Ever wonder how a billionaire sees the future before anyone else?
Li Ka-Shing didn’t just ride the waves of change—he controlled them. A master of predicting market shifts, he turned crises into gold. But how?
An intriguing story is unfolding, so let me break it down for you.
As always, let’s rewind a bit to understand how it all began. The start might seem a little out of place—but trust me, it all makes sense in the end. One man, one empire, and a gamble that reshaped everything.
Table of Contents
From Poverty to Power: Li Ka-Shing’s Rise to the Top
1. The wealthiest person in Hong Kong is Li Ka-Shing, called Superman.
2. Li was born into a poor family and moved from China to Hong Kong at the age of 12 after his father passed away from tuberculosis.
3. Starting as a factory apprentice, Li worked hard and saved every penny. By the age of 22, in 1950, he opened his first small factory.
4. His factory, Cheung Kong (meaning Yangtze River in Cantonese), started by making plastic flowers, but it quickly grew into a profitable business.
5. The Cultural Revolution hit mainland China.
6. Rumors spread that China was about to take over Hong Kong. Investors panicked, and property prices dropped by half.
7. Li saw an opportunity and bought up properties at rock-bottom prices.
8. The feared takeover never came, and in just two years, Hong Kong’s real estate market rebounded, returning to its original value.
9. Li built high-rise apartments on his land and sold them.
10. Back then in Hong Kong, it was common to sell properties only after they were completed.
11. But Li turned the tables by pre-selling apartments before construction even started, securing contracts early and using loans to finance the builds.
12. This move became the blueprint for what is now a standard real estate practice around the world.
Taking Risks and Seizing Opportunities: Li’s Big Moves
13. By 1972, Li’s company, Cheung Kong (長江), went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming one of the region’s largest corporations.
14. Li quickly capitalized on China’s new open-door policy, leading massive infrastructure projects like the Shanghai container terminal and the Guangzhou-Zhuhai highway.
15. In 1986, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping praised Li for his “significant contributions” to the country, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin was so close to Li that he stayed at Li’s hotel whenever visiting Hong Kong.
16. With strong ties to China’s leadership, Li’s business continued to grow rapidly.
17. Li also saw early potential in mobile telecommunications. In 1992, he purchased the struggling British telecom company, Rabbit.
18. By 1999, when the dot-com bubble was at its peak, Li sold Rabbit for a massive profit—22 trillion won—reaping the rewards of his strategic gamble.
19. After the dot-com bubble burst, Li became known as “Reshinsin,” a nickname given for his perfect timing in selling at the right moment.
20. While Li got along well with three previous Chinese presidents, he didn’t share the same rapport with Xi Jinping.
21. In 1990, when Xi was the Party Secretary of Fuzhou, Li launched a building project in the city.
22. When Xi halted the project, Li used his political connections to apply pressure and get it restarted, which upset Xi.
23. Xi later became China’s president.
24. Rumors circulated that Xi held a grudge against Li due to this past conflict.
Li’s Public Stance: The Hong Kong Protests and His Business Strategy
25. In 2015, Li merged his companies Cheung Kong Holdings and Hutchison Whampoa, forming a new conglomerate.
26. To avoid heavy taxes, he chose to establish the holding company’s headquarters in the Cayman Islands rather than in Hong Kong.
27. A key turning point came in 2019 during the Hong Kong protests, when Li publicly sided with the demonstrators, appealing to the government for greater leniency toward the youth and a peaceful resolution.
28. Li publicly called on the Hong Kong government to show compassion for the young protesters, urging them to offer an exit strategy rather than escalating the conflict further.
29. Li’s full-page advertisement in the Hong Kong Ming Pao newspaper, urging an end to violence, became a huge talking point.
30. The ad’s headline read, “The Best Intentions Can Lead to the Worst Consequences (最好的因 可成最壞的果),” and on either side, it said, “Love freedom, love tolerance, love the rule of law (愛自由, 愛包容, 愛法治),” and “Love China, love Hong Kong, love yourself (愛中國, 愛香港, 愛自己).”
31. At first glance, it seemed like a basic appeal for protesters to stop using violence.
32. But if you connect the last characters of each phrase, the hidden message reads: “Cause and effect lie with the country; allow Hong Kong to govern itself (因果由國, 容港治己).”
33. Li’s son also expressed support for “One Country, Two Systems,” emphasizing that the long-term prosperity of Hong Kong depended on sticking to this policy.
34. The Chinese Communist Party condemned Li, accusing him of encouraging crime, while pro-China forces began calling him “the cockroach king.”
35. Since then, Li has refrained from publicly criticizing the Chinese government, quietly adhering to the situation.
36. He gradually reduced his exposure to Hong Kong and China, with his revenue from the region falling to about 11% by late 2024.
The Panama Canal Drama: Li’s International Strategy and Business Moves
37. When Donald Trump took office, Li’s CK Hutchison Holdings came under the spotlight because of its control over key ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.
38. Trump made waves during his inauguration when he claimed “China controls the Panama Canal” and even stated that “we would take it back by force if necessary.”
39. CK Hutchison controls operations at 46 ports across the globe, including two major ports at both ends of the Panama Canal.
40. Of these 46 ports, three are located in mainland China and Hong Kong, while the remaining 43 span across various countries around the world.
41. Through China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing is believed to have secured control of 129 ports worldwide, with CK Hutchison owning 43 of them.
42. CK Hutchison signed an agreement to sell the rights to operate these 43 ports to BlackRock, a major U.S. investment firm, for $22.8 billion.
43. This deal caused an uproar in China, with Xi Jinping and other government officials expressing their anger at the move.
44. The Chinese government warned it would launch an antitrust investigation into CK Hutchison, using media pressure to try to block the sale.
45. While Chinese authorities were furious that the sale hadn’t gone through proper antitrust channels, the ports in mainland China and Hong Kong were excluded from the deal, so no antitrust approval was required.
46. The deal was adjusted to exclude these Chinese and Hong Kong ports, easing some of the political pressure.
47. The final contract for the sale of the ports was expected to be signed on April 2nd.
48. Rumors began circulating that CK Hutchison had delayed the deal to avoid further backlash.
49. However, the buyer, BlackRock, is the world’s largest private equity firm, and its chairman is a close ally of former President Trump.
50. It’s been reported that BlackRock’s chairman personally briefed Trump about the deal before it was finalized.
51. CK Hutchison’s headquarters is based in the Cayman Islands, a location that makes it harder for Chinese authorities to directly intervene.
52. Li holds a 30% stake in the company, but BlackRock (5%), Vanguard Group (2.8%), and other shareholders make it difficult for the Chinese government to control the outcome.
53. Even if China tried to exert pressure through economic sanctions, CK Hutchison’s domestic revenue share is only about 11%, meaning it wouldn’t have a major impact.
54. If the deal is blocked through unofficial means, the international backlash could be significant.
Global Repercussions: Li Ka-Shing’s Strategic Moves and the Growing Tensions
55. Trump’s claim that “China controls the Panama Canal” could be confirmed if the sale of these ports goes through.
56. This would contradict Xi Jinping’s recent assurances to foreign CEOs that China is a safe place for investment.
57. If the Chinese government intervenes and cancels the deal, it will be clear to the world that Xi’s words and actions don’t align.
58. On the other hand, if the situation is allowed to unfold, half of the global ports Li Ka-Shing has developed over the last 20 years could be lost.
59. The Chinese government has instructed state-owned enterprises to avoid cooperation with Li’s companies, but given their limited stake, this move won’t have a significant impact.
60. Even if China tries to squeeze CK Hutchison with financial pressure, the company’s low debt ratio (around 17%) means it’s nearly debt-free.
61. A third of Li’s wealth has already been donated to charitable causes, and with his children living in Europe and other regions, he’s in a position to do what he wants without any major constraints.
62. Li is believed to have secured protection from the U.S. government through BlackRock for himself and his family.
63. China has expressed outrage, accusing Li and his family of betraying their country and the Chinese people for financial gain.
64. BlackRock, the firm purchasing the ports, seems prepared to face the fallout from any conflict with China over this deal.
65. BlackRock has already taken a 34% loss on its purchase of the 27-story “Trinity Place” building in Shanghai, which it bought for much more than its current market value.
66. The company has also offloaded two office towers in Shanghai’s Waterfront Place, cutting its losses by over 40%.
67. In December 2024, BlackRock decided to exclude Chinese and Hong Kong real estate from its Asia property fund, showing a shift in investment priorities.
68. The involvement of major players like the U.S., China, Trump, Xi Jinping, BlackRock, and Li Ka-Shing makes this sale of 43 ports a high-stakes global showdown.
69. The final contract signing on April 2nd is just the beginning of what promises to be a dramatic unfolding of political and business events.
70. This entire saga isn’t over—it’s only just getting started, and the world is watching.
Li Ka-Shing’s Final Move: The Panama Canal Power Play
The Panama Canal deal is spiraling, and with Li Ka-Shing in the mix, it’s like watching a seasoned pro play the long game. He’s the type to quietly bide his time, keep his cards close, and then strike when it matters most—like a master at waiting for the perfect moment to make his move. Now, at 98, Li’s stuck between two superpowers, but here’s the catch: at this stage in life, there’s nothing left to fear. With nothing to lose, he’s playing a game most can’t even imagine—because at 98, the stakes are his to set
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