http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303492504579112650388231322.html

It seems like Li-Ka-Shing (lovingly referred to as Superman) can’t resist selling- or in this case spinning off- his assets in Hong Kong. In my previous article, the business mogul was busy looking for an offer for his gigantic supermarket chain, Park’N’Shop. Now, less than a month later, Asia’s richest businessman is ready to take his utilities company public.

In an alleged response to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to start winding down its bond purchases, the choice to go public has been rumoured to be based on Mr. Li’s wishes to gain “financial strength” so he may assess opportunities on an international level.

While businesspeople are always looking for new markets to enter, Li-Ka-Shing’s recent impulse to throw away so many of his flagship businesses in Hong Kong must represent some dubious outlook of his on the island’s future. Not only is Mr. Li withdrawing from many of his existing businesses, the report finds he is investing far less in Hong Kong and much more into foreign ventures such as European infrastructure and telecom.

Perhaps most profound will be the aftermath of his decisions. His actions today are sure to depress a population with even more uncertainty about the future. While the vital markets in Hong Kong are growing once again, Li-Ka-Shing’s rash departure from the peninsula might prove too ominous for confidence-lusting investors.