In the name of national security, Britain still has to attack Li Ka-shing
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This is the reality, and Britain is still going to attack Li Ka-shing.
It doesn't matter how deep Li Ka-shing's ties with the UK are, and it doesn't matter how long Li Ka-shing's Hong Kong-based Cheung Wo Group has been operating in the UK.
British telecommunications operator Vodafone recently disclosed that its merger with Three UK, a subsidiary of the Changhe Group, is under review by the British government's National Security and Investment Act.
What does this mean?
There is a sentence in the Western media report: "This means that the British government has the right to block this deal on national security grounds." ”
How can national security be involved?
Quite simply, because Changhe Group is from Hong Kong, and Hong Kong belongs to China.
According to the information that has been disclosed, Vodafone and 3 UK will become the largest telecom operator in the UK after the merger, with 27 million subscribers, surpassing O2 with 24 million subscribers and EE with 25 million subscribers.
Although after the merger, Vodafone will own 51% of the joint venture, the president will be appointed by Vodafone, and the stake in the CJP will be gradually diluted.
But because the Changhe Group is from Hong Kong, China, some British politicians can't sit still.
As early as last year, some Britons were clamoring for a national security review of the merger, and even strongly opposed the deal.
I have seen that the Western media quoted a so-called human rights activist in the United Kingdom as saying that half of the UK's largest telecom operators may be controlled by agents of the Chinese Communist Party, which will bring unprecedented national security risks, just like letting Huawei dominate the 5G network in the West.
He added: "This is why the special treatment that has long been given to Hong Kong investment may come to an end, and why in the proposed merger of the 3 UK and Vodafone, there are good reasons for a review on national security grounds." ”
It's kind of ridiculous.
1. Li Ka-shing's Changhe clique is controlled by agents of the Chinese Communist Party? What kind of international joke is this? What will Li Ka-shing think?
2, Huawei is lying down again. Alas, Huawei, Huawei, how many Westerners have you cast a psychological shadow.
3. What should I do? So the British picked up the stick of national security and came to the chief examiner and the group to examine Li Ka-shing.
I see that Vodafone and 3 UK strongly deny such allegations, and, moreover, counter that both the Cheung and Group have been in the UK market for more than 20 years.
Li Ka-shing has a forward-looking business vision and likes to lay out in the UK.
Some of the layouts, even before Hong Kong's handover, in addition to 3 British companies, the assets that CUNG Group currently owns in the United Kingdom include the Port of Felixstowe, the railway car rental company Eversholt Rail, the power supply infrastructure UK Power Networks and Northumbrian Water, and the health and beauty chain Superdrug, among others.
There were no problems before, in fact, Li Ka-shing's business layout and wisdom are known and admired by the whole world, and he was also awarded a knighthood by the Queen of England.
But it was no problem before, it has always been fine, and in fact there will be no problem, but just because you are from Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is now part of China, you have a problem.
I see that one of the reasons for opposition by some people in the UK is that the Li Ka-shing family supports Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and supports the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
If you support it, then it won't work, and it will threaten British national security!
Is it really "if you want to add sin, why should you do it"?
Finally, what do you think?
Completely my personal opinion, let's still make three superficial points.
First, let's watch them toss.
Although the merger is conducive to competition in the British market and more beneficial to British consumers, British politicians do not see it that way, and regardless of Li Ka-shing's relationship with the UK, they just shake their heads with a rattle with their eyes closed: NONONO.
But if this case is opened, and the merger threatens the national security of the United Kingdom, then even if the merger is not made, Li Ka-shing will not be in control of the United Kingdom, and it will not threaten the security of the United Kingdom?
Then let's toss.
Second, we see the hypocrisy of the West.
It's too hypocritical, it's not just a double standard, but more importantly, some Westerners completely say one thing and do another.
Specific to the merger of Vodafone and 3 UK, the rebuttal of the two companies is actually very reasonable, Li Ka-shing's Changhe Group has been in the UK for more than 20 years.
In the past 20 years, has there been any problems?
Could it be that Li Ka-shing really threatens British national security?
But British politicians don't care, on the one hand, they claim to be very open, but on the other hand, under the pretext of national security, they have made a lot of Chinese investment, including blocking Huawei in all aspects, and now they are starting to engage Li Ka-shing on trumped-up charges.
Third, Li Ka-shing should also be careful.
Li Ka-shing, who has been the richest man in China for a long time, does have a unique business vision and has business layouts in many countries. But he is good at dancing with long sleeves, I guess, he himself may not have imagined that one day, Britain will stab him in the back like this.
Times are really different.
After all, Britain is Britain, Hong Kong belongs to China, you are from Hong Kong, and you also support the Hong Kong SAR government's governance, so in the eyes of some Western politicians and do-good people, this has become the original sin of the Changhe group.
It's an international joke, but it's a cold truth, and that's how the UK does business today.
When making future business layouts, Li Ka-shing may also have a clearer understanding of this.