China calls Panama court ruling on CK Hutchison port contracts 'shameful, pathetic'

BEIJING, Feb 3 (Reuters) - China on Tuesday called a Panama court ruling annulling CK Hutchison's 0001.HK contracts to operate two Panama Canal ports "absurd", "shameful and pathetic", and vowed to defend Chinese firms interests.

Panama's Supreme Court last week annulled key contracts Panama Ports Company, a CK Hutchison subsidiary, has held since the 1990s to operate container terminals, clouding the company's proposed $23 billion ports sale to a consortium led by BlackRock BLK.N and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

"The ruling ignored the facts, breached trust, and seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises in Hong Kong, China," according to a statement released by China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office on its social media account.