HONG KONG, Jan 4 (IFR) - British Columbiahas hired Bank of China and HSBC Bank (China) as joint lead underwritersfor a potential maiden offering of Panda bonds.

The offering is for up to 3 billion renminbi ($460 million)with a maximum tenor of five years.

The Canadian province registered with Chinese regulators inlate November to issue Panda bonds of up to Rmb6bn in the domestic interbankmarket.

The issuer is rated Aaa/AAA/AA (high) byMoody's/S&P/Dominion Bond. It has been exempted from securing domesticChinese credit ratings.

British Columbiawas the first foreign government entity to sell Dim Sum bonds, raising 2.5billion renminbi in late 2013 from a sale of one-year bonds.