Low-profile Richard Li keeps first child well away from HK

Tycoon Li Ka-shing's family's fortunes have increased with the arrival of a grandson.

Actress-singer Isabella Leong Lok-sze, the partner of Mr Li's son, Richard Li Tzar-kai, gave birth on April 26.

Their son, Ethan, weighed more than 3.17kg. The baby's Chinese name, Cheung-chi, which means 'long reign', was given by his grandfather Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's richest man.

Despite the birth, Richard Li, the 42-year-old chairman of PCCW, said he had no plans yet to marry the 20-year-old actress. Mr Li told the South China Morning Post that the baby was born in North America and that mother and child were still there.

When asked if Leong and the baby would return to Hong Kong, Mr Li, who did not conceal his excitement over the birth of his first child, said that he wanted to keep things low profile, which was the reason Leong and Ethan remained overseas.

But he said it was a planned pregnancy and he would take the child to see his grandfather. When asked if he would marry Leong, Mr Li replied: '[I have] no plans at this time.'

Li Ka-shing said he was delighted by the birth of Ethan, his fifth grandchild. Elder son Victor Li Tzar-kuoi has four children. When asked about how the family would celebrate the birth, Mr Li said: 'We always keep things low profile. We did not have big banquets to celebrate the birth of my other grandchildren. Having a family dinner is good enough.'