Can domestic HSBC deposit pounds?

Of course.

HSBC time deposits offer five maturity options and eight major currency options, including US dollar, Hong Kong dollar, Japanese yen, Euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, British pound and Singapore dollar.

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is a foreign-funded bank. The Chinese literal translation is "The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited", the English abbreviation is HSBC, and the Chinese abbreviation is "HSBC", which means "Fenghui".