Webb-site to go offline as founder's cancer battle nears half-decade mark

Independent stock commentator and Webb-site Reports founder David Webb has announced plans to conclude his site's operations as his cancer symptoms, as well as the side effects from treatments, have made it hard for him to function.

Webb shared in an online article that the 5-year survival rate, which he is now approaching, is about 30 percent. After exhausting four lines of therapy and resorting to experimental treatments that are only available overseas, he has reached the point where outcomes are measured in months rather than years, the article said.

Webb was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2020.

“I hope to reach 60 in August and all I want for my birthday is another one,” Webb said.

He said that before he becomes more dysfunctional, he plans to orderly conclude “the pro bono, loss-making” work of running Webb-site rather than leave its management as a burden for his family.

Webb-site.com is a non-profit site dedicated to promoting better corporate and economic governance in Hong Kong, according to the World Economic Forum.

Webb said he has spent over HK$10 million since 2003 building and operating the database, not counting the considerable opportunity cost of his own time, and that he believes the database has been useful to journalists, regulators, researchers and investors.

STAFF REPORTER