Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing breaks habit in refusing to back anyone for chief executive race

Hong Kong’s richest man broke on Sunday with his usual habit of publicly supporting a preferred chief executive candidate, refusing to back any of the four contenders seeking to run in next month’s election.

Li Ka-shing also dismissed allegations that Beijing was meddling in the poll, calling on the public not to believe in the “hearsay” as he believed President Xi Jinping’s determination to ensure “one country, two systems” would not be distorted.

“As a stakeholder, it is understandable for the central government to care about Hong Kong’s system … Being prejudiced and self-centred is irrational and will lead Hong Kong nowhere,” he said.

But the tycoon declined to comment on reports that he met a state leader earlier this month to discuss the central government’s preference.

Li, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings, which has around 10 votes on the 1,194-member Election Committee, did give two criteria for the city’s next leader to meet, saying he or she should implement “one country, two systems” and uphold the rule of law.