What a great pity it is that Li Ka-shing only very occasionally finds the time to give an interview and express his thoughts on a wide variety of subjects. At 85, he is still clear-minded, incisive, and in particular exudes the commonsense that made him the richest man in Asia, and looked up to as "Superman" by many Hongkongers with more admiration than envy. Whatever he says is not only worth listening to, it is also worth acting upon.

Not to forget that he is also the soul of discretion, yet sharp as a tack and shrewd as the proverbial wagonload of monkeys. This means that it was not from sheer luck that a few days ago, Li presented the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Media Group with a scoop by giving its top reporters a two-and-a-half-hour interview at his office in Cheung Kong Center in Central.

Have no doubt that the sharp-witted Li carefully chose the popular Nanfang Group of print media for reasons best suited to his particular purposes and requirements, thus delivering a black eye to the baying packs of Hong Kong newshounds who would have turned the event into a headline-hogging affair in the press and on our TV screens. Also left out of this once-in-a-decade interview was Hong Kong's international media corps.

Not least of Li's reasons for so carefully choosing his interviewers would have been his wish to avoid one of the media free-for-alls that many of today's important press conferences sadly descend into, with the subject bombarded with questions from an unruly media "scrum". Instead, you may be sure that Li's mainland questioners displayed a large degree of respect for their subject, treating him with old-style decorum.

Now let's sort the wheat from the chaff in printed accounts of the interview, concentrating first on mainland-related matters.

Significantly, the magnate was quoted as saying that "Hong Kong cannot go down the path of rule of men" - a most interesting and thought-provoking remark. He argued that Hong Kong had not come easily by its many core values, such as an open and free market plus, of course, the rule of law. If there were any mishandling in governance, these values would be at risk of disappearing, he opined.

He then pointed out that his relationship with our government - and with the governments around the world - was built on this understanding, and added: "It should not be changed when there is a change of individual leaders or officials."

Did this contain a hint of dissatisfaction with the present administration? Definitely not, he quickly explained. Because, when asked whether he should "mend fences" with our current Chief Executive, Li replied with feeling: "We have no grudge against each other in the first place - why is there any need to mend fences?"

He pointed out that in the past few years, an "unhealthy trend" of making uncalled for criticisms had developed in Hong Kong, often resulting in officials and public figures being placed in difficult situations needlessly, oftentimes hampering their work in the process. People should think twice before making such criticisms, Li said firmly.

He pointed out that the harm done by such groundless but sensational criticism would eventually result in a "lose-lose situation" for both the authorities and the community. He added tellingly: "I am so glad that when choosing my career I didn't join the government, because officials have to balance the interests of all affected parties".

Li took an equally positive line in discounting those popular rumors that he intends to sell his group's main Hong Kong and mainland operations and move the assets overseas.

"In today's globalized economy, such an accusation is not only out of place - it is unhealthy for business as well as for the government," he said firmly. "I am wrongly accused ... I am not happy. Let me give you the figures and facts - people can't argue with these facts."

He then went on to explain that the gross income of the Cheung Kong and Hutchison Whampoa Groups was about HK$430 billion last year whereas only HK$8 billion was invested this year in two overseas infrastructural projects - or less than 2 percent of the group's earnings. Meanwhile, HK$4 billion had been pumped into upgrading operations at the Hong Kong container port.

"So tell me how can we be said to be pulling out capital? It's Arabian Nights, it's a joke!" he exclaimed.

The author is Op-Ed editor of China Daily Hong Kong Edition. albertlin@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 12/02/2013 page9)