The press pack was treated to a lively display yesterday after the High Court approved Richard Li Tzar-kai's HK$15.93 billion privatisation bid.
The only real debate during the hearing presided over by Madam Justice Susan Kwan Shuk-hing was over who should bear the legal costs.
Lawyers for PCCW and Mr Li originally said the SFC should bear the costs, then changed their mind. Lawyers for minority shareholders seeking to block the deal said PCCW should bear their costs, and the court agreed.
However, the real drama took place when a group of minority shareholders who had not retained legal representation started shouting from the public gallery, interrupting proceedings and drawing fierce looks from Madam Justice Kwan.
Said one: 'I have something to say ... this is not fair and not just.'
Madam Justice Kwan: 'If you want to shout in court I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'
Said another shareholder [in Cantonese]: 'Why is everything in English, not Chinese?'