Punjab National Bank (PNB) has received approval from Hong Kong authorities to open a branch."We will launch the branch in Hong Kong in January. The basic purpose is to enter the Chinese market through Hong Kong," said K C Chakrabarty, chairman and managing director, PNB.Currently, PNB has a banking subsidiary in London, representative offices in Shanghai, Dubai, and Almaty, and a branch in Kabul."We want to become a global player," Chakrabarty added.