Is it up, up and away for ‘Superman’ Li Ka-shing?
The actions of Asia's richest man have long been scrutinised, but are his latest deals an indication that his time in the city is nearing its end?
Wherever he goes - from the Deep Water Bay golf course he plays at dawn to the iconic Cheung Kong Center headquarters where he cuts deals - one question follows Li Ka-shing around like no other: are you abandoning Hong Kong?
Signs Li is losing faith in the hometown that helped make him Asia's richest man have been coming thick and fast since July, when his conglomerate, Hutchison Whampoa, sought to offload one of its cash cows, the ParknShop supermarket chain.
Last week, his energy flagship, Power Assets Holdings, said it would pursue a separate listing of its local electricity business, Hongkong Electric, while the Hong Kong Economic Times reported that Hutchison planned to spin off its trophy asset - the retailing unit, A.S. Watson - in the next 12 to 18 months.
Analysts said the potential spin-off of A.S. Watson, the world's largest healthcare, beauty and lifestyle chain with about 11,000 stores globally in brands such as Watson's, Rossmann, Superdrug and Kruidvat, as well as ParknShop, could generate proceeds of HK$78 billion.
Hongkong Electric, the sole electricity supplier serving almost 2 million people on Hong Kong and Lamma islands, is expected to raise HK$38 billion in the upcoming spin-off.
The sale of ParknShop may reap HK$30 billion in fresh funds.