John Lee, the chief executive of Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China, said March 18 that the deal under which the conglomerate CK Hutchison is selling off its interest in two ports that flank the entrances to the Panama Canal deserved “serious attention,” according to the New York Times.

This adds to the criticism leveled at the deal by the Chinese government, which in a strongly worded opinion piece in Beijing-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao March 14 attacked the U.S. for pressuring the deal “through despicable means.”

The deal between Hong-Kong-based CK Hutchison and BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, was seen by many as a step-down in the face of a claim by President Trump that the Panama Canal was an issue of national security because it was “operated by China.” 

Read More: China Slams Sale of Panama Canal Ports

Shares in CK Hutchison, which is controlled by one of Hong Kong’s richest people, Li Ka-shing, fell nearly 3% percent on March 18, and the company has canceled press and investor briefings that were scheduled when it releases its latest financial report later this week. 

Lee said that “any transaction must comply with the legal and regulatory requirements.” Speaking at a weekly press briefing, he said that the government would “handle it in accordance with the law and regulations.”

It is not clear, the Times said, what, if anything, the Hong Kong authorities could do to stop the deal.