Dear Readers,
I don't have the time or energy to do a lot of newsletters nowadays - it's been 11 months since the last one, so I hope this mailing system is still functional, as am I. I think it is worth distributing my "Manifesto for Hong Kong" to a wider audience than the social media junkies. Download it while you can, and absorb with plenty of coffee. When you have a new CE whose policy mind outside of Security is largely a blank canvas, there is room to paint. Hong Kong can still be a better place if it reopens and veers away from central planning and back to the free-market foundations upon which it was built.
Also, I do have one last major project underway - a deep dive into the HKSAR Government accounts, thousands of line items in time series over 19 years. This will be a new tool for journalists, researchers and maybe even policy-makers and legislators who approve their spending plans, if they care. So brace yourselves for that.
NEW ARTICLE
A manifesto for Hong Kong
If you're going to be Chief Executive and you don't have a manifesto or any policy expertise beyond Security, Webb-site is here to help! (13-Apr-2022)
RECENTLY (well, in the last 11 months) ON WEBB-SITE
Employment Support Scheme: the final outcome After information requests by Webb-site, we reveal that HK's largest ever corporate handout went over-budget by about HK$10bn to a final tally of HK$90.5bn (US$11.6bn) plus costs. We produce a final list of approved claims. (13-Feb-2022)
Yorkey (2788): a successful outcome
Webb-site recommends shareholders to vote in favour of the increased offer, as founder David Webb has undertaken to do. Here's the background to our decision. (20-Jan-2022)
Joining the dots on the ICAC case against Chim Pui Chung and others
The ex-legislator is once again facing criminal charges, this time with his son and others. We examine the past connections between the defendants and the connection between an alleged co-conspirator and one of the subscribers of convertible notes, who has not been charged. (21-Nov-2021)
IN OTHER NEWS
SFC criticises Gao Yunhong and Feng Xuelian for breaches of the Takeovers Code |
Executive Statement SFC, 7-Apr-2022 They caused Steering Holdings Ltd (now FDB Holdings Ltd, 1826) to sell shares of CMBC Capital (1141) in "frustrating action" during an offer period triggered when Mr Ng Kin Siu acquired control of FDB from CMBC Capital Finance Ltd, which had enforced security over a loan to Mr Gao's holding company, Gentle Soar Ltd. We note that the CMBC shares were originally subscribed on 4-Jul-2018 using a loan from Gentle Soar, 5 weeks after Gentle Soar pledged its 70% holding in FDB to CMBC Capital Finance.
Sanctions against ex-directors of National Investments Fund (1227) | The National Investment Fund that isn't
SEHK, 17-Mar-2022
This relates to our article of 23-Mar-2019. NIF is now in liquidation and is/was a member of what we call the "Chung Nam Network".
Duo charged by ICAC with conspiracy to defraud Lands Department over HK$1bn Yuen Long small house project
ICAC, 16-Mar-2022
Edward Wong Kwong Wing is a solicitor. Ching Chan Ming is a Heung Yee Kuk member of Yuen Long District Council. The charges involve the alleged pre-sale of "Ding Rights" of male indigenous inhabitants carrying a Y-chromosome inherited from an 1898 villager.
SFC obtains court order to disqualify ex-FD and ex-INED of DBA Telecommunication (ex-3335) | Judgment
SFC, 9-Mar-2022
The INED, Paul Yun Lok Ming, is allowed to remain as a Partner of Fan, Chan & Co. Ltd., an audit firm.
David M. Webb
Editor, Webb-site.com