In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 766: Subordinates' Loyalty Soars!
In October, the summer heat in Hong Kong had not yet subsided, and the air conditioning in the conference room on the top floor of the Recreation Building was running at full blast.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, Victoria Harbour stretches out in a vast expanse of blue, with ships coming and going in droves. Sunlight dances on the dense glass curtain walls, illuminating the Central financial district in a dazzling display.

Inside, the long, dark brown mahogany table gleamed, and the air was filled with the aroma of tea and freshly ground coffee.

Burton, Cui Zilong, Chen Shoulin, He Shanheng, and Wei Li, the "company doctor" who had just officially taken office as the head of Hutchison Whampoa just two days ago amidst a media storm, took their seats in turn.

They exchanged glances, confusion and speculation spreading silently in the quiet air.

On the very first day of October, they were suddenly summoned here by their boss, Lin Haoran, which must have been no small matter.

Previously, they rarely had the opportunity for all the group's leaders to gather together.

After all, although the companies they each run belong to the same boss, they are not subordinate to each other.

It is truly remarkable that such a complete gathering was possible.

However, what they didn't know was that this situation would become the norm in the future.

At this moment, only Ma Shimin, the president of the Landmark Group, sitting to Lin Haoran's left, calmly flipped through a thick draft document in front of him, a knowing smile on his lips.

With a soft click, the heavy solid wood door of the conference room was closed from the outside by Ma Shimin's assistant, cutting off all outside noise.

Only 7 people remained in the meeting room.

Lin Haoran, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, sat calmly in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the faces of every general present.

Without any pleasantries, he got straight to the point: "I've gathered you all here today for one thing: to formally establish the 'Galaxy Strategic Development Committee'."

He paused, then continued, "I will serve as the chairman of the committee, and Mr. Ma Shimin will serve as the interim chairman, fully responsible for the establishment, daily operation and resource coordination of the committee. The assessment period is one year, after which I will decide whether to make him a permanent member."

He pushed a formal letter of appointment, stamped with his personal bright red seal, in front of Ma Shimin.

Ma Shimin's expression turned serious. He accepted the gift with both hands and said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your trust, boss. I will do my best to live up to your expectations."

His loyalty level has reached 100%, and it can't rise any higher; otherwise, it might have risen again by now.

Lin Haoran's gaze swept over the other five people again, taking in the instantaneous surprise on their faces.

He continued, "And Burton, Cui Zilong, Chen Shulin, Wei Li, and He Shanheng, the five of you will serve as the first members of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee."

As soon as he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief, almost heart-pounding silence.

"The committee?" Chen Shulin broke the silence first, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with doubt, because Lin Haoran had not mentioned this matter to them at all before.

"Boss, our various groups have different business areas and operating models. How will this committee operate? What is its purpose?"

Chen Shulin heads Hong Kong Electric Group, which is now the number one listed company in Hong Kong. He is definitely one of the most powerful figures among professional managers in Hong Kong.

"The objective is clear," Lin Haoran leaned forward slightly, looking at all his generals present, and said decisively, "End the fragmentation of our operations! Break down resource barriers! Form a united force for development!"

Each short sentence struck the hearts of the people like a heavy hammer.

“We own Hongkong Land, Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong Electric Group, Wan Tsing Group, Hang Seng Bank, Oriental Press Group, and so on. Each of these companies is a well-known giant in Hong Kong.”

However, the forces have always been scattered, information has been fragmented, strategic coordination has been insufficient, and there may even be unnecessary internal competition and friction. The Galaxy Strategic Development Committee is the key to unlocking these shackles!
It will take a strategic perspective across the entire group, conducting top-level design, resource allocation, coordination of major projects, and risk monitoring!

The core principles are twofold: resource sharing and common development, uniting the resources of the entire galaxy into an invincible force!

“Resource sharing, common development…” Burton of Wanqing Group murmured these two words, and his sharp eyes suddenly lit up on his resolute face, which had been honed by years of battling raging waves.

He could almost picture the incredible efficiency boost that would be if his massive export cargo could have priority access to Hutchison Whampoa's high-quality port berths throughout Hong Kong and even Southeast Asia at a low cost.

Wei Li was deeply shocked. Port logistics was one of the core "three pillars" he had planned for Lin Haoran. If it could be seamlessly linked with the export of goods from Lin Haoran's companies such as Hong Kong Electric Group and Wan Qing Group, the global logistics network, this trump card, would be completed several years ahead of schedule!

He subconsciously looked at Chen Shulin, and their eyes met briefly in the air, both seeing the flames burning in each other's eyes.

"Brilliant!" Heng Sheng Bank Chairman He Shanheng couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration. This banker was most sensitive to the integration of capital flows. "In this way, the efficiency of the capital pool in terms of storage and diversion will be multiplied!"

Financing costs for high-quality projects within the group can be significantly reduced, and the utilization rate of idle funds will surge! This is a mutually beneficial financial hub!

He could almost see efficient financial channels flowing smoothly between his various groups.

Burton of the Wanqing Group was also excited, as this meant that the large-scale projects developed by its subsidiary, Wan'an Real Estate, might receive closer support from the group's internal retail, banking, and even port logistics sectors, forming a unique ecological competitive advantage.

Wei Li took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

Lin Haoran's vision once again refreshed his understanding.

This committee structure is by no means a simple joint meeting; its core lies in "overall planning" and "mandatory coordination," and it possesses strategic authority that transcends that of a single group's board of directors!

This requires absolute control and the courage to fully delegate authority and trust subordinates.

His admiration for Lin Haoran deepened even further.

“This, this is absolutely groundbreaking! Never seen before in Asia!” The doubt on Veri’s face was replaced by an excitement like discovering a new continent. He saw endless possibilities for combining retail networks with real estate projects and port logistics.

“Each group remains an independently operating entity, and the committee will not interfere in its specific operations,” Lin Haoran added at the opportune moment, allaying any potential concerns about power. “The committee will only provide top-level design, resource coordination, and guidance on major strategic directions.”

Just as the brain directs the limbs, each with its own function, they are all interconnected and share a common source of power.

He raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to calm down, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "In order to ensure that all committee members can truly be closely connected with the fate of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee and work together for development without distraction, I will implement a brand-new incentive mechanism."

All eyes instantly focused on him, and the conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Lin Haoran's voice echoed in the room: "The plan consists of two parts: virtual restricted shares and a time unit plan."

“Virtual restricted shares,” he explained clearly, “are not real shares and do not have voting rights. The amount granted will be set according to each person’s position, contribution, and years of service, and its value is strongly correlated with the achievement of the strategic goals of the group or committee they serve!”

The better the performance, the higher the stock price, and the more cash dividends you receive corresponding to your virtual restricted shares—a substantial amount of real money!

These virtual shares are non-tradable and non-transferable, and will automatically expire upon your departure from the company.

Virtual stocks, and even time-based plans, are actually employee welfare models that Lin Haoran learned from Huawei, a well-known company in his previous life. The purpose of implementing such benefits is to motivate them to work harder and create more value for themselves.

He had planned for this long ago, but the concept didn't exist in this era, so Lin Haoran had been looking for a suitable time to issue it.

Although he can see loyalty and sense whether they are loyal to him.

However, relying solely on the invisible thread of loyalty is ultimately not enough to maintain a stable bond.

Human nature is fickle, and loyalty may face many tests in the face of huge profits and complex business environments.

Virtual restricted shares and time-unit plans deeply bind loyalty with tangible benefits, adding a solid layer of insurance to this relationship.

While it may seem that he has given up some profits, in reality, it will further motivate his subordinates to work harder, and the profits he will generate will only be greater!

After pausing for a moment, Lin Haoran continued, "The Time Unit Plan, which I will abbreviate as TUP, is a mid-term incentive plan that sets clear targets, such as the three-year compound annual growth rate of group profits and the completion rate of specific strategic projects."

Achieving the goal will earn you a generous one-time cash reward or equivalent bonus! It's an extra reward for your hard work, time investment, and successful outcome!

Lin Haoran's gaze swept over every face that held its breath, and he continued with a smile: "There is only one core principle: your vital interests will be deeply intertwined with the development of the entire Galaxy Strategic Development Committee and the group companies you each manage! We will all prosper together and suffer together!"

"Wow~"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake!

Everyone present was a top-notch professional manager, well-versed in the art of motivation.

They instantly realized the immense power of the combined attack of virtual restricted shares and the time unit plan!
"This is an innovative application of DuPont's partnership essence using modern financial tools!" Burton's eyes gleamed. He had a long-standing British background and knew DuPont's century-old success model very well.

This kind of incentive, which deeply ties the long-term interests of professional managers to the company's development, is exactly what countless top talents dream of!
In Asia in the early 80s, this was a truly groundbreaking innovation!

He Shanheng's fingers trembled slightly with excitement.

The Hengsheng Bank he manages is in a period of rapid expansion. If this plan can be used to motivate core employees, their fighting power will be immeasurable!
It's important to know that before Lin Haoran acquired Hengsheng Bank, the reason he agreed to Lin Haoran's offer to switch from Hengsheng Bank to East Asia Bank was not for money, but for fame!
Lin Haoran can give him a chance to become a world-class banker.

The two models that Lin Haoran proposed today will obviously make the development of Hengsheng Group smoother and faster, bringing him one step closer to his dream!
Cui Zilong and Chen Shulin were even more excited. This performance-driven model was undoubtedly a door to wealth and the pinnacle of achievement for them, who were in charge of rapidly growing business segments!

The strongest reaction came from Wei Li, who had just become the president of Hutchison Whampoa two days prior!
He has just taken over Hutchison Whampoa, a giant ship in dire need of rebuilding, and needs to unite people and make great strides.

Lin Haoran's combination of motivational tactics is exactly the "imperial sword" he has been dreaming of!
With this, how can we not attract top talent?
Why worry about not being able to retain core personnel?
Why worry that the team won't devote all its efforts to realizing that grand "three-pole" strategy?
A tremendous surprise and a strong sense of belonging surged through my body like an electric current!

This not only benefits oneself, but also benefits one's senior executives.

Originally, Wei Li had only been in Lin Haoran's camp for a short time, and although he had been persuaded by Lin Haoran, his loyalty was only slightly over 80.

They were enough, but they couldn't really be considered one of their own. But at this moment, Lin Haoran was surprised to find that their loyalty had jumped from 80 to 95!

At this moment, Wei Li felt that his assessment of Lin Haoran's abilities when he joined the company was too conservative!

This young boss's boldness, vision, and shrewdness are unparalleled in his thirty years of navigating the business world!

His gaze toward Lin Haoran was filled with unprecedented admiration and determination.

Sitting next to him, Ma Shimin keenly noticed the change in Wei Li's eyes, and a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

At the same time, the invisible loyalty score in the conference room skyrocketed like a rocket!
Burton (Loyalty): 92 → 97!
Cui Zilong (Loyalty): 95 → 99!
Chen Shulin (Loyalty): 91 → 97!
He Shanheng (Loyalty): 90 → 98!
Everyone's expression was filled with shock and excitement.

This incentive plan not only represents enormous potential wealth, but also represents Lin Haoran's highest recognition and entrustment of their abilities, status, and future value!

This is a qualitative change that truly propels them from "high-level employees" to "creators of a business community"!

Looking at the almost burning eyes of his colleagues, Ma Shimin felt extremely gratified.

The boss's move completely won over the hearts of these top talents.

His 100% loyalty remained unwavering, but his sense of mission to serve his boss's grand ambitions only grew stronger.

"Boss, you've thought this through! With this strategy, all the talents in the world will be within our grasp! The cohesion of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee will be unbreakable!" He Shanheng exclaimed sincerely, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

Lin Haoran took in everyone's reactions and nodded in satisfaction.

He was particularly pleasantly surprised by the loyalty of the people.

This is a collective surge in loyalty!
Now he felt more at ease with his subordinates.

Indeed, the key to winning over subordinates lies in tangible rewards and effective incentive mechanisms.

He tapped the table lightly, bringing his surging emotions back on track: "The framework of the committee and the incentive structure have been established, but how to flesh them out, how to formulate the details, how to avoid bureaucracy, and how to make them truly efficient?"
This requires all committee members to contribute your wisdom and experience. Now, please speak freely.

With a shared and inspiring goal, and an unprecedentedly deep alignment of interests, the atmosphere of the meeting instantly shifted from shock to enthusiasm, and everyone quickly engaged in pragmatic and constructive discussions.

Although they secretly envied Ma Shimin for being able to serve as chairman, after all, it was obviously a level higher than their own positions.

But no one voiced their feelings. After all, Simon Murray's business management skills were undeniable. He managed a business giant like Hongkong Land Group in an orderly manner, and it was unlikely that they could have done so well.

Moreover, if they perform well in the future, they may have a chance to become chairpersons.

Previously, their careers seemed to have reached their peak, and they had lost the desire to improve.

But now, they have rediscovered the motivation to move forward.

Wei Li spoke first, saying, "Boss, Chairman Ma Shimin, colleagues, the committee should avoid becoming a club for empty talk or a government office that adds unnecessary decision-making steps. I suggest that the committee set up several permanent or temporary special working groups."

For example, the 'Global Ports and Logistics Collaboration Group'," he said, looking at Simon Murray, "is led by myself and Chairman Simon Murray, and its members may include the core operating teams of ports under Hutchison Whampoa and Hongkong Land."

It directly addresses pain points: How to optimally match shipping routes with berths? How to seamlessly connect bulk cargo transshipment? How to integrate information systems?
The goal is clear: reduce overall logistics costs by at least 15% and improve turnover efficiency by 20%! These are concrete targets, and regular reports will be submitted to the committee!

He had a clear mind and directly put forward feasible ideas.

Originally, Hutchison Whampoa and Hongkong Land both controlled the most important piers in Hong Kong, owning their own piers in places like Kwai Chung Pier.

Now that Hutchison Whampoa has been acquired by its owner, Lam Ho-yin, their control over the port market share has increased even further.

Simon Murray immediately responded, praising, "Mr. Wilfred has hit the nail on the head! The biggest headache for shipping is port congestion! If we can have priority and guaranteed access to Hutchison Whampoa's world-class hub ports, coupled with information technology support, the benefits will be immediate!"

This team must be activated immediately! My men are on call!

"Resource sharing is key, but resource allocation must also follow rules to avoid competition."

He Shanheng, Chairman of Hengsheng Bank, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, displaying the meticulousness of a banker: "I propose that the committee formulate the 'Guidelines for Internal Resource Coordination and Settlement' as soon as possible."

Whether it's lending, property leasing, logistics services, or procurement collaboration, there must be a clear, transparent, and market-oriented internal pricing mechanism and settlement process.

For example, when Hengsheng provides financing to companies within the group, the interest rate can be preferential, but there must be a benchmark and a process. It cannot become a mess or a disguised form of financial assistance.

This requires the committee to authorize the establishment of a finance and risk control team to develop detailed rules and oversee their implementation.

He knew that only with clear rules and shared resources could the situation last and internal conflicts be avoided.

"What Mr. Ho said is absolutely right! Without rules, nothing can be accomplished!" Chen Shoulin of Hong Kong Electric Group expressed his strong agreement.

"For example, my new town development project needs to introduce Wellcome supermarkets and ParknShop under Hongkong Land and Hutchison Whampoa as anchor stores to drive foot traffic. It also needs the convenient community financial services of Hang Seng Group, and even the support of cargo transportation capacity of Hutchison Whampoa Port and Hongkong Land Port, as well as transportation support from Kowloon Motor Bus."

With a clear coordination mechanism and settlement standards, our negotiation efficiency will be ten times higher, and the project will progress much faster!

He saw the huge benefits of collaboration.

Wei Li also found a new source of strength: "That's right! The procurement side is a goldmine of collaboration! Daily consumables and logistics distribution for my dozens of supermarket stores."

If, under the coordination of the committee, we can collaborate with companies within the committee that have relevant advantageous resources, such as Qingzhou Yingni's warehousing, or even the future retail of Dairy Farm International Holdings, to conduct large-scale centralized procurement or shared warehousing and distribution, the cost advantage will be enormous!

I suggest setting up a 'supply chain optimization team' to specifically explore this potential! He was already quickly considering the possibilities of fresh food cold chain and regional warehouse sharing.

As the interim chairman, Ma Shimin quickly took notes of the key points while providing timely guidance and summaries: "Excellent! Committee Member Wei Li's special task force suggestions directly address the pain points in the business and have a clear objective orientation."
Committee member He Shanheng proposed that prioritizing rules and financial transparency are the cornerstones of collaboration; furthermore, collaboration in procurement and projects is a concrete approach to resource integration.

These are the top priorities of the committee's initial work.

He looked at Lin Haoran, seeking instructions: "Boss, I suggest that the committee's first formal meeting be held within a week. The primary agenda items include: First, reviewing and approving the committee's charter;
Second, establish the first three special working groups, such as the port logistics coordination group, the financial risk control and settlement rules group, and the supply chain optimization group, as well as their leading committee members, core members, preliminary goals and timelines;
Third, we will begin drafting the framework for the "Virtual Restricted Shares Grant and Management Measures" and the "TUP Plan Implementation Rules." We aim to produce preliminary results within three months through the work of the above-mentioned groups and rule-making processes.

Lin Haoran nodded slightly, his face showing approval: "The idea is very clear, Shimin. Proceed in this direction. You will be fully responsible for organizing and drafting the charter and group matters, and they will be reviewed at the next meeting."

As for the details of the incentive plan…” He glanced at everyone, “The principles are: the incentives should be substantial, the threshold should be high, the rules should be transparent, and the assessment should be rigorous.”

The drafting of the plan was coordinated by Shih-min, with He Shan-heng's financial team, core finance and legal departments of the group deeply involved, ensuring that it was fair, just, scientific and reasonable, and could withstand the test of time and the market.

During the drafting process, I fully considered the opinions of all committee members, and the final decision rested with me.

"Understood!" Ma Shimin and He Shanheng replied simultaneously, feeling a great sense of responsibility.

"Furthermore, the committee's operation must be efficient and confidential! All discussions and draft resolutions are only known to the committee members present and the committee's authorized staff."

Externally, the existence and objectives of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee can be disclosed to a certain extent to demonstrate the Group's strength and advanced governance, but specific operational details, discussion content, and undisclosed strategic initiatives must be kept strictly confidential!

Anyone who leaks information, regardless of their position, will be considered to have betrayed the overall interests of the galaxy and will be severely punished!

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the conference room.

"Yes!" The six responded solemnly, including Hutchison Whampoa President Wayne Lai, who had only recently joined the company. They all felt the weight of this entrustment and the thunderous power of Lin Haoran's hand.

The meeting lasted for a full three hours.

The initial shock has long since transformed into a surge of constructive energy.

The committee members continued their heated discussion on possible areas of collaboration, potential risks, the establishment of an information-sharing platform, and the frequency of committee meetings... Their ideas clashed fiercely, sparking a lively exchange of ideas.

A super brain, unprecedented in the Asian business world and aimed at unifying the power of a vast business empire, gradually took on a clear outline and a complete framework amidst heated discussions.

The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the conference room in a warm golden hue.

Lin Haoran looked at his subordinates on both sides of the long table, who were still having a heated discussion, their eyes filled with excitement and a sense of mission.

He picked up the bone china teacup beside him, which contained Longjing tea at just the right temperature. He took a small sip, and the refreshing aroma of the tea filled his mouth.

A sense of ease and control, mixed with a warm current of accomplishment and anticipation, slowly flowed through my heart.

The behemoth of the Galaxy Strategic Development Committee has set sail.

The golden thread of virtual equity firmly binds the core.

The blueprint for the top-level design has been laid out.

Six exceptionally talented and loyal minds, under the coordination of Ma Shimin, will drive his vast business empire to operate efficiently toward a common goal.

The true mastery of a hands-off manager lies not in truly letting go, but in precisely fitting the sharpest blade into a scabbard of one's own design, so that with a single command, all obstacles in the way can be cut through.

Lin Haoran put down his teacup, turned his gaze to the Victoria Harbour outside the window, which was about to be reshaped by the power of the "Galaxy", and a deep smile appeared on his lips, as if he were in control.

The chessboard is ready, the pieces are in place, and the hand holding the pieces only needs to make a gentle gesture from the cloud.

(End of this chapter)