13 May 2025集誌社#6787
CK Hutchison sells ports | Group issues late-night statement: Deal absolutely cannot be conducted unlawfully or non-compliantly
長和集團出售旗下港口引起軒然大波，《大公報》月初一連兩日發表時評炮轟，警告長和「執迷不悟將碰得頭破血流」、「再不回頭，一定後悔莫及」，兩度提及除了《反壟斷法》，必要時可用國安法律。《大公報》昨（12日）再刊登香港大學法律學院副長院趙雲訪問，引述其指特區政府可援引《國安法》，以審查交易是否「配合外國勢力危害國家安全」。
集團昨深夜發聲明，指「交易絕不可能在任何不合法或不合規的情況下進行」。
The sale of CK Hutchison Holdings’ ports has caused widespread controversy. At the beginning of the month, Ta Kung Pao published commentaries on two consecutive days attacking the group, warning that if CK Hutchison remained “obstinate” it would “end up battered and bruised” and that if it did not turn back, it would “certainly regret it too late”. The commentaries twice mentioned that, in addition to the Anti-Monopoly Law, national security laws could be used if necessary. Yesterday (12th), Ta Kung Pao published an interview with Hong Kong University Faculty of Law deputy dean Yun (EC Legal) Zhao, who was quoted as saying that the SAR Government could invoke the National Security Law to examine whether the transaction “cooperates with foreign forces to endanger national security”.
The group issued a statement late last night, saying that “the transaction absolutely cannot be conducted under any circumstances that are illegal or non-compliant”.
10 Apr 2025獨媒#6672
CK Hutchison Rebuts Panama Allegations, Says It Paid All Taxes and Operated Legally with Investment Far Exceeding Contractual Requirements
長和擬出售巴拿馬事件持續發酵，巴拿馬審計部門日前指控長和子公司和海事部門有多項違規，例如欠款和避稅，考慮循法律途徑取消特許經營權合約，變相「收回」運河。被指違規的長和子公司和記港口巴拿馬港口公司昨日發聲明，列出十點逐一反駁指控，包括指公司已作出超過16.95億巴波亞幣（每1巴波亞幣等於1美元）巨額投資，遠超合約和附加協議要求的10億巴波亞幣，反指該筆投資已獲巴拿馬審計長確認。聲明又指，現時外界部分不符事實的言論，扭曲了特許經營合約及其附加協議的法律關係，也與巴拿馬共和國多年行事有抵觸，形容事件「令人遺憾」。
The controversy over CK Hutchison’s proposed sale of its Panama operations continued to escalate after Panama’s audit authorities recently accused the company’s subsidiary and maritime operations of multiple violations, including unpaid amounts and tax evasion. The authorities are considering legal action to cancel the concession contract, effectively “taking back” the canal. Hutchison Ports Panama, the CK Hutchison subsidiary accused of the violations, issued a statement yesterday rebutting the allegations point by point in 10 items. It said the company had made investments exceeding 1.695 billion balboas—far above the 1 billion balboas required under the contract and supplementary agreements—with one balboa equal to one US dollar. The company said the investment had been confirmed by Panama’s Comptroller General. The statement also said some inaccurate public comments had distorted the legal relationship between the concession contract and its supplementary agreements, conflicted with the conduct of the Republic of Panama over many years, and were “regrettable”.
31 Mar 2025獨媒#6634
Ta Kung Pao: Mainland Anti-Monopoly Law Could Be Combined with National Security Law to Review CK Hutchison’s Port Sale
美國總統特朗普揚言4月2日是國家「解放日」，將提高對中國商品加稅關稅。在關稅戰開打之際，香港首富李嘉誠計劃出售多個港口予美國財團的舉措，包括巴拿馬運河兩個港口，連日來軒然大波。上周五長和一方人士放風指「大家明啦」，稱4月2日將不會正式簽署合約，意味交易「暫緩」。獲港澳辦和中聯辦「眷顧」多次轉載文章的《大公報》今日續向李嘉誠施壓，支持國家市場監督管理總局「依法審查」，又引述「權威專家」指今次交易雖涉及境外港口，但因為「影響」中國船公司，不僅可以引用《反壟斷法》，甚至可以結合內地的《國家安全法》及《數據安全法》，防範地緣政治對航運的潛在威脅。
在上周五放風宣布交易「暫緩」的同時，《路透》引述消息報道，長和正考慮將全球電訊業務資產，分拆在倫敦上市，最快在今年內進行，業務估值在100億英鎊至150億（約1,014億港元至1,513億元）。
US President Donald Trump has threatened to call April 2 the nation’s “Liberation Day” and raise tariffs on Chinese goods. As the tariff war gets under way, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s plan to sell several ports to a US consortium, including two ports on the Panama Canal, has caused an uproar in recent days. On Friday, a person close to CK Hutchison said, “Everyone understands,” and indicated that the contract would not be formally signed on April 2, meaning the transaction had been “put on hold.” Ta Kung Pao, whose articles have been repeatedly reprinted by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Liaison Office, continued to pressure Li Ka-shing today, supporting the State Administration for Market Regulation’s “review in accordance with the law.” It also quoted “authoritative experts” as saying that although the transaction involves overseas ports, because it “affects” Chinese shipping companies, the Anti-Monopoly Law could be invoked and even combined with the mainland’s National Security Law and Data Security Law to guard against potential geopolitical threats to shipping.
At the same time as word was put out on Friday that the transaction had been “put on hold,” Reuters cited sources as reporting that CK Hutchison was considering spinning off its global telecommunications assets for a London listing, potentially as early as this year. The business was valued at between £10 billion and £15 billion, equivalent to approximately HK$101.4 billion to HK$151.3 billion.
27 Mar 2025獨媒#6624
Bloomberg: China’s senior officials tell state-owned enterprises to suspend new cooperation with Li Ka-shing family
長和(00001)出售兩個巴拿馬港口予貝萊德牽頭財團的計劃，昨日據報將如期4月2日簽約。隨著「死線」漸近，事件繼續發酵，《南早》今日報道指政府已與長和代表溝通，尋找「合理出路」。《彭博》今日報道指，中國官方已指示國企暫停與李嘉誠及其家人有關的生意有任何新交易。
《彭博》的報道還指，該行政指示是由高級官員於上周向國企發出，而現有的合作將不受影響。
南早引港府消息 稱已接觸並溝通
《南華早報》則引述政府消息指，早於3月4日長和公布出售港口後，政府已即時接觸長和代表，又指雙方一直溝通並為事件尋找「合理出路」。報道同時引述其他消息人士稱，雙方選項很有限，因為取消交易會帶來巨額賠償，若政府繼續施壓，會對長和和國家帶來嚴重政治影響。
The plan by CK Hutchison (00001) to sell two ports in Panama to a consortium led by BlackRock was reportedly still due to be signed as scheduled on April 2, according to a report yesterday. As the “deadline” approaches, the matter continues to develop. The South China Morning Post reported today that the government had communicated with representatives of CK Hutchison to seek a “reasonable way forward”. Bloomberg reported today that Chinese authorities had instructed state-owned enterprises to suspend any new transactions involving Li Ka-shing and his family.
Bloomberg also reported that the administrative instruction was issued to state-owned enterprises by senior officials last week, while existing cooperation would not be affected.
The South China Morning Post, citing Hong Kong government sources, reported that the government had contacted CK Hutchison representatives immediately after the company announced the port sale on March 4. It said the two sides had continued communicating and seeking a “reasonable way forward” over the matter. The report also quoted other sources as saying that the options available to both sides were very limited because cancelling the transaction would incur substantial compensation, while continued government pressure would have serious political implications for CK Hutchison and the country.
18 Mar 2025獨媒#6590
CK Hutchison’s Panama port sale: John Lee says public concern merits attention, does not say whether National Security Law will be invoked
香港首富李嘉誠旗下長江和記實業，擬向美資財團出售巴拿馬與全球港口，涉價約1,770億港元。港澳辦及中聯辦轉載《大公報》文章，引述網民指是次交易是「無腰骨的跪低」，「見利忘義」、「漠視國家利益」，「背叛和出賣全體中國人」。行政長官李家超今日舉行行會前見記者被問及事件，他提出三點看法，指社會有很多議論，反映社會對事件關切，值得重視。第二是政府一直要求外國政府為包括香港的企業提供公平公正的環境，反對在國際經貿關係使用脅迫或施壓手段，第三是必須符合法律及規則要求，特區會依法依規處理。
CK Hutchison Holdings, owned by Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing, plans to sell its ports in Panama and elsewhere around the world to a US investment consortium in a deal worth about HK$177 billion. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office and the Liaison Office reposted an article from Ta Kung Pao quoting internet users as saying the deal was “spinelessly getting down on its knees”, “putting profit before principle”, “disregarding the national interest”, and “betraying and selling out all Chinese people”. Asked about the matter before today’s Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu put forward three points. First, he said there had been extensive discussion in society, reflecting public concern about the matter, which was worthy of attention. Second, he said the government had consistently demanded that foreign governments provide a fair and equitable environment for enterprises, including those from Hong Kong, and opposed the use of coercion or pressure in international economic and trade relations. Third, he said the requirements of the law and relevant rules must be met, and that the HKSAR would handle the matter in accordance with the law and rules.
18 Mar 2025獨媒#6594
Bloomberg: China’s market regulator reviews Li Ka-shing’s sale of Panama ports for possible national security or antitrust violations
香港首富李嘉誠旗下的長江和記實業日前宣布，向美資財團出售巴拿馬與全球港口服務，觸發北京的不滿。《彭博》今日引述多個監管機構，包括國家市場監督管理局，已經被北京高層指示，調查有否涉及潛在國家安全問題及反壟斷行為。報道又指，北京不滿長和在美國的壓力下出售巴拿馬業務。長和今日股價早段穩定，但接近中午時段股價突然下跌5%，低見44.25元。
CK Hutchison Holdings, owned by Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing, recently announced the sale of its Panama and global port services to a US-led consortium, triggering dissatisfaction in Beijing. Bloomberg reported today that multiple regulatory agencies, including the State Administration for Market Regulation, had been instructed by senior Beijing officials to investigate whether the deal involved potential national security issues or antitrust conduct. The report also said Beijing was unhappy that CK Hutchison sold its Panama business under pressure from the United States. CK Hutchison’s share price was stable in early trading today, but fell 5% near noon to a low of HK$44.25.
14 Mar 2025獨媒#6579
Beijing uses a “borrowed knife” to harshly criticise Li Ka-shing over sale of ports to US consortium; CK Hutchison opens down 6%
長和早前宣布千億「大刁」，向美國貝萊德牽頭的財團出售內地和香港以外的港口服務，包括巴拿馬兩個港口的權益，預料套現近1,500億港元，外媒更報道今次交易由長和系創辦人李嘉誠親身參與。國務院港澳辦網站轉載《大公報》一篇評論文章，內容稱有網民認為該宗交易是「沒有腰骨，唯利是圖」，更稱交易是「漠視國家利、民族大義，背叛和出賣全體中國人」，情緒「完全可以理解」，更呼籲「有關企業」要好好思考自己「站在哪一邊」。
CK Hutchison earlier announced a HK$100-billion-plus “mega-deal” to sell its port operations outside mainland China and Hong Kong to a consortium led by US investment firm BlackRock, including stakes in two ports in Panama. The transaction is expected to generate nearly HK$150 billion in cash, while foreign media have reported that Li Ka-shing, the founder of the CK Hutchison group, was personally involved. The State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office website reproduced a commentary from Ta Kung Pao saying that some internet users viewed the transaction as “spineless and profit-driven,” and described it as “disregarding national interests and the greater good of the Chinese people, and betraying and selling out all Chinese people.” It said such sentiments were “completely understandable” and urged the “relevant enterprise” to think carefully about “which side it stands on.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
