Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has drawn scrutiny for selling its Panama Canal port assets to a group that includes BlackRock Inc., upsetting Chinese authorities. Concerns have been raised by Beijing's Hong Kong offices through critical articles regarding the deal by Hutchison, which is run by the Li family. This situation underscores the challenges faced by Hong Kong companies striving to navigate between Beijing's expectations of loyalty and their own business interests in the city's financial sector. Li, also known as "Superman," is one of the world's wealthiest individuals, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $38 billion. Although Li retired as chairman of CK Hutchison in 2018, he remains a significant player in Hong Kong with businesses spanning various sectors such as real estate, retail, telecommunications, and utilities. His business reach extends globally, including ownership of Superdrug and Three mobile network. Li's conglomerate has managed ports at the Panama Canal for over two decades. Despite his political influence and connections with Beijing, Li has faced criticisms over certain business dealings, notably for divesting mainland Chinese assets in 2015. The tycoon's stance during the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong led to backlash from pro-Beijing factions and other business leaders in the region.