Even in the wealthy enclaves - Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan - where Net use is comparable to the West, consumers are resistant.

CNN: THE E-TAIL REVOLUTION

In a case such as this, in which Mr Li is both majority owner and chairman, Hong Kong law provides a safety-net for minority shareholders.

ECONOMIST: Business.view: The PCCW buy-out in court | The

That's a lot of users but IDC's regional analyst Peter Hitchen rightly points out that places like China and India remain relatively poor alongside longer-standing but smaller Net populations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Asia Buzz: Let's Lose the Prefix

That's a big reason why in Hong Kong, where cross-town calls are not metered, free net access hasn't even been attempted even though there are scores of service providers battling for market share.

CNN: Giving It All Away

Greentown China Holdings of Hangzhou, which earlier this year took on Hong Kong property giant Wharf as a new investor, said yesterday first-half net profit doubled to 1.8 billion yuan and its debt load had come down.

FORBES: Lujiazui Breakfast: News And Views About China Stocks -- Aug. 27

Huaneng Power gained 4.6% in Hong Kong after reporting late Tuesday that its first quarter net profit almost tripled on-year to 2.55 billion yuan.

WSJ: Australian Shares Outperform Asia

To be sure, Microsoft is spending money to develop high-speed Net services and content in Asia (it is teamed with Hong Kong's major phone company on a broadband portal).

CNN: Thinking Smaller

In other news involving Hong Kong-traded China stocks, Gome fell by 4.6% yesterday after it said on Friday net profit dropped 88% in the first quarter on weak sales. (See story here.) The company also said on Friday that it would increase its investments in e-commerce, as competition heats up with rivals Suning, Yahoo-invested Taobao and others.

FORBES: Lujiazui Breakfast: News And Views About China Stocks -- May 29