Carrie Lam denies reports of talks with state firms on buying up Hong Kong
- Chief executive says she met SOE representatives as part of her general responsibilities as leader
The Hong Kong government on Friday denied reports of plans for Chinese state-owned enterprises to step up investment and take control of major commercial assets in the city.
According to various news reports, China’s state-owned asset watchdog told officials from roughly 100 of the country’s biggest state firms to invest in real estate and tourism projects that would create jobs and stabilise financial markets in Hong Kong, helping to calm unrest in the city.
The reports said the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Sasac) told the firms – including oil and gas giant Sinopec and China Merchants Group – to look into deals to take control of companies in Hong Kong.
The reports came two days after Sasac chairman Hao Peng appeared in Hong Kong at a forum on the Belt and Road Initiative.
Hao, who was accompanied by a group of executives from state firms, also met Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.
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The reports also come as Hong Kong businesses, such as Cathay Pacific Airways, come under pressure from mainland authorities to toe Beijing’s line on the increasingly violent protests in the city.