
Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing makes rare public appearance, declines to discuss port deal
Hong Kong tycoon
Li Ka-shing had made a rare public appearance, attending a concert at Kai Tak Stadium but declining to answer questions on his company's controversial Panama Canal port deal.
Advertisement
Li, 96, was sitting in a bike-like wheelchair, smiling and saying 'thank you' to people waiting when he exited a lift at the stadium where Taiwanese band Mayday was performing on Saturday night.
He was also asked if he had anything to say about CK Hutchison Holdings move to sell its overseas ports business, including two key docks at either end of the Panama Canal, to a consortium led by US asset management firm BlackRock.
Li declined to answer.
But a woman accompanying him, Solina Chau Hoi-shuen, co-founder of a venture capital firm backed by the tycoon, replied he was retired. She added that it was the first time Li had visited the stadium.
Advertisement
Li's last public appearance was in a video at a gifting ceremony last month, when he donated two machines that can remove cancerous tumours with ultrasound waves to Temasek Trust in Singapore
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
40 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
China and Japan must overcome mutual hostility while also handling Trump's tariffs: envoy
China and Japan must work hard to improve public opinion towards each other, Japan's top envoy in Beijing said, as the Asian neighbours move to stabilise ties amid shared concerns about tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump 'The most difficult aspect of current Japan-China relations is the sentiment between the two peoples and, very unfortunately, there are still some negative perceptions that linger in Japan regarding China, and vice versa in the Chinese society regarding Japan,' said Kenji Kanasugi , who has been Japan's ambassador to China since late 2023. 'This situation cannot be easily remedied overnight, yet what is imperative is to make steady progress, addressing concrete challenges one by one, and proactively promoting practical cooperation,' he told students and academics at Renmin University in Beijing on Tuesday. 01:49 Hegseth reaffirms US-Japan alliance against 'aggressive Communist Chinese' Hegseth reaffirms US-Japan alliance against 'aggressive Communist Chinese' Although international tourism reportedly recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year, Kanasugi noted that travel between the two countries appeared to lag, even as China resumed visa-free entry to Japanese citizens in November. 'Unfortunately, there are still some Japanese who feel anxious about visiting China due to differing reasons. We continue to raise this issue with the Chinese government on various occasions,' he said. With ties already complicated by wartime history and territorial disputes in the East China Sea, relations between Beijing and Tokyo have been further strained, including over China's import ban of Japanese seafood since 2023 after Japan released treated waste water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean. Political friction has deepened as Tokyo aligned more closely with Washington's efforts to contain China in recent years. Reports of Japanese academics and businessmen being detained in China and attacks on Japanese citizens have further soured public sentiment on both sides.


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Under Beijing's thumb, BYD and other carmakers pledge to speed up payments to suppliers
More than a dozen Chinese carmakers, including BYD , pledged to cut payment cycles to suppliers to 60 days from as long as a year after Beijing moved to police the nation's auto market, which has been engaged in a bruising price war. Advertisement On Tuesday evening, the 14 companies – including state-owned FAW and GAC Group – said the move came as a result of recent regulatory guidance on the sustainable development of China's automotive sector. On paper, carmakers delay payments so they can use those funds to wage a price war, creating a hidden and interest-free debt. But for suppliers of components – from batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) to car seats – longer payment cycles can cause cash flow problems. 'The concerted action by the leading carmakers represents the first step that Chinese authorities [have taken] to regulate the automotive industry,' said Chen Jinzhu, CEO of consultancy Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service. 'Automotive companies will eventually refrain from offering steep discounts as government agencies tighten oversight of their sales strategies.' On May 31, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said authorities would punish carmakers that unreasonably slashed vehicle prices to vie for market share, though it did not detail the measures that Beijing would take. Advertisement Prolonged payment cycles are seen by analysts and industry officials as an irregularity in China's auto industry. Carmakers often force their suppliers to accept delayed payments in exchange for big orders. According to data from Bloomberg, Shenzhen-based BYD took 275 days to pay its suppliers in 2023, up from 219 in 2022 and 198 in 2021. Data for 2024 was not available.


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Game on for Hong Kong's economy as Kai Tak Stadium proves to be a roaring success
Hong Kong should capitalise on the success of the Asian Cup qualifier at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday night by maximising the potential of the venue and engagement with business sectors to boost the economy, according to analysts. A total of 42,570 football fans witnessed Hong Kong's 1-0 victory over India, packing the stands with a sea of red and roaring chants as the team hosted an international match for the first time at the new stadium. Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, vice-chairman of the major sports events committee, told a radio show on Wednesday that the game's success showed it does not always take a foreign sports star or top singers to fill the stadium. He also noted the affordable ticket price – as low as HK$80 – played a role. 'The success of last night's game has been a shot of confidence for sponsors and partners; it's important for us to capitalise on this opportunity to develop a host city economy and fan economy,' he said. Cheng said the concept encompassed game planning, ticket sales, venue management, public relations, merchandise, sponsorship, and more.