BEIJING: Hong Kong’s commerce chief on Friday summoned the Panamanian Consul General in the city to condemn a court ruling that annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal.
The move came after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office warned Panama of “heavy prices” to pay over the decision earlier this week.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau Ying-wah, expressed “strong dissatisfaction and opposition” to the Panama Supreme Court’s decision during a meeting with the Panamanian Consul General, Jose Ramon de Jesus Varela Fabrega, according to a post by the bureau on Friday.
Yau said the company had made large investments and created jobs in Panama over many years. He criticized Panama for “destroying its national credibility” in a move that he said would cause far-reaching damage to the country’s business environment and economic development and seriously undermine international trade rules.
He urged the Panamanian government to respect the spirit of the contract and provide a fair and just business environment for companies lawfully operating locally.
“Hong Kong companies operating and investing in Panama should receive fair and reasonable treatment and protections,” Yau said.
CK Hutchison has moved to challenge the ruling, with its Panama Ports Company unit launching international arbitration proceedings.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday called the court’s decision definitive and said he didn’t expect the situation to escalate.
“Panama is a dignified country and will not allow itself to be threatened by any country on earth,” he said.
Hong Kong summons Panama envoy over CK Hutchison ports ruling
https://arab.news/cwmx7
Hong Kong summons Panama envoy over CK Hutchison ports ruling
- Court ruling annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal
- Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday called the court’s decision definitive
Minibus crash kills 12 in northeastern Afghanistan
- “Due to severe road damage, it veered off course and fell into a valley,” a police spokesperson said
- “The victims of this incident include men, women, and children”
FAIZABAD, Afghanistan: At least 12 people were killed and three seriously injured when a minibus overturned and crashed into a valley in northeastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Saturday.
The bus was traveling along a road in Badakhshan province toward the provincial capital, Faizabad, but “due to severe road damage, it veered off course and fell into a valley,” a provincial police spokesperson said.
“The victims of this incident include men, women, and children... and the injured are in severe condition,” the spokesperson said.
Deadly traffic crashes are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving and a lack of regulation.
A bus carrying migrants returning from Iran crashed in western Herat province in August last year, killing 78 people, including more than a dozen children.
The bus collided with a motorcycle and a truck, according to authorities, making it one of the deadliest crashes in years.
Another 25 people were killed in late August when a bus overturned on a highway near the capital, Kabul, “due to the driver’s negligence,” officials said.
