(18 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hong Kong – 18 March 2025
1. Wide of Hong Kong leader John Lee walking into news briefing
2. Close of a journalist asking questions
3. SOUNDBITE (English) John Lee, Hong Kong Chief Executive:
“First, there have been extensive discussions in society about the issue, and this reflects society’s concern over the matter. These concerns deserve serious attention. Second, the Hong Kong SAR government urges foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for enterprises, including enterprises from Hong Kong. We oppose the abusive use of coercion or bullying tactics in international economic and trade relations.”
4. Wide of briefing
5. Mid of photojournalists
6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Lee, Hong Kong Chief Executive:
“Third, any transaction must comply with the legal and regulatory requirements. Hong Kong will handle it in accordance with the law and regulations.”
7. Wide pan of presser
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Hong Kong – 16 March 2018
8. Wide of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing announcing his retirement at annual results announcement press conference
9. SOUNDBITE (Cantonese) Li Ka Shing, Hong Kong business tycoon:
"I will retire as chairman of my companies after the annual general meeting on May 10th”
10. Mid of Victor Li, elder son of Li Ka Shing, (left on screen) and Li Ka Shing (right on screen) at presser
11. Mid of Li Ka Shing bowing and saying thank you in Cantonese at presser
12. Wide of presser
STORYLINE:
Hong Kong’s leader has waded into a controversy over a prominent conglomerate’s decision to sell its Panama Canal port assets to a consortium including American investment bank BlackRock.
The deal has angered Beijing and highlights how escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington can leave the Chinese financial centre’s business leaders trapped in the middle.
Chief Executive John Lee told reporters at a weekly news briefing that CK Hutchison Holdings’ in-principle agreement to sell its controlling stake in a company operating ports at both ends of the Panama Canal was being discussed extensively and concerns raised about the deal deserve serious attention. He did not specify what the concerns were.
“(The) government urges foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for enterprises,” he said. “We oppose the abusive use of coercion or bullying tactics in international economic and trade relations.”
Lee avoided a direct mention of U.S. President Donald Trump and also stopped short of criticizing CK Hutchison or tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, which owns a controlling stake in the conglomerate.
His comments followed a somewhat veiled backlash from Beijing.
Since last Thursday, Beijing’s offices handling Hong Kong affairs have reposted two commentaries by a Beijing-backed local newspaper that blasted the deal. That has raised questions over the sale.
One of the newspaper commentaries suggested the deal is a betrayal to all Chinese and disregards national interests. The other described great entrepreneurs as patriots, but suggested that businesspeople who “dance with” predatory American politicians to reap quick profits were doomed to infamy.
The articles signalled Beijing’s disapproval of the deal, though its actual impact remains unclear.
Lee said any business transaction must comply with Hong Kong’s laws. The city will handle it according to the law, he said without elaborating.
Increasing influence from Beijing is adding to pressure on business leaders in the former British colony, that was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
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