me":"Comment","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/comment"}}]}]17:T724,China should prepare for potential US sanctions by increasing use of its own financial messaging network for cross-border transactions in the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, according to a report from the investment banking unit of Bank of China.

Chinese state lenders have been revamping contingency plans in anticipation of US legislation that could penalise banks for serving officials who implement the new national security for Hong Kong, Reuters reported earlier this month.

Greater use of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, instead of the Belgium based Swift system, would also reduce exposure of China's global payments data to the United States, BOC International said in the report, which was coauthored by a former foreign exchange regulator.

The bank's chief economist, Guan Tao, was previously a director of the international payments department of State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

The report looked at potential measures the United States could take against Chinese banks, including cutting off their access to the Swift financial messaging service, a primary network used by banks globally to make financial transactions.

"A good punch to the enemy will save yourself from hundreds of punches from your enemies," the report wrote. "We need to get prepared in advance, mentally and practically."

The report was prepared by the BOC's investment banking unit. REUTERS

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