The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition former foreign affairs minister John Baird has been hired by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li. The Globe's Steven Chase writes Mr. Baird will offer Mr. Li advice on international matters. Mr. Baird will spend as much as half his time on Mr. Li's account. Mr. Baird, who quit Stephen Harper's cabinet in February to build a postpolitical career, was hired by Barrick Gold to sit on its international advisory board, and CP Rail nominated him as a director. As part of his work for Mr. Li, the veteran Canadian politician will be expected to conduct risk assessments, including political analysis, to appraise business opportunities. Mr. Baird travelled to Hong Kong in recent weeks to finalize the job. Mr. Li has Canadian citizenship, as does his father, 86-year-old Li Ka-shing, who controls Husky Energy and is well known in Vancouver for redeveloping waterfront land used for the 1986 World's Fair. The elder Mr. Li was also a long-time investor in CIBC, but sold his stake in 2005. Forbes pegs Richard Li's wealth at $4.6-billion (U.S.) and his father's at $33.7-billion (U.S.). In 2007, Mr. Li and Cerberus Capital made a failed bid for BCE.