PRESS DIGEST -Hong Kong - Jan 2

HONG KONG, Jan 2 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

-- A government source said the Communications Authority has ramped up its review of a HK$19 billion ($2.45 billion)telecoms takeover deal by Richard Li Tzar-kai in a move that will delay completion of the planned acquisition of CSL New World Mobility by his PCCW-controlled HKT unit 6823.HK . ( Href="Link">http://link.reuters.com/xug75v)

-- Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing is facing claims in Britain and Australia that companies he controls are dodging taxes there, but an analysis of his Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong Infrastructure 1038.HK reveals it pays only a tiny fraction of the tax that a close competitor here pays. ( Href="Link">http://link.reuters.com/zug75v)

THE STANDARD

-- Premiums paid by developers for modifying their leases or converting the land use during the first nine months of the 2013-14 fiscal year amount to just 18 percent of what was paid for the same purposes in the previous financial year. This makes it almost impossible to meet the government's target of having 20,000 new homes every year. ( Href="Link">http://link.reuters.com/cyg75v)

-- Tycoon Li Ka-shing has sold his only commercial property in Nanjing for about 3 billion yuan ($495.55 million) to mainland conglomerate SanPower Group - the fourth time that the chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings 0001.HK has offloaded assets in the mainland since last August. ( Href="Link">http://link.reuters.com/dyg75v)

-- After selling out all 195 flats available on Wednesday at its Century Gateway phase two in Tuen Mun, Sun Hung Kai Properties 0016.HK raised prices slightly for some units being offered on Sunday. ( Href="Link">http://link.reuters.com/fyg75v)

For Chinese newspapers, see............... PRESS/CN ($1 = 7.7538 Hong Kong dollars) ($1 = 6.0539 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Yimou Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

((yimou.lee@thomsonreuters.com)(+852 2843 6590)(Reuters Messaging: yimou.lee.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: PRESS DIGEST HONGKONG/