Group 1 - The Hong Kong government expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition to the Panama Supreme Court's ruling that deemed the contract renewal for the Panama Port Company unconstitutional, emphasizing the potential damage to Panama's business environment and international trade rules [1] - The Hong Kong government urged the Panama government to respect contractual agreements and ensure a fair business environment for local enterprises [1] - The Hong Kong company, Cheung Kong Infrastructure, announced it has initiated arbitration against the Panama Supreme Court's ruling, claiming significant and imminent losses and seeking extensive compensation [2] Group 2 - The Chinese government has indicated it may take various countermeasures against Panama, including suspending negotiations on new projects and evaluating further responses in trade and shipping sectors, potentially affecting investments worth billions [6][7] - Chinese state-owned enterprises have been instructed to consider rerouting shipments through other ports without significantly increasing costs, and customs inspections on imports from Panama have been intensified [7] - Legal experts suggest that if Cheung Kong wins arbitration, it could seek enforcement of the ruling in 172 countries under the New York Convention, although Panama may claim sovereign immunity to protect its assets [3]
港府当面斥责：巴拿马自毁国家信用，后果自负