying programme by the Federal Reserve in the United States, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) chief executive Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng said.

"Banks will be more prudent in the lending business," he said. "I expect loans [in Hong Kong] to grow 10 per cent this year."

Outstanding loans rose 16 per cent last year, Hong Kong Monetary Authority figures showed. The authority has warned of accelerating credit growth and ordered banks to match their funding, such as deposits with longer tenures, to loans so as to reduce the risks of overlending.

Hung said he expected Standard Chartered's net interest margin to remain stable. It stayed flat at 1.6 per cent at the end of last year.

Income from the Hong Kong operation delivered 10 consecutive years of growth in 2013, but net income for the group declined 17 per cent from the year before, ending a decade-long run of profit growth.

Hong Kong remained the largest contributor to Standard Chartered's earnings, with pre-tax profit jumping 16 per cent to US$1.9 billion.

Hung said he expected income contribution from commercial banking in Hong Kong, which focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises, to grow from 10 per cent last year.

Standard Chartered said on Wednesday that it would consider putting PrimeCredit, its consumer finance unit in the city, up for sale as part of its reorganisation plan.

"Although the subsidiary is profitable and in good shape, it is the only consumer finance asset remaining after the group sold similar assets in South Korea," Hung said, adding that the group regarded PrimeCredit as a non-core business.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Liquidity concerns to slow loan growth in HK
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