To the protests of CK Hutchison Holdings for the seizure of the Panamanian ports of Balboa and Cristóbal which were taken away from the management of its subsidiary Panama Ports Company by the government led by José Raúl Mulino ( of 24 February 2026), today was joined by that of the government of Hong Kong which, denouncing that the action taken by the government Panamanian 'undermines the spirit of contractual obligations', expressed his "firm commitment to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Hong Kong companies overseas'. The Secretary of Trade and Economic Development of Hong Kong, Algernon Yau, presented a well-known protest to the consul general of Panama to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has underlined that the Supreme Court of Justice's ruling of Panama which has declared the management of the two ports unconstitutional Panama Ports Company ignored the facts and represents a violation of the agreements. In addition, the Chinese government has recalled that the Panama Ports Company had initiated proceedings and that this was still in progress when, yesterday, the ports were placed under seizure ( of 4 February 2026).

Highlighting that the Panama Ports Company has carried out large investments in Panama and created numerous jobs over the course of Over the years, the Hong Kong government has urged the Panamanian government to respect contracts, to ensure a business environment fair and equitable for companies operating legally in Panama and a ensure that the legitimate rights of companies are free from any interference. In a note, the Chinese government stressed that 'Hong Kong enterprises operating and invest in Panama should receive treatment and fair and reasonable protection' and specified that 'the judgment of the Court and the unlawful action of the Panamanian government sabotaged Panama's creditworthiness and undermined international trade rules".

Commenting on the seizure of the two ports implemented by the government Panamanian woman, the spokeswoman of the central government in Beijing, Mao Ning, recalling that the company concerned has expressed its intention to assert their rights, including the possibility of recourse to lawyers, said that "China will firmly protect the rights and legitimate interests of its companies".