Li Ka-shing spices up results release with stir-fried Next
A Cheung Kong (Holdings)/Hutchison Whampoa media briefing is never complete without Li Ka-shing bashing a few Hong Kong publications for a few laughs.
Of course, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's magazine and newspaper are always top of the list.
Just hours before the results announcements of Mr Li's two companies, Next magazine ran a cover story headlined 'Li Ka-shing triggers stocks fall and sets off Joseph Yam Chi-kwong warning', suggesting that in offering a so-called deferred principal repayment mortgage scheme, Cheung Kong was behind the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's decision to halt the financing practice last week.
Deputy chairman Victor Li Tzar-kuoi read out a prepared script for the expected question, stressing Cheung Kong was not dumping flats at the peak of the market. However, it was the father who took an Apple Daily reporter question and offered his response to the weekly magazine story.
'My people showed me the story,' said Mr Li. 'I just laughed it off. It wasn't worth comment.
