Chapter 440 The Conqueror of Hong Kong's Giant Enterprises
After exchanging pleasantries with Mr. David, Ma Shimin stepped forward at just the right moment and began introducing the accompanying senior executives of Jardines Matheson Group, including heads of finance, legal, and other critical departments.
At the same time, David also introduced the senior executives of Hong Kong Telephone Company to Lin Haoran, Ma Shimin, and the Jardines Matheson team, helping both sides become acquainted.
Several major shareholders or their representatives from Hong Kong Telephone Company were also present at the meeting.
They showed little objection to Jardines Matheson's takeover—after all, they had rarely interfered with the company's day-to-day management, preferring to act as passive investors collecting dividends.
Both teams quickly transitioned into a formal working atmosphere, maintaining professionalism and courtesy throughout.
Clearly, Ma Shimin had already reached a consensus with Chairman David the day before.
Although David felt deep resignation and reluctance, reality was reality.
He knew that if he wanted to maintain his leadership position at Hong Kong Telephone Company, he had no choice but to accept Jardines Matheson's control.
Otherwise, he would be forced out.
Everyone entered a large, elegantly decorated meeting room with an oval conference table.
Lin Haoran was guided to the chairman's seat.
He did not decline—after all, from today forward, the company officially belonged to him.
During the meeting, the primary discussions centered on the transition process and management restructuring following Jardines Matheson's takeover.
Effective immediately, David would no longer serve as Chairman of Hong Kong Telephone Company.
Instead, he would remain as Executive Director and General Manager.
Meanwhile, Ma Shimin, Executive Director and General Manager of Jardines Matheson, would assume the role of Chairman of Hong Kong Telephone Company.
At the same time, Jardines Matheson would formally become Hong Kong Telephone Company's parent company, establishing a relationship similar to the former connection between Jardines Matheson and Jardine Matheson Holdings a year ago.
Hong Kong Telephone Company would maintain independent operations, and Jardines Matheson would not interfere excessively in daily affairs.
However, for major decisions, David would be required to consult with Chairman Ma Shimin and obtain approval before execution.
Throughout the meeting, Lin Haoran mostly remained silent, quietly listening to the discussions.
Occasionally, he would offer a few suggestions, but he largely allowed the process to unfold naturally.
The meeting lasted through most of the morning.
The secretarial department of Hong Kong Telephone Company had already recorded the key contents of the meeting in detail.
Later, they would compile part of it for public disclosure, as required for a listed company.
Just as they were concluding, a staff member rushed in.
"Leaders, a large group of media reporters has gathered downstairs, requesting interviews with the company's senior management.
We've temporarily closed the lobby's glass doors, but the reporters are blocking the entrance and refuse to leave without a statement."
David immediately looked at Lin Haoran and Ma Shimin, awaiting their instructions.
He was no longer the ultimate authority here.
"Since the media is already here, and we had planned to announce some information anyway, let's hold a press conference," Ma Shimin said after a brief pause.
Lin Haoran had no objections.
After all, Hong Kong Telephone Company was a major enterprise.
Its movements naturally attracted intense media and public interest.
"Alright. I'll have the employee training room downstairs prepared as a temporary press conference venue," David responded quickly.
Hong Kong Telephone Company had held many press events before—they were experienced in handling such occasions.
Fifteen minutes later, in a large training room on the 15th floor of the company's headquarters, around seventy to eighty reporters had gathered.
Despite the crowd, the spacious 300-square-meter room still felt comfortable.
The reporters, dressed in a variety of styles and wielding microphones and cameras, bore logos from all the major media outlets: Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao, Oriental Daily, TVB, and more.
Clearly, Hong Kong's mainstream media had turned out in full force.
Names like Hong Kong Telephone Company, Jardines Matheson, and Lin Haoran were enough individually to dominate headlines.
Now combined, they created a media frenzy.
On the podium, Lin Haoran, Ma Shimin, David, and other senior executives from Jardines Matheson and Hong Kong Telephone Company took their seats.
Lin Haoran sat at the center, flanked by Ma Shimin on one side and David on the other.
At that moment, every journalist's gaze locked onto Lin Haoran, many of them visibly excited.
Before rushing here, most of them had gone to Kang Lok Building to seek interviews with Jardines Matheson executives, hoping for information.
There, they learned that the management had moved operations to Hong Kong Telephone Company's headquarters.
Adjusting their plans immediately, the reporters had raced over.
Their goal was to interview senior executives and uncover official details about the acquisition—a major scoop on its own.
Yet to their astonishment, they found none other than Lin Haoran himself.
Hong Kong's most legendary tycoon—deemed the richest man in Asia—had returned.
Excitement swept through the reporters like wildfire.
They all pointed their cameras and microphones eagerly at Lin Haoran, determined not to miss a single frame.
In the past month, the media had widely reported Lin Haoran's absence from Hong Kong.
Pictures of him ringing the Nasdaq bell alongside Apple executives had been plastered across headlines.
His $10 million Apple investment yielding returns in the hundreds of millions had become the stuff of legend.
Afterward, news of him cashing out his Apple shares had spread back to Hong Kong.
Although he hadn't been physically present, Lin Haoran's name had dominated Hong Kong's business news every single day.
And now—freshly returned—he was stirring another earthquake.
The privatization of Jardines Matheson's aftermath was still reverberating, and yet he had quietly added Hong Kong Telephone Company—a monopoly in fixed-line communications—to his empire.
Including Green Island Cement, Hongkong Electric Holdings, Jardines Matheson itself—Lin Haoran had now acquired four British-controlled giants.
This didn't even count Chinese-owned firms like Kowloon Motor Bus, Oriental Press Group, and China Gas Company.
Had it not been for the Governor's Office intervening, even Jardine Matheson Holdings might have fallen.
To many Hong Kong citizens, Lin Haoran was now the undisputed conqueror of Hong Kong's giant enterprises.
Each of his moves was earth-shattering, executed with unmatched decisiveness and strength.
In the eyes of many, he had already surpassed Hui Fung Bank's Shen Bi as the true leader of Hong Kong's business world.
David cleared his throat to begin his speech.
Although he had lost the Chairman's position, he remained Executive Director and General Manager—and today's conference was his first appearance in that new role.
Only then did the journalists shift their attention away from Lin Haoran and toward David.
"Friends from the media, good morning.
First, I sincerely thank you all for coming today to witness this historic moment between Hong Kong Telephone Company and Jardines Matheson.
As you are aware, Jardines Matheson will become our controlling parent company.
I myself will continue to serve as Executive Director and General Manager.
I will give my utmost effort to drive Hong Kong Telephone Company's future development."
David continued:
"The acquisition has been formally approved by the Securities Commission, providing a solid foundation for our cooperation.
As a member of Jardines Matheson, Hong Kong Telephone Company now has stronger backing and greater resources, opening up new opportunities for rapid growth and service improvements.
I also want to express heartfelt thanks to all our supporters and stakeholders.
We will uphold our spirit of innovation, continue providing high-quality services to consumers, and create greater value for shareholders. Thank you!"
Afterward, Ma Shimin and other executives took turns explaining specific details of the acquisition and important decisions made during the board meeting—everything that could be disclosed publicly.
Naturally, sensitive matters and confidential strategies were left unsaid.
Meanwhile, Lin Haoran, seated at the center of the stage, remained mostly silent.
He knew there was no need for him to speak—yet.
When the time for media questions arrived, the reporters would undoubtedly focus on him.
And he planned to use that moment to announce some major news.
That was precisely why he had attended this press conference in person.
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