Post coverage of takeovers

THE financial press likes nothing better than a contested takeover.

Business Post reporters studiously cover the activities of Hong Kong's most influential companies taking down their every move in detail.

Many corporate commentators talk about important changes in Hong Kong's incorporate structure before 1997 and how the characteristics of this most wealthy community of names will become more Chinese.

In fact, many of the most significant changes came more than a decade ago - in the period from 1975 to 1985.

After 100 years of British and Western domination, the 1950s and 1960s saw the development of behemoth corporate empires run by local businessmen.

By the mid-1970s, they were strong and ready to take on the old establishment and replace its business leaders with Chinese at the heart of corporate society.

The history of Hong Kong's hongs and major companies has been one of bankruptcy, takeover and merger.