The alleged American-Chinese spy Katrina Leung appears to have given mainland companies an excuse to decline reporters' questions. This is one conclusion which could be drawn from a conversation an SCMP reporter had yesterday with an official at Shenzhen Development Bank, which has apparent differences with Newbridge Capital, which is chasing a stake of up to 20 per cent in the bank.
A rather routine call to the company secretary's office generated a strange response. 'How can you reporters make a call like that? Your interview [application] has to be approved by relevant Shenzhen [authorities] and needed to go through the general office of the bank.'
He added that he did not know the number of the bank's general office. 'Why don't you come over to our office [to do the interview]? How can I know that you are not a spy from Taiwan? Or a spy from America? Or a terrorist?!'
CASE OF THE MINI WEBBS
It's not only international men of mystery or recently disgraced dictators who employ doubles.
Yesterday was 'Meeting Thursday' day for corporate do-gooder David Webb, and with so many AGMs on he had to employ others with a sincere concern for the little man.