Beijing Enterprises hit by Sars losses.

(From The Standard)

Byline: Elaine Chan

Losses at its tourism and retail business as a result of the Sars crisis crimped Beijing Enterprises Holdings' earnings by 16 per cent in the first half.

The Hong Kong-listed arm of the Beijing government earned a net income of HK$181.8 million in the six months to the end of June, or 29 HK cents a share, against HK$216.1 million a year earlier.

Its tourism and retail business, which ranges from operating the Badaling Great Wall tourist spot and Jianguo Hotel to the Wangfujing Department Store, lost HK$26.1 million, compared with a profit of HK$5.3 million. ``The second quarter was the hardest hit,'' …