Lawyer says April 16 court date would kill PCCW deal

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A lawyer for Richard Li's Pacific Century Regional Developments (PCEN.SI) said on Monday that a hearing set for April 16 in the proposed privatization of Hong Kong phone company PCCW (0008.HK) is too late and would result in killing the deal.

On Monday, a Hong Kong court said it would allow controlling shareholders of PCCW to proceed with a $2.2 billion privatization of the firm after finding against the city's securities watchdog in a case over alleged vote buying.

The Securities and Futures Commission said it would appeal, and two Court of Appeal judges set an April 16 date to hear the SFC's appeal.

"April 16th will kill the deal," the lawyer, Denis Chang, told the court.

PCRD's privatizition, along with China Netcom, of PCCW is scheduled to be completed by April 23.

(Reporting by Joanne Chiu)