Banks in Asia fire up emergency backup sites to evade coronavirus

Hong Kong and Singapore pass lessons gained from SARS to global finance sector

20200316 Hong Kong HSBC 2

Banks including HSBC, Citigroup, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and JPMorgan have divided their sales teams and trading staff by sending them to backup locations in Hong Kong and Singapore to minimize disruptions. © AP

NARAYANAN SOMASUNDARAM, Nikkei Asian Review chief banking and financial correspondent

HONG KONG -- When a junior trader named Gary at a global bank in Hong Kong heard of preparations in early February to split up teams at his company, he brushed aside the idea, thinking they would remain well-rehearsed contingency plans to deal with the new coronavirus.

But the plans were put into action in the next few days as the significance of the coronavirus outbreak started to emerge.

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