In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 655: In Lin Haoran's mouth, billions of Hong Kong dollars became small change?
Central, Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Inside the exchange, the atmosphere was bustling yet suffocatingly oppressive.

On the rudimentary electronic screen in the trading hall, Huifeng Bank's stock price was plummeting at an almost vertical rate, the red numbers flashing incessantly, stinging the eyes of every investor present.

Exclamations and curses echoed from the crowd. The investors were pale, their eyes filled with fear and despair, their trading orders crumpled in their hands as if they were their only lifeline.

"How could this be! Huifeng Bank is the leading financial institution in Hong Kong. The news can't be true!" An elderly investor stared at the glaring numbers on the electronic screen, his voice trembling and his eyes filled with disbelief.

Today's newspapers feature numerous business giants that have partnered with Huifeng Bank, such as Swire Pacific, CLP Power, Hutchison Whampoa, Cheung Kong Holdings, Carnegie Mellon Group, and Wheelock Properties. These companies, which have very good working relationships with Huifeng Bank, have all published statements in the newspapers to support Huifeng Bank.

Furthermore, many economic experts have voiced their support, stating that Huifeng Bank has a solid foundation and sound operations. They believe that the recent stock price fluctuations are merely an overreaction to short-term market sentiment. They assert that Bank of East Asia will not cause any fatal damage to Huifeng Bank, and that Huifeng Bank's position as the largest bank in Hong Kong will not be shaken in the slightest by Bank of East Asia. They also believe that Huifeng Bank is currently in a low-price phase and will soon stabilize and rebound.

These various comments led many small and medium-sized investors to increase their investments based on this information, trusting Huifeng Bank and expecting future returns. Some even borrowed money to enter the market, believing they could make a fortune in this seemingly sure-fire investment.

As a result, in just one morning, Huifeng Bank's share price rose from less than HK$13 billion to HK$15 billion.

This is great news, definitely great news!

If you don't seize the opportunity, how can you make money in the stock market?

Many investors have even fantasized that if they buy in now, their investment will double when HSBC rises back to its peak of HK$26 billion!
However, reality delivered a harsh slap to the faces of these investors.

The atmosphere changed after just one lunch break.

Many rumors suddenly circulated in the market, such as Liu Luanxiong wanting to transfer more than HK$3 billion out of Huifeng Bank, Guo Henan wanting to transfer several billion Hong Kong dollars out of Huifeng Bank, and Shao Yifu wanting to transfer more than one billion Hong Kong dollars out of Huifeng Bank, etc.

The rumors spread with such detail and conviction that they seemed to be true.

These rumors spread like wildfire among investors, instantly triggering even greater panic.

Originally, no one believed it. After all, how could Lin Haoran, all by himself, stir up such a huge wave?
However, a reporter happened to take photos of many business tycoons entering the headquarters of Huifeng Bank, including Liu Luanxiong, Guo Henian, and Shao Yifu. This immediately made everyone believe that the rumors seemed to have solid evidence, and the panic instantly spiraled out of control like a flood breaking through a dam.

As a result, after the market opened in the afternoon, Huifeng Bank's share price not only failed to stabilize and rebound as experts had predicted, but instead plummeted without any sign of stopping.

Less than ten minutes after the afternoon opening, HSBC's share price fell back below HK$13 billion, and by 2 p.m., its market capitalization had fallen to less than HK$10 billion.

This is the lowest market capitalization Huafeng Bank has achieved in recent years!

Panic spread like wildfire through the four major stock exchanges and some brokerage firms.

Many people tried to call Huifeng Bank's customers or go to Huifeng Bank's headquarters in person for consultation. However, the telephone lines at Huifeng Bank's headquarters had already been overwhelmed by anxious investors, and the other end of the line was always busy, as if it were Huifeng Bank's helpless sigh in this crisis.

Meanwhile, investors who went to the head office to inquire surrounded the building, with the crowd surging like a tidal wave, one wave after another. However, they did not receive any explanation from Huifeng Bank's senior management, and the security guards tried their best to maintain order.

At dozens of branches of Huifeng Bank, customers have already begun to line up, intending to withdraw their funds from Huifeng Bank as soon as possible, fearing that Huifeng Bank might experience a bank run and they would be unable to withdraw their funds.

After all, they had vivid memories of other banks experiencing bank runs, and they couldn't help but worry about the safety of their cash.

Even Huifeng Bank, if it were to actually fall into a bank run crisis, might not be able to escape unscathed.

Moreover, more and more rumors are spreading rapidly among the people, pricking investors' already fragile nerves like poisonous thorns.

Some say that Huifeng Bank has huge bad debts that have been concealed by its senior management.

Some say that Huifeng Bank has little money left in its accounts and that other funds are unlikely to return in a short time.

There are also rumors that a major overseas investment project by Huifeng Bank has completely failed, resulting in the loss of all funds.

These messages, though their veracity was uncertain, were like bombshells, causing a stir among investors.

As the queue grew longer, panic spread like wildfire through the crowd, making everyone uneasy.

Investors who had initially held onto a sliver of hope were now overwhelmed by the deluge of negative news and plunged into complete panic.

Inside the branch, the lines for withdrawing cash stretched like a long, winding dragon, seemingly endless.

The customers looked anxious, occasionally standing on tiptoe to peek at the progress of the queue ahead, and muttering complaints under their breath.

"Who would have thought that even a financial behemoth like Huifeng Bank would end up in such a state?" A customer in the queue sighed.

“Who says otherwise!” someone nearby quickly chimed in.

"Do you think those rumors are true or not?" someone asked with a suspicious look.

"Who knows! I'll only feel at ease once I've withdrawn the funds; otherwise, I won't be able to sleep soundly at night!" a middle-aged man said anxiously.

"That makes sense. Lin Haoran, this young man, is truly remarkable. He actually managed to push Huifeng Bank to such a desperate situation," another person remarked.

"I heard that those stock investors who chased the rising stocks this morning are now kicking themselves and crying out in despair."

"Luckily, I never touch the stock market, otherwise I would be suffering the same fate!" someone said, patting their chest in relief.

This scene is so similar to the previous bank runs that affected banks of all sizes!
Bank of East Asia, headquarters building.

Office of the Chairman.

Lin Haoran stood by the window, looking down at the crowds outside the Huifeng Bank headquarters building not far away, and couldn't help but smile.

He Shanheng, who was standing to the side, also had a smile on his face.

"Haoran, it has to be you. You actually managed to put Huifeng Bank in such a desperate situation. Your methods and courage are truly extraordinary." He Shanheng's eyes were full of admiration, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards with a hint of satisfaction.

Even after more than a decade, He Shanheng still occasionally recalls the scene when Hengsheng Bank experienced a run on its banks.

How desperate he was at that time.

Ultimately, they had no choice but to sell Hengsheng Bank to Huifeng Bank.

However, the truth was concealed from him by Huifeng Bank for more than a decade.

If Lin Haoran hadn't released the evidence from back then, he would still be unaware that the rumors that led to the run on Hengsheng Bank were actually orchestrated by Huifeng Bank.

Therefore, when he saw Huifeng Bank appear in the same scene as it had been back then, He Shanheng finally felt a sense of catharsis as he released the resentment and unwillingness that had been suppressed for many years.

Although he is only good at managing the banking industry and not at the undercurrents of financial games, he has come to understand over the years that this financial game is far from over.

Huifeng Bank cannot be defeated so easily.

However, after this incident, barring any unforeseen circumstances, their Bank of East Asia directly surpassed HSBC to become the bank with the largest market share in Hong Kong's financial industry.

"Uncle He, I patted my chest and said before that inviting you to join East Asia Bank would definitely give it the foundation to become a world-class bank. I always keep my word!" Lin Haoran laughed heartily, his laughter full of confidence and pride.

When Lin Haoran invited He Shanheng, he knew that what could move this veteran of finance was not vulgar money and power, but the grand vision that would allow him to realize his lifelong ambition and reshape the financial industry.

At this moment, He Shanheng's eyes shone with a burning light, a light that reflected his anticipation for the future and his trust in Lin Haoran.

"Haoran, don't worry. After the business competition between East Asia Bank and Huifeng Bank ends, I will start to explore overseas markets. With East Asia Bank's current strong market and your companies as a backer, Haoran, we will definitely be able to make a name for ourselves overseas."

At this moment, 81-year-old He Shanheng felt a surge of resolute fighting spirit and just wanted to give it his all.

He knew perfectly well that his own time was running out, like sand in an hourglass.

In this limited time, he was eager to make the Bank of East Asia one of the world's top ten banks.

By then, he, the helmsman of the Bank of East Asia, will surely be renowned in the global financial world, writing his own legend and leaving his mark on global financial history!
If this had happened under the rule of the Lee Pei-tsai family at the East Asia Bank, achieving this goal would have been nothing short of a pipe dream, almost impossible.

But now, since Lin Haoran took over, East Asia Bank has been completely transformed and has undergone tremendous changes.

It is no longer an ordinary bank that accounts for only 3% of the Hong Kong market and ranks fourth, but a financial giant that has emerged with its own edge, containing unlimited potential and strong competitiveness, and possessing the strong confidence to compete in the global market.

Just then, Lin Haoran's mobile phone rang.

He glanced at the number; it was Dai Shi calling. He pressed the answer button directly, without avoiding He Shanheng.

"Boss, I have something to report to you. Huifeng Bank's market value has fallen below HK$95 billion!" Dai Shi's voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement, came through the receiver clearly on the other end of the phone.

"Below 95 billion?" Lin Haoran murmured.

After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Dai Shi, you immediately instruct the traders to secretly buy up low-priced shares. Keep a close eye on market changes. Whether the buying speed is fast or slow is up to you!" He didn't know how low Huifeng Bank's share price would eventually fall, but its market capitalization was already below HK$100 billion. Compared to before, if he could buy all the shares at a price below HK$100 billion, then his return on shorting Huifeng Bank would far exceed his expectations.

Therefore, it's time to get started.

“Okay, boss. I will decide how much to buy based on whether Huifeng Bank’s stock price continues to fall or rise. Don’t worry!” Dai Shi replied.

"Okay, contact me if you need anything!" Lin Haoran said with a smile.

After hanging up the phone, He Shanheng said with a smile, "Haoran, congratulations, you're about to make a fortune again."

Today, many people in Hong Kong know that Lin Haoran once borrowed a lot of shares when the stock price of Huifeng Bank was high.

With Huifeng Bank's stock price now so low, Lin Haoran is naturally able to reap huge profits from this short-selling operation.

Lin Haoran waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "It's just a small amount of money, not worth mentioning!"

If this were to get out, it would definitely cause quite a stir.

Billions of Hong Kong dollars were reduced to a pittance by Lin Haoran.

Do people say it?
Just then, the phone rang again.

This time, it was Cui Zilong calling: "Boss, do you have a TV over there?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" Lin Haoran asked, puzzled.

"Turn on ATV's local channel right away. You should be interested in what's playing next!" Cui Zilong said urgently on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, I understand!" Lin Haoran nodded calmly and did not ask any further questions.

After hanging up the phone, He Shanheng quickly took the TV remote and handed it to Lin Haoran.

Lin Haoran took the remote control, pressed the power button lightly, and quickly tuned to the local channel.

The scene that appeared before Lin Haoran and He Shanheng was none other than Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose!
He was dressed in a sharp suit and sat solemnly in front of the camera, with his governor's office behind him, making the whole scene look exceptionally formal.

Standing beside him was another prominent figure in the financial industry, John Paul, the vice chairman of the board of directors of Huifeng Bank!
Seeing this scene, both Lin Haoran and He Shanheng knew that Governor Mai Lihao was going to step in to support Huifeng Bank.

The two exchanged a glance, neither of them surprised.

This was all within their expectations.

After all, the Governor's Office could not stand idly by and watch Huifeng Bank fall into a run on its banks. If that were to happen, Hong Kong's financial industry would likely be plunged into an unprecedented earthquake, with the chain reaction enough to make the entire Hong Kong economic system teeter on the brink of collapse.

In the video, Mak Lei Ho cleared his throat, looked directly at the camera, and spoke in a calm yet solemn tone: "Fellow citizens and investors of Hong Kong, I am Governor Mak Lei Ho."

Today, I stand here and want to have a good talk with everyone about how the financial stability of Hong Kong is the common responsibility of each and every one of us, and also the common goal we all pursue.

As a mainstay of Hong Kong's financial sector, Huafeng Bank's sound operations play a crucial role in the continued prosperity of Hong Kong's economy.

However, nowadays, the market is filled with many bad news about Huifeng Bank. I hereby solemnly assure everyone that the Governor's Office will never allow Huifeng Bank to be unable to pay its funds.

We will do our utmost to ensure the normal operation of HSBC. The Financial Secretary has reserves of over HK$10 billion and is ready to provide HSBC with the necessary liquidity support at any time to deal with the potential risk of a bank run.

At the same time, I sincerely urge investors to remain calm and rational, and not to be misled by baseless rumors. Let us work together to safeguard the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong's financial market.

Mak's words were calm and powerful, each word carrying an unquestionable authority, and were transmitted to every corner of Hong Kong via television.

John Paul, standing beside him, also gave a slight bow, his face showing a hint of relief mixed with a forced composure, and nodded gently at the camera, seemingly conveying to investors that "everything is under control."

Meanwhile, in the business halls of various branches of Huifeng Bank, staff quickly projected the image of the governor speaking onto television screens for anxious customers who were queuing up.

In the halls of the four major stock exchanges, television screens simultaneously broadcast the scene of the governor supporting Huifeng Bank.

The news that the Governor's Office personally supported Huifeng Bank was like a reassuring pill thrown into the turbulent lake of Hong Kong's financial market, instantly creating ripples.

The emotions of those investors who were initially gripped by panic and at a loss began to subtly shift.

Huifeng Bank's stock price gradually stabilized. Although it was difficult to regain its upward momentum, it also stopped plummeting like a runaway horse.

Many people finally relaxed their tense nerves and breathed a sigh of relief.

As a result, the queues at Huifeng Bank's branches have become much shorter.

This scene brought a sigh of relief to all branches of Huifeng Bank.

It had to be the Governor's Office; without Governor Merrih's intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Mai Lihao's speech, though brief, was enough to gradually calm everyone's panic.

"It's a bit of a pity," He Shanheng said with a smile in the office.

"It's alright. Besides, even if the Financial Secretary provides more than HK$10 billion in support, HSBC Bank may not be able to weather this crisis smoothly!" Lin Haoran said calmly and nonchalantly.

Governor Merrihau personally intervened, which was something they had anticipated; it was entirely expected.

Behind Huifeng Bank are the interests of British-owned groups. In Hong Kong, the business empire of British-owned companies is deeply entrenched and interconnected, with any move affecting the whole.

If Huifeng Bank were to collapse, the resulting chain reaction would be enough to shake the very foundations that the British conglomerate had painstakingly built in Hong Kong.

For example, most of the funds of major British companies are now held in Huafeng Bank. If Huafeng Bank has a problem with its funds, it will not only be a problem for Huafeng Bank itself, but also cause the companies that have deposited their funds in Huafeng Bank to fall into a crisis of broken capital chain.

Swire Group, CLP Power, Hutchison Whampoa, and many other business giants rely on the stable financial support of Huifeng Bank for the operation of their numerous business segments.

From raw material procurement to production operations and sales revenue collection, every step is closely linked to Huifeng Bank's financial services.

If Huifeng Bank is unable to operate normally and its capital chain breaks, the cash flow of these companies will come to a standstill, project progress will be hindered, order delivery will be delayed, and a series of default risks will be triggered, damaging the companies' business reputation and potentially causing the collapse of some business segments.

Moreover, the British-owned group has a complex business network in Hong Kong, with numerous cooperative relationships between its various companies.

As one of the core nodes of this network, Huifeng Bank plays an important role in fund allocation and credit guarantee.

Its collapse would disrupt the balance of the entire business network and trigger a crisis of trust.

Other companies may worry about the increased risks of cooperating with British-owned groups, thus reducing or even terminating cooperation, which will further exacerbate the predicament of British-owned groups in Hong Kong.

Therefore, no matter what, the Governor's Office could not simply stand by and watch Huifeng Bank collapse.

Although he inevitably felt a little regretful, Lin Haoran did not fall into a state of frustration or disappointment.

At least, once Liu Luanxiong, Guo Henian, Shao Yifu, Lin Haoning and others have transferred their funds to East Asia Bank, the scale of his East Asia Bank funds will achieve a qualitative leap, completely surpassing Huifeng Bank.

Only then will Bank of East Asia be able to truly secure its position as the top bank in Hong Kong and become the undisputed number one bank!

Upon thinking of this, Lin Haoran felt a surge of heroic spirit!

Just as Lin Haoran and He Shanheng were about to discuss their next steps in more detail, Lin Haoran's mobile phone rang, breaking the silence of the office once again.

He glanced at the caller ID and was slightly taken aback; the caller was Mr. Brown, the VP of Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong.

He didn't have much business dealings with Standard Chartered, but he had already memorized this bigwig's phone number.

"Mr. Lin, is this a convenient time for you? I'd like to discuss some things with you in person." Mr. Brown's voice was calm and direct on the other end of the phone.

Although Lin Haoran didn't understand the other party's purpose, he laughed heartily and replied, "Since Mr. Brown personally invited me, I will naturally be at your service at any time. How about this, you come directly to my office at East Asia Bank, and we can chat over drinks?"

“Mr. Lin, I need a private place to meet. I don’t want our meeting to be known to the outside world too early. Could you arrange a more private location?” Mr. Brown asked cautiously.

Lin Haoran was slightly taken aback; Brown's words gave him some clues.

The other party contacted him at this sensitive time; what was their purpose? It must be related to Huifeng Bank!
Could it be that Standard Chartered Bank is trying to play the role of the unsuspecting predator in the competition between Bank of East Asia and HSBC?

Although he had some guesses, Lin Haoran did not ask me any further questions. Instead, he smiled and said, "In that case, Mr. Brown, why don't you come to my residence on Shi Xun Road? It's quiet there, and under normal circumstances, no one will disturb you."

Mr. Brown paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, as if weighing his options, before saying, "Alright, then I'll trouble Mr. Lin to provide the exact address, and I'll be there shortly."

(End of this chapter)