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January

2025

CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong conglomerate which controls two of the Panama Canal’s five ports through its subsidiary Hutchison Ports PPC, is now under audit by Panama amid debates over Chinese influence. CK Hutchison, one of Hong Kong’s largest conglomerates with holdings in finance, retail, infrastructure, telecoms, and logistics, runs 53 ports in 24 nations globally; Hutchinson Ports PPC has managed the Atlantic-side Cristobal and Pacific-side Balboa ports since 1997, with its Panamanian concession automatically renewed in 2021. CK Hutchinson is linked to Hong Kong business tycoon Li Ka-shing, who has taken steps to limit the company’s exposure to China.

 

Despite these moves, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that allowing a Hong Kong-based firm to control the canal’s entry and exit points is "unacceptable," arguing that Beijing could potentially order a shutdown of transit in the event of a crisis. As concerns grow over Chinese influence and the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy, this audit and growing international attention to the Panama Canal issue underscores the rising geopolitical scrutiny of international companies’ role in critical global infrastructure.

Summary

The new attention to CK Hutchinson’s Panama investments highlights the complex interplay between global commerce and geopolitics, as well as the growing risk to businesses caught between the United States and China. The audit by Panama underscores growing political risk arising from concerns about Chinese influence, especially in a region that is critical for global trade. Despite efforts by Li Ka-shing to limit the company’s exposure to China, the situation remains sensitive due to the firm's ties to Hong Kong; this suggests that the city’s ability to shield businesses from China-related scrutiny is sharply declining.

Analysis

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As Hong Kong is seeing a devastating increase in political persecution, we will continue to pave the way to a free Hong Kong.

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