A subsidiary of a Hong Kong conglomerate entangled in U.S.-China tensions appealed on Friday for legal protection for businesses in the Central American country after its contract over its Panama Canal port assets faces lawsuits.

Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings has called for the rule of law to be respected after Panama took legal action to nullify its ports contract, with the country’s leader also suggesting its operations be taken over by state partnerships

HK conglomerate CK Hutchison said Monday it was eyeing inviting a Chinese "major strategic investor" to join a US-led consortium negotiating the sale of its global ports business outside China, including operations at the Panama Canal.