By Lars Mucklejohn A leading Hong Kong pro-democracy activist has called major firms like HSBC and Standard Chartered “short-sighted” for lobbying the UK government to ease its planned clampdowns on China. A number of major British companies with connections to China are pressing Rishi Sunak’s government to tone down proposed measures on doing business in the country, two people familiar with the matter told City A.M. The firms include banks HSBC and Standard Chartered, as well as insurance giant Prudential.The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is also understood to be involved. All the …