1.   They have been trying to negotiate an agreement with a Chinese company.

2.   Although they are subsidiaries of mainland Chinese companies, their shares are listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

3.   Among Chinese companies, conglomerate CITIC Pacific Ltd. was seen as being one of the most likely to bid.

4.   Among American depositary receipts of Chinese companies that trade on the New York Stock Exchange, a handful declined.

5.   Among the gainers, HSBC Holdings climbed on talk the London-based bank will sell part of its Hang Seng Bank Ltd. unit to a Chinese company.

6.   An example might be Hong Kong-based C.P. Pokphand, an overseas Chinese company that is now the largest single foreign investor in China.

7.   An army of Web site designers now ply their trade across the country and many Chinese companies have put up Web sites to advertise their goods.

8.   And Chinese companies wanting to raise money are generally able to descend on the local stock exchange and walk away handsomely.

9.   And no one could explain how exactly Cathay might gain if one Chinese company did sell its stock to another.

10.   And the government sharply restricts foreign ownership in joint ventures, protecting Chinese companies.