3 UK distanced itself from reports on Thurdsay (December 14) that 3 parent company Hutchison Whampoa was on the verge of selling its UK and Italian units to China Mobile.

A 3 UK spokesman said: Hutchison Whampoa is 100 per cent committed to 3 in the UK. It has categorically denied that it has plans to sell any of the 3 Group businesses. Beyond that we dont comment on rumour and speculation.

An article in The Register said that the UK and Italian business would be sold to China Mobile today (December 15). The report claimed that recent denials by Hutchison CEO Canning Fok were a smoke screen to facilitate negotiations over a sale with China Mobile.

Sources suggested Friday that the report originated after journalists picked up a fake press release in China. It is quite common in China. A fake press release went out from a false email address that said that China Mobile had acquired a 15 per cent stake in 3 Italy said a source.

3 UK restated its position which it has held since speculation grew last month when Hutchison posted its financial results. However it refused to comment directly on the report.