I maintain HSBC accounts in several countries and always request a local credit card since it's sometimes difficult to make an online purchase in another country without having a local address. It also can help sidestep the farkin' dynamic currency exchange that some merchants try to slip through. Yes I know they are supposed to ask you but a lot don't. Usually goes something like:

"I noticed you charged me in US dollars on my Schwab Visa, I'd prefer to pay in local $"
"Oh, I don't know how to do that, I'll call the owner & (s)he'll be here in 30 min"
"Fine, just cancel the transaction and bill it to my local HSBC card"

Loses the cashback but saves some sanity.