In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 712 Suffering double humiliation and double blow in front of everyone!
22 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, is home to the famous Peninsula Hotel.

At this moment, Laurence Kadoorie sat in his luxurious chairman's office, looking at the Peninsula Hotel's occupancy rate and revenue from yesterday, a satisfied smile on his face.

Yesterday's occupancy rate reached an astonishing 89%, which can be said to be a record high in nearly a month.

In the past, this occupancy rate wouldn't have been considered particularly impressive. After all, at its peak, the Peninsula Hotel often had a 100% occupancy rate, and rooms were extremely difficult to find!
After all, that's the status of the Peninsula Hotel.

It is not only a benchmark for luxury hotels in Hong Kong, but also a landmark building in Hong Kong and a symbol of honor for the Kadoorie family.

The 'luxury hotel alliance' they formed with Li Jiacheng and others proved effective.

Of all the buildings owned by Xiangjiang Hotel Company, this was the one he truly admired.

For the Kadoorie family, CLP Power is their core business, while the Peninsula Hotel is a symbol of their prestige. The family does not make money from the Hong Kong Grand Hotel.

This is why the Kadoorie family now only retains about 12% of the shares in Hong Kong Grand Hotel.

As long as the Peninsula Hotel remains under the control of the Kadoorie family, they don't care much about anything else.

This is why the Liang family, as Chinese citizens, were able to increase their shareholding to 34%, becoming the largest shareholder of the Xiangjiang Hotel.

The reason they were so confident that the Liang family wouldn't seize control of the Xiangjiang Hotel was quite simple.

The Leung family's overall strength is vastly different from that of the Kadoorie family. The Leung family is at most a second-tier wealthy family, while the Kadoorie family is a top-tier wealthy family in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, before becoming the major shareholder, the Leung family had already promised Laurence Kadoorie that they would not seize control of the hotel industry, but would only manage the company's real estate.

Furthermore, after the Liang family became the major shareholder, the combined shareholding of the two companies reached 46%, and the board of directors formed by the two companies already held controlling shares, making it theoretically difficult for a third party to intervene!
Laurence Kadoorie gently closed the report, the smile still lingering on his lips.

He picked up the bone china teacup on the table, took a sip of the rich Ceylon black tea, and glanced once again at Victoria Harbour outside the window.

“89% occupancy rate…not bad, but not enough,” he muttered to himself.

The Peninsula Hotel's brilliance lies not only in its occupancy rate, but also in its irreplaceable symbolic significance.

This is the top choice for dignitaries, tycoons and celebrities from all over the world when they arrive in Hong Kong; it is a perfect combination of luxury and history in Hong Kong.

As long as the Peninsula Hotel remains in the hands of the Kadoorie family, any changes to the other assets of the Hong Kong Grand Hotel Company are merely a game of capital for them.

"Knock knock knock—" The office door was knocked on again.

"Come in," Roland Gardner said without looking up.

The person who entered was the general manager of the Peninsula Hotel. His face was grim as he said, "Boss, something terrible has happened!"

"What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?" Laurence Kadoorie frowned slightly and put down his bone china teacup.

"Quickly turn on the TV, it's Jade Channel... Jade Channel is broadcasting the Hongkong Land Group's press conference, and I saw Chairman Liang on screen!" The Peninsula Hotel's general manager quickly blurted out.

“Chairman Liang? Liang Zhonghao?” Laurence Kadoorie frowned, a bad feeling rising in his heart.

He immediately picked up the remote and turned on the color television in the office.

The television screen switched to a live broadcast on TVB Jade, where Hongkong Land Chairman Simon Murray was sitting on the stage with a beaming smile, and sitting next to him was none other than Leung Chung-ho, the largest shareholder of the Hong Kong Grand Hotel.

The huge words "Joint Press Conference on Major Acquisition of Hongkong Land Group & Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group" on the backdrop were eye-catching.

The word "acquisition" struck Laurence Kadoorie like a sharp blade, piercing his nerves.

Although no one has started speaking yet, the word "acquisition," coupled with Liang Zhonghao sitting on the stage, makes it clear to even the most foolish person what has happened.

The remote control in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," but he had no time to care at that moment.

On television, Simon Murray announced in his signature British accent: "...We are very pleased to announce that Hongkong Land Group has reached an agreement with Mr. Leung Chung-ho and his family to successfully acquire a total of more than 31 million shares of The Grand Hong Kong Hotel Limited, representing approximately 34% of the issued share capital of The Grand Hong Kong Hotel!"

In addition, Mandarin Oriental Hotel had previously commissioned Galaxy Securities to acquire approximately 14.5 million shares of Xiangjiang Hotel through the secondary market. After acquiring Mr. Liang Zhonghao's shares, our holdings of Xiangjiang Hotel shares have reached 49.9%.

Effective immediately, Hongkong Land Group will become the largest shareholder of The Grand Hong Kong Hotel…

Laurence Kadoorie's face instantly turned ashen.

Lin Haoran was not shown on television because he did not attend the press conference.

He felt that he didn't need to personally intervene in this kind of corporate merger; Ma Shimin alone was enough to handle it!
Laurence Kadoorie suddenly stood up, his slightly plump body causing one of the buttons on his suit jacket to pop open.

The general manager had never seen the boss so out of control, and was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe.

"Following this acquisition, our Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will officially take over the Xiangjiang Hotel and conduct a strategic restructuring..." Ma Shimin's voice continued from the television, "...especially for the Peninsula Hotel, a gem of a hotel, we plan to bring in a top-tier international management team."

"Absurd! How could Liang Zhonghao do such a thing!" Roland Kadoorie roared, grabbing a teacup from the table and smashing it against the television screen.

The teacup shattered on the screen, and scalding hot black tea flowed down the broken screen.

He knew what 49.9% of the shares meant.

The Kadoorie family only owns a mere 12% of the shares, meaning that the other party could easily strip the Kadoorie family of any power in the Hong Kong Grand Hotel!

Once the Kadoorie family is sidelined, they will become nothing more than pure investors, with no control over the Hong Kong Grand Hotel's hotel business.

In other words, the statement that "The Peninsula Hotel is a symbol of the Kadoorie family's honor" will become a joke, a huge joke!

Laurence Kadoorie dug his fingers deep into his palms, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

At this moment, the sunlight streaming into Victoria Harbour through the floor-to-ceiling windows could not dispel the chill in his heart.

The general manager standing next to him was also pale.

Because Ma Shimin said that he would bring in a top international management team for the Xiangjiang Hotel.

The general manager knew perfectly well what this meant: it meant he might be fired!

As he gradually calmed down, Laurence Kadoorie picked up the cell phone next to him without hesitation and made a call.

He already knew that Mr. Brown of Standard Chartered Bank and Mr. Li Ka-shing of Hutchison Whampoa had failed to intercept the Raffles Hotel in Singapore and had already flown back to Hong Kong. They should be disembarking by now.

Now that things have come to this, there's nothing he can do to change it.

With nearly 50% of the shares, how can he fight back?

At this moment, all he wanted to do was contact Brown and Li Jiacheng to see if there was any way to help.

At this moment, the once-powerful business tycoon appeared so helpless and lonely.

Rewind to ten minutes earlier, at Kai Tak International Airport in Hong Kong.

The flight carrying Li Jiacheng and Brown landed smoothly at Kai Tak Airport.

Outside the plane window, the familiar outlines of Hong Kong's buildings appeared and disappeared in the twilight, but the two felt no warmth of returning home, only a heavy sense of frustration and indescribable annoyance.

The four-hour flight did not calm the turmoil in my heart; on the contrary, it made the sting of Lin Haoran's premature acquisition of the Raffles Hotel even clearer.

After all, they were extremely busy and spent a lot of time trying to intercept the Raffles Hotel, but in the end they got nothing and made a wasted trip.

"Finally back." Brown rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice hoarse from the long flight. "Next, we need to think of a good strategy. Lin Haoran's move disrupted our entire plan. This young man is no ordinary person."

Li Jiacheng, with a gloomy face, unbuckled his seatbelt without saying a word.

The image of Mr. Liu from Singapore helplessly spreading his hands kept replaying in his mind, as well as Lin Haoran's young yet unfathomable face.

He always felt that things weren't so simple; Lin Haoran's actions were too fast and too precise, as if he had already seen through their intentions.

Is it a coincidence? Or...

He dared not think too deeply about it.

The two silently followed the flow of people down the gangway and onto the land of Hong Kong.

Li Jiacheng and Brown dragged their weary bodies out of the arrival passage, the sense of defeat from their trip to Singapore weighing heavily on their hearts like a lead weight.

The airport terminal was brightly lit and bustling with people, with announcements and the sound of luggage wheels creating a noisy atmosphere.

They just wanted to leave as soon as possible, find a quiet place to process their failure, and then plan their next move. However, as they waited for their bodyguards to go to baggage claim, an unusual atmosphere began to permeate the air.

Li Jiacheng and Brown waited in place. At this moment, the assistant quickly walked over and handed a mobile phone to Li Jiacheng.

Although Li Jiacheng did not personally ask Lin Haoran for a mobile phone quota, given his status as a business tycoon, becoming one of the first mobile phone users would have been an easy task.

Back in Hong Kong, especially at the airport, mobile communication networks are naturally available.

"Mr. Li, there's a phone call."

He checked the phone number; it was a call from the company office.

Li Jiacheng frowned. He had just returned to Hong Kong when his company called him. Could something big have happened?
Nevertheless, he took the phone, pressed the answer button, and asked, "What is it?"

"Mr. Li, something really bad has happened! Do you have a TV? If so, you can watch TVB Jade. They're broadcasting breaking news live!" The voice on the other end of the phone trembled uncontrollably; it was a senior executive from Hutchison Whampoa calling.

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, Li Jiacheng and Brown's eyes were involuntarily drawn to a television in the corner of the airport hall that was playing financial news.

On the screen was a live broadcast from the press conference hall of the Landmark Group headquarters in the Kang Le Building!

The huge words "Joint Press Conference on Major Acquisition of Hongkong Land Group & Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group" on the backdrop were eye-catching.

In the center of the frame, Ma Shimin, beaming, speaks eloquently into a microphone, his voice clearly echoing through the noisy airport lobby via the airport's public address system.
"...This is not just an acquisition, but a milestone for Mandarin Oriental as it moves towards becoming a global alliance of top luxury hotels! We are very pleased to announce that the Group has successfully completed the acquisition of 100% equity in Raffles Hotel Holdings, a legendary landmark in Singapore!"
This century-old "Oriental Noblewoman" officially joins the Mandarin Oriental family today!

The name "Raffles" struck Li Ka-shing and Brown's eardrums like a heavy hammer!
They had just returned from Singapore in defeat, and the humiliation of being beaten to it was still fresh in their minds!

Ma Shimin's announcement of a "successful acquisition" at this moment is tantamount to rubbing salt into their wounds of defeat!

However, they already knew about these things. Although they felt bad, they were not surprised; they were just more annoyed.

However, Ma Shimin on the screen did not stop. His victorious smile became even brighter. He turned slightly to the side and gestured to a middle-aged man sitting next to him who also had a smile on his face and a calm demeanor: "At the same time, our Hongkong Land Group also has a major piece of good news to consolidate its core assets in Hong Kong!"

We are very pleased to announce that Hongkong Land Group has reached an agreement with Mr. Leung Chung-ho and his family to successfully acquire a total of more than 31 million shares of The Hong Kong Hotel Limited, representing approximately 34% of The Hotel’s issued share capital!

In addition, Mandarin Oriental Hotel had previously commissioned Galaxy Securities to acquire approximately 14.5 million shares of Xiangjiang Hotel through the secondary market. After acquiring Mr. Liang Zhonghao's shares, our holdings of Xiangjiang Hotel shares have reached 49.9%.

Effective immediately, Hongkong Land Group will become the largest shareholder of The Grand Hong Kong Hotel…

A sudden booming sound filled Li Jiacheng's mind, and he felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, causing his vision to go black instantly.

His whole world seemed to have lost its sound, leaving only Ma Shimin's hateful smiling face and the eye-catching subtitles on the screen that read "Hong Kong Grand Hotel 49.9% Hongkong Land Group's largest shareholder" spinning wildly!
The luxury hotel alliance they initiated, including the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, which was considered an important bargaining chip and even one of their strongholds, was actually... was taken over by Lin Haoran without his knowledge!
"Liang... Liang Zhonghao?!" Brown exclaimed in shock. The usually composed man completely lost his composure, his blue pupils filled with disbelief and horror.

He stared intently at Liang Zhonghao on the screen, who was nodding slightly at the camera. This ally, whom they had never doubted would betray the "British-funded camp," had actually stabbed them in the back with such a fatal blow!

After all, when they were discussing this matter with the Kadoorie family, the Kadoorie family had said that the Hong Kong Grand Hotel was jointly owned by the Kadoorie family and the Leung family, and no one could break through their defenses and take away the controlling stake of the Hong Kong Grand Hotel from them!

What does this mean?
This means that their "luxury hotel alliance" has been greatly weakened.

“We’ve been set up,” Li Jiacheng’s voice was terribly hoarse. “From the very beginning, Lin Haoran’s target wasn’t just Raffles.”

Simon Murray's voice continued: "The transaction with the Leung family was completed efficiently through Heng Sheng Bank, with a total value of over HK$1 billion. We thank Mr. Leung Chung-ho and his family for their trust."

According to the latest regulations from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, holding more than 35% of the shares triggers the relevant takeover rules, and shareholders are required to apply for the privatization of the listed company.

We have already applied to the Securities Regulatory Commission to privatize and delist Xiangjiang Hotel. Shareholders of Xiangjiang Hotel, please rest assured that we will acquire your shares at the highest stock price in nearly six months!

Ma Shimin paused for a moment, and the camera immediately focused on Liang Zhonghao in close-up.

Liang Zhonghao cleared his throat, his face showing a sense of relief after completing a major mission, as well as a subtle hint of respect for the future victor: "I am very honored and satisfied to have reached this transaction with Landmark Group and Mr. Lin Haoran."

Mr. Lin's vision and the strong capabilities of the Hongkong Land Group have given me confidence in entrusting the Hong Kong Hotel to them. I am also pleased to announce that the Leung family and related companies will primarily engage in in-depth cooperation with Hang Seng Bank in the future regarding their financial business.

"Mr. Lin Haoran", "Hengsheng Bank", "deep cooperation" - every word was like a poisoned needle, piercing the hearts of Li Jiacheng and Brown!
Their proud network of connections in Hong Kong and their painstakingly cultivated business alliances were torn open with a huge gaping hole by the other party's casual words!

Not only did they fail to intercept the deal in Singapore, but their own backyard was also completely uprooted!

They thought they had already won the business war against the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, but little did they know that this was just the beginning. Once the other side made a move, it went straight for the vitals!
The immense anger, the humiliation of being utterly fooled, and the despair of his plans completely failing overwhelmed him like a tidal wave!

Li Jiacheng's hands trembled uncontrollably, and he could barely hold the mobile phone.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Years of experience navigating the business world taught him that the more critical the moment, the more important it is to maintain a clear head.

However, anger completely outweighed reason.

"Lin! Hao! Ran!" A low growl, suppressed to the extreme and seemingly torn from the depths of his soul, burst from his throat. The voice was not loud, but it was clear that he was very angry.

This low growl exhausted his last bit of strength and completely shattered his forced composure.

He felt that all his previous plans were like child's play in front of Lin Haoran.

"Click! Click! Click!" Almost the instant Li Jiacheng lost his composure, like vultures smelling blood, the reporters who had been lying in ambush all around swarmed out from all directions!

Airports are the places where celebrities are most likely to appear, so naturally there are many media reporters.

After all, reporters are more likely to run into celebrities, business tycoons, and the like at airports.

The blinding flash of the camera instantly turned Li Jiacheng's face, which was contorted with extreme anger and pain, deathly pale!
Countless microphones were thrust at him and Brown like spears.

"Mr. Li, why are you and Mr. Brown at the airport at this time? Where are you coming from? Can we talk?"

"Mr. Li! What are your thoughts on seeing Hongkong Land Group acquire both Raffles and the Grand Hotel?"

"The Hong Kong luxury hotel alliance you initiated has suffered a significant blow. What would you like to say about that?"

"Is Lin Sheng targeting your joint operation? Does this mean you've lost completely?"

"Mr. Brown, were you aware beforehand that the Liang family had defected to the Xiangjiang Hotel? How do you evaluate Mr. Liang Zhonghao's actions?"

"Mr. Li, you look terrible. Should we call a doctor? Has this double blow exceeded your tolerance?"

"Mr. Brown, what are your thoughts on Mr. Lin's acquisition of the Xiangjiang Hotel?"

A dozen reporters quickly surrounded Li Jiacheng and Brown, handing them microphones.

The sharp questions and the blinding flashes of light caused Li Jiacheng to completely lose control.

The news that numerous luxury hotels in Hong Kong had formed the "Hong Kong Luxury Hotel Alliance" had already spread in the newspapers.

Therefore, these reporters are naturally very knowledgeable about these matters.

Everyone felt that this so-called "Hong Kong Luxury Hotel Alliance" was targeting Lin Haoran's Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

As the owner of the Hilton Central Hotel, these reporters had already learned from relevant leaders of other hotels that Li Jiacheng was the initiator of this matter.

He violently waved his arms and roared hysterically, "Get out! All of you, get out of here!"

He rudely and rudely pushed away the reporters and cameras in front of him, a stark contrast to his usual refined demeanor.

The force was so great that several reporters staggered and fell to the ground, causing gasps and chaos.

He no longer glanced at the nightmarish television screen, nor did he care about Brown beside him, whose face was equally ashen. Under the desperate protection of his entourage and the relentless pursuit of reporters, Brown, with his head down, stumbled and staggered towards the VIP passage at an almost fleeing pace.

Although Lin Haoran acquired the shares of Xiangjiang Hotel, it seems to have nothing to do with Li Jiacheng.

However, only Li Jiacheng knew what Lin Haoran's acquisition of the Xiangjiang Hotel meant to him.

This means that his plan to leverage the success of the luxury hotel industry to rally more Hong Kong business tycoons to deal with Lin Haoran has failed!
After all, this incident has once again proven Lin Haoran's strength, and as a result, even more people will dare not offend Lin Haoran!

At this moment, his expensive suit was wrinkled from the shoving, and his carefully styled hair was disheveled. His former "Superman" image was gone, leaving only the back of a dejected man who had suffered double humiliation in front of everyone and fled in panic.

On television, Simon Murray was still full of enthusiasm as he envisioned Mandarin Oriental's global future, while Leung Chung-ho smiled and waved to the camera.

In the airport terminal, only Brown remained, standing there dejectedly, looking in the direction where Li Jiacheng had disappeared, then looking up at the press conference on the screen announcing the "double kill" victory, the last trace of color draining from his face.

For the first time, he clearly felt that the young man named Lin Haoran was so ruthless and far-sighted that he had manipulated these veteran giants at will.

The world in Hong Kong has completely changed.

(End of this chapter)