HSBC to beef up network in China with more staff

Expansion plan includes new outlets in cities and rural areas

BEIJING - HSBC Holdings PLC, Europe's biggest lender, aims to add at least 500 employees in the Chinese mainland annually as it further extends its network, said a senior executive on Tuesday.

"We still see an economic growth rate of not less than 8 percent and a very strong momentum for business growth in China," said Peter Wong, chief executive of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd, during a video news briefing on Tuesday.