China halts link between Shanghai and London stock exchanges as political tensions escalate

Sources say Britain's stance on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong is factor in Beijing's decision

Sources pointed to Westminster's stance on the Hong Kong protests as a reason for the suspension (Getty)

China has temporarily blocked planned cross-border listings between the Shanghai and London stock exchanges because of political tensions with the UK, according to people familiar with the situation.

The suspension of the Shanghai-London Stock Connect scheme casts a shadow over the future of a project meant to build ties between Britain and China, help Chinese firms expand their investor base, and give investors in China access to UK-listed companies.

The sources, who include public officials and people working on potential Shanghai-London deals, all said that politics was behind the suspension.

Two of them highlighted the UK's stance on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and one pointed to remarks over the detention of a now former staff member of the British consulate in Hong Kong.

All five sources have been involved in talks with Chinese officials and spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak about the matter publicly.

British companies and banks involved in the scheme are watching closely how the recently elected British prime minister, Boris Johnson, approaches relations with Beijing and what position he takes on Hong Kong, which has been roiled by protests.

China blames the Hong Kong unrest, which is driven by an anti-government movement seeking to curb controls by Beijing, on interference by foreign governments including the United States and Britain.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Shanghai stock exchange did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespersons for the London stock exchange and the UK's finance ministry declined to comment.

China's ministry of foreign affairs said in a faxed statement that it was not aware of the specifics, but added that it “hopes the UK can provide a fair and unbiased business environment for Chinese companies that invest in the UK and create the appropriate conditions for both countries to carry out practical cooperation smoothly in various fields”.

Stock Connect, which began operating last year, was devised as a way of improving the UK's relationship with the world's second biggest economy and was seen as a major step by China to open up its capital markets as well as linking them globally.

In May last year, Huatai Securities became the first Chinese company to use the scheme, and SDIC Power was set to become the second, with a listing of global depository receipts (GDRs) in London representing 10% of its share capital.

However, the alternative energy operator's deal was postponed at an advanced stage, with SDIC Power citing market conditions as the main reason.

Five sources told Reuters that SDIC Power's deal was halted because of Beijing's suspension of Stock Connect.

Other hopefuls such as China Pacific Insurance, which one of the sources said could have launched a deal as early as the first quarter of 2020, have also been told to put their cross-border listing plans on ice, they added.

SDIC Power and China Pacific Insurance did not respond to requests for comment.

“It's not only a big blow to the companies looking to broaden the investor base via listings in London, but also to China's links with global markets,” one source, who has worked on one of the GDR deals, told Reuters.

Trouble with the scheme comes at a bad time for Britain, which is keen to build ties with non-European Union countries as it prepares to leave the bloc, and the London stock exchange.

The London exchange was set for its worst year in a decade in terms of new listings as of 4 December, Refinitiv data showed, with political volatility and concerns over Brexit hampering stock market fundraisings.

Reuters