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Information About

Hutchison Whampoa




  Company Type Public
  Foundation 1863
  Founder
  Location Hong Kong, China
  Key People Li Ka-shing , Canning Fok
  Industry Conglomerate
  Products Ports , Telecommunications , Retail , Property
  Num Employees 220,000
  Owner Cheung Kong Holdings


Hutchison Whampoa Limited or '''HWL''' (, ) of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange . HWL is a leading international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunications operators. Its business also includes retail, property development and infrastructure. It belongs to the Cheung Kong Group .


HISTORY

Hutchison Whampoa was originally two companies founded in 19th century, namely ''Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock'', established in 1863, and ''Hutchison International'' in 1877 Hutchison-Whampoa: Milestones 1828-1959 . Hutchison International, under Sir Douglas Clague , gained controlling interest of Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock in the 1960s Hutchison-Whampoa: Milestones 1960-1969 .

In 1977, Hutchison acquired all stakes of ''Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock'' and became ''Hutchison Whampoa Limited''.

Although Hutchison had a portfolio of valuable real estate interests in docks and retail ventures, the company ran into trouble, and had to be rescued by the , August 06, 2005

On September 25, 1979, at the close of trade in London , the Bank announced it was selling its stake in Hutchison to Cheung Kong for HK$639 million.


COMPANY

HWL currently operates in 56 countries and employs over 220,000 staff worldwide. The company has five core businesses:
  • Ports and Related Services

  • Property and Hotels

  • Retail

  • Energy, Infrastructure, Investments and Others

  • Telecommunications



INDUSTRIES

HWL operates in businesses related to:
  • Ports and Related Services: Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) is the world's leading port investor, developer and operator that operates across Europe , the Americas , Asia , the Middle East and Africa . It operates in five of the seven busiest container ports in the world, handling 13% of the world’s container traffic.

  • Property and Hotels: From landmark office buildings in Hong Kong, Beijing , Shanghai , to luxury residential properties in the United Kingdom , Hutchison Whampoa Properties Limited develops and invests in leading real estate. Together with Cheung Kong Holdings , HWL has set up a joint-venture company, Harbour Plaza Hotel Management (International) Limited to operate and manage hotels under the portfolio of the Hutchison Property division.

  • Retail: , ICI PARIS XL and The Perfume Shop . A.S. Watson is the world's largest health and beauty retailer.

  • Energy, Infrastructure, Investments and Others: Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI), HWL’s infrastructure arm, is a diversified infrastructure company with businesses in transportation, energy, infrastructure materials, water plants and related operations. HWL has an interest in Hongkong Electric Holdings (HEH), the sole electricity supplier to Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island . Hutchison is also a major shareholder of Husky Energy , one of Canada 's largest energy and energy related companies.

  • Telecommunications: HWL is a pioneer of mobile multimedia communications with the launch of third-generation (3G) mobile phone networks under the " (HTIL), which provides mobile phone networks and data services in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Another percent of HTIL is owned directly by Cheung Kong Holdings , the holding behind Cheung Kong group to which HWL belongs to.



CRITICS


Panama Canal


During the United States ' Clinton Administration , when the President and Vice President were under attack for taking money from Chinese funders, several Conservative U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators tried to tie Hutchison Whampoa and its chairman, Li Ka-shing, into the scandal. Hutchison had successfully earned the rights to operate ports on both sides of the Panama Canal , and the coincidence of that event with the Chinese troubles rocking the White House was too good to ignore. Despite the fact that Hutchison and its chairman had never given money to President Bill Clinton 's political effort, and despite the fact that Hutchison is a publicly traded company with no ties to the Chinese Government , Right-wing critics tried to make the case that Hutchison's presence in Panama was an attempt by the People's Liberation Army to gain control over the Panama Canal, and that the effort was facilitated by President Clinton as a political favor.

In October 1999, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have raised fears that China may be seeking control of the Panama Canal through Hutchison Whampoa Limited. Clinton, Panama's leader to hold Canal talks - U.S. transfers ownership of vital waterway at year's end , CNN , October 19, 1999

The final negotiaton and signature of the News, 14 December, 1999 . Today, the Autoridad Del Canal De Panamá (Panama Canal Authority) is responsible for the operation and management of the canal. Hutchison Whampoa operates ports in Panama, as it does in Mexico and other parts of the Americas.


Bahamas Port

In March 2006, the , March 24, 2006.


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