PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -Public-private partnerships could take over two key ports near the Panama Canal if courts invalidate a contract with Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's to operate them, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino said on Thursday.

NEW YORK] Panama’s comptroller general asked its Supreme Court to review the government’s contract extension with CK Hutchison’s local ports unit, potentially throwing a new wrench into the conglomerate’s deal to sell its global terminals business.

A Hong Kong conglomerate that’s selling ports at the Panama Canal says it may seek a Chinese investor to join a consortium of buyers.