In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 672 Shocking! He actually became the second largest shareholder of many listed giants!

At 4 p.m., all four major stock exchanges in Hong Kong rang the closing bell.

However, the expressions on the faces of stock market investors today are no different from those yesterday.

There was no good news from Huifeng Bank.

And Wharf Holdings also issued such an announcement today.

This means that even Bao Yugang, the world's shipping magnate and a long-time ally of Huifeng Bank, has ceased to maintain its ironclad alliance with Huifeng Bank.

Therefore, the final result was that the stock prices of listed companies associated with Huifeng Bank fell again.

As for Huifeng Bank, it has fallen to a value of over one billion Hong Kong dollars, which is almost the lowest it can go. No one is willing to sell at any lower price.

Therefore, Huifeng Bank's stock price did not fall much today.

However, the trading volume was significantly lower than yesterday.

Lin Haoran already had enough shares of Huifeng Bank. He wasn't very interested in Huifeng Bank's shares, so once he had bought enough borrowed shares, there was no need to buy any more.

Instead of buying shares in Huafeng Bank, it would be better to buy more shares in listed companies such as Swire Pacific, Hutchison Whampoa, Lane Crawford, CLP Power, and Hang Seng Bank.

The stock prices of these Hong Kong-listed giants are likely to continue to surge in the future.

Now that the stock price has plummeted, this is an excellent opportunity, whether for investment or for future strategic planning of a particular company, and Lin Haoran would certainly not miss it.

No matter how rich he is, he can't possibly turn down money.

The stock market is closed, and at this moment, many shareholders are once again discussing, just like yesterday, gathering at the Governor's Mansion to demand an explanation.

When they went there yesterday, the Governor's Office said that the Governor was not there, so they had no choice but to leave.

But if they're not here today, then they're really deliberately avoiding them, and they'll demand an explanation no matter what.

Now, these devastated shareholders have placed their only hope on Governor Merrih, as if only Merrih can help them now.

As a result, stock market investors emerged from the major stock exchanges and proceeded in large numbers, either by car or on foot, to the Governor's Mansion.

Moreover, there were clearly more people going together today.

The gathering of stock market investors yesterday has already been reported by major news media outlets today.

As a result, many more shareholders were encouraged and, filled with resentment and unwillingness, joined the procession heading to the governor's mansion.

The procession, like an angry dragon, meandered through the streets of Hong Kong, drawing the attention of passersby who whispered among themselves about this unprecedented spectacle.

The bustling streets were thrown into chaos by the surging crowds. Drivers honked their horns helplessly, but could only wait patiently in the slowly moving queue.

Some small vendors also put down what they were doing and stood at their shop entrances, curiously looking around and wondering what consequences this large-scale gathering would bring.

When the main force finally arrived in front of the Governor's Mansion, it was already completely surrounded and packed with people.

It was already past five o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was setting, and the golden afterglow was spilling outside the Governor's Mansion, which should have been a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

However, the people gathered to demonstrate were all filled with resentment and anxiety, showing no interest in appreciating the beautiful scenery whatsoever.

Many stock market investors chanted a unified slogan outside the Governor's Mansion, their shouts rising and falling: "Government, save the market! Government, save the market!"

Many media outlets, like cats that have caught a whiff of fish, sprang into action and quickly secured the best locations for filming and reporting.

Moreover, a closer look reveals a large number of reporters at the scene, including many carrying equipment bearing the logos of major global media outlets such as The New York Times, Reuters, AFP, and The Times.

The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong has been unusually sharp and continuous during this period, which has already attracted the attention of many mainstream overseas media outlets.

The fact that a bank's cash flow crisis could affect a large number of listed companies in Hong Kong, causing their stock prices to plummet, is such a rare occurrence that it naturally attracted great attention from many overseas media outlets.

Governor Merrih stood by the window, his brow furrowed, staring intently at the distressing scene outside with a headache.

A rough estimate suggests that the number of people gathered here is at least three times that of yesterday, which translates to at least three thousand people.

Moreover, when he looked into the distance, he could see a steady stream of people converging on this side.

He knew in his heart that many of them might have come just to watch the excitement, but in any case, the more people gathered, the heavier the pressure on his shoulders became, like an invisible mountain pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

Moreover, there might be many opportunists among them who can't stand the Governor's Office's success and might cause trouble, potentially leading to a major incident.

Yesterday, he was able to have his men make up excuses that he was in Tuen Mun, thus getting away with it.

But today, it's clear that things can't continue like this.

“Governor, our men have just received reliable intelligence that there may be quite a few gang members mixed in with this crowd.” The secretary hurried to Mai Lihao’s side, looking anxious and speaking urgently.

Mai Lihao nodded slightly. He knew perfectly well what the gang members were up to and what their purpose was in showing up here.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.

Standard Chartered Bank has been slow to give a clear response, preventing him from going out and giving everyone an explanation.

However, if this continues and various reasons and excuses are used to stall, the situation will likely get out of control, and a serious incident involving bloodshed might actually occur, which would be difficult to manage.

Although the Governor's House is equipped with more than a dozen fully armed members of the Governor's Guard, and the Central Police Station and Hong Kong Police Headquarters coordinate daily security work, there are also many police cars parked outside on high alert, and more police force can be dispatched at any time to provide support.

Even in critical and urgent situations, he had the authority to mobilize the British troops stationed in Hong Kong to help maintain order. With such layers of protection, his personal safety was not a concern.

However, if riots were to break out in Hong Kong, this renowned international metropolis, the negative impact would be devastating. The city's image would undoubtedly suffer a heavy blow, and its international reputation would plummet.

Mak Lei-hau couldn't help but recall the "Double Ten Riots" that occurred in Hong Kong in 1956. Although he was not in Hong Kong at the time, as the Governor of Hong Kong, he was naturally aware of the events that had happened in Hong Kong in the past.

The "Double Ten Riots" that occurred in Hong Kong in 1956 were a heartbreaking catastrophe.

At the time, the riots quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in extremely tragic consequences. Approximately 443 people were injured in the clashes, 59 of whom tragically lost their lives. Even 107 members of the police force who were maintaining order were injured.

This incident had a huge impact on Hong Kong.

On the economic front, during the riots, Hong Kong's transportation network was paralyzed, and business activities were basically brought to a standstill, as if the entire city had been put on pause.

At that time, Hong Kong was thriving as an international trade transshipment port thanks to its unique geographical location. This riot undoubtedly poured cold water on its economic development and caused incalculable losses.

On the international stage, Hong Kong's long-standing image as the "safest city" has been severely damaged.

The international community has raised questions about Hong Kong's stability and security. Some foreign companies, for security reasons, have begun to re-evaluate their investment plans in Hong Kong, and tourists are also concerned about Hong Kong's stability. This has affected Hong Kong's tourism industry and international exchanges to some extent.

Moreover, Hong Kong today is vastly different from Hong Kong in the 1950s; it has undergone tremendous changes.

In the 1950s, Hong Kong was still in its early stages of development and could not yet be considered a truly international metropolis, with relatively limited influence on the international stage.

However, by the early 1980s, Hong Kong was no longer what it used to be.

It has not only long been among the ranks of international metropolises, but has also become one of the world's three major financial centers. Its every move attracts global attention, and it occupies a pivotal position in the world economic landscape.

Therefore, things are different now than before. Hong Kong now holds a more important position and has a wider influence.

It's not hard for Malihao to imagine that if these people were to incite another riot, the consequences would be unimaginable and extremely serious.

If a serious riot breaks out here, global investors will inevitably have strong doubts about Hong Kong's stability and security.

Foreign investors who originally intended to invest in Hong Kong may urgently halt their investment plans due to concerns about the situation.
Trade will also encounter numerous obstacles, and the originally unobstructed business channels will be ruthlessly blocked.

A once prosperous and vibrant financial market can suddenly plummet into an unprecedented slump, as if falling into an ice cave.

Many companies will face a life-or-death crisis of bankruptcy due to problems such as broken capital chains and shrinking markets.

Massive unemployment has led to a sharp rise in the unemployment rate and plunged countless families into economic hardship.

Social order would be thrown into chaos, security problems would occur frequently, and people's lives would lose their peace.

This was a situation that the governor had certainly not hoped to see.

Moreover, once such an incident occurs, the outside world will inevitably put his "inaction" as governor in the spotlight.

This will undoubtedly have an immeasurable and devastating negative impact on his future political career, severely damaging his political prospects and potentially ruining his political future. In the promotion rules of British politics, an official's reputation and performance are two core elements, like the two wings of a bird or the two wheels of a cart, neither of which can be lacking.

As a very important overseas colony of Britain, Hong Kong's stability and development have always been a focus of close attention for the British government, and every move it makes affects the nerves of the British high command.

If Meryl Streep's mishandling of this incident leads to large-scale riots, plunging Hong Kong's economy to the brink of collapse and society into turmoil, then British public opinion will inevitably launch a fierce attack on him, with endless verbal and written condemnations.

At that time, his credibility in the British government will plummet, and his path to promotion will be ruthlessly cut off.

They may even face the tragic fate of being held accountable and forced to step down in disgrace.

Therefore, Mai Lihao was very clear about the severity of the current situation.

At this moment, he must give the shareholders a reasonable and convincing explanation as soon as possible to quell their burning anger.

Otherwise, with so many people gathered together, each harboring resentment, they would be like a pile of dry tinder, and with just a spark, their emotions could instantly spiral out of control.

If the situation gets completely out of control, the consequences will be unimaginable, and Hong Kong, this bustling international metropolis, will likely descend into chaos and disaster.

And those people in those gangs...

As the Governor of Hong Kong, he knew all too well that in this bustling and noisy city where interests were intertwined, there were always some people who tried to create chaos in order to take advantage of the situation and make a fortune through dishonest means.

He snapped out of his daze, quickly walked to the phone, and called Mr. Brown, the Hong Kong tycoon of Standard Chartered Bank, again.

He still didn't have much hope this time, but he had to make the call.

He absolutely refused to allow them to stall for time.

However, after the call connected, he was about to question Mr. Brown.

Unexpectedly, the other party excitedly told Merrihau, "Governor, I have good news for you. The senior management of Standard Chartered Bank and Huifeng Bank have reached an agreement, and the senior management of Huifeng Bank has agreed to Standard Chartered Bank's acquisition plan!"

Upon hearing this, Governor Merrih's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, instantly settled. His tense nerves relaxed, the taut muscles on his face slowly unfurled, and a hint of surprise and relief flashed in his eyes.

He thought that this phone call would be the same as before, that Standard Chartered Bank still hadn't reached an agreement with Huifeng Bank.

But now, before he could even speak, he received such good news.

He opened his mouth slightly, seemingly still reeling from the sudden good news. After a moment, he hurriedly said, "This...this is wonderful! Mr. Brown, this news is so timely, it's like rain after a long drought!"

Mr. Brown's voice on the other end of the phone was still full of excitement: "Governor, everyone in our bank is very excited. The acquisition plan was able to be finalized thanks to the efforts of all parties, and we especially thank you for your strong support, Governor."

"Your Excellency, please rest assured that Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC will hold a formal press conference tomorrow to jointly announce the acquisition agreement we have signed."

“Then I won’t hide it anymore. I’m sure Mr. Brown has heard that a huge crowd has gathered outside my governor’s mansion. If I keep it a secret any longer, I’m afraid they’ll tear my governor’s mansion down in one fell swoop!” Meryl Hardy was in a great mood at the moment, and he made a lighthearted joke with a smile on his face.

“Governor, I am truly sorry to have caused you such trouble. Please tell me what is going on. Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll head to the Governor’s residence right away, and I will represent Standard Chartered Bank to provide strong testimony for you!”

"That would be perfect. I'll be waiting for you at the Governor's Mansion!" Upon hearing this, Mai Lihao felt even more at ease, and his smile deepened.

At the same time, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense and filled with worry, finally settled down completely.

After hanging up the phone, Mai Lihao let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

He turned to look out the window. The dense crowd outside the governor's mansion was still restless, but at this moment, he was no longer as panicked and helpless as before.

If all goes well, once the good news of the acquisition agreement being finalized is announced, the numerous shareholders gathered here should be able to leave with peace of mind.

Standard Chartered Bank's acquisition of Huifeng Bank will provide Huifeng Bank with financial support in a short period of time.

Even if Huifeng Bank's share price is destined not to rise significantly,

However, the situation is quite different for the stocks of companies implicated in the incident, such as Swire Pacific and Hutchison Whampoa.

Since these companies no longer face the potential risk of a broken capital chain, their stock prices will inevitably see a significant rebound.

Conservatively speaking, it's entirely possible for the stock price to recover to its pre-decline levels.

These economic principles may not be fully understood by some stock market investors, but newspapers have been reporting on them extensively every day for the past few days.

Moreover, even though many citizens are illiterate, they frequently mention this matter when they gather to chat, and the relevant information has already spread widely among the citizens.

In addition, those who gather here are most likely people who still hold stocks and are unwilling to sell them, and who are reluctant to give up.

Those who sold their shares early were mostly timid and cowardly people; naturally, they dared not participate in such acts of gathering crowds to cause trouble.

Once we deal with these outsiders, the crisis of this gathering will naturally be resolved.

Half an hour later, Governor Merrihau stood in the square outside the Governor's House, holding a megaphone, and delivered a speech to thousands of shareholders.

During his speech, Mak intentionally attributed the credit for Standard Chartered Bank's acquisition of HSBC to himself, claiming that in order to prevent HSBC from falling into a cash flow crisis and to protect many Hong Kong companies from a financial crisis, he had gone to great lengths and paid a huge price to push for the acquisition.

Seeing this, Mr. Brown, the Hong Kong tycoon of Standard Chartered Bank, naturally had to give Mak Li-hao face and immediately confirmed the truth of what Mak Li-hao said.

At this point, the hearts of the thousands of shareholders at the scene finally settled down, and they were completely relieved.

They were overjoyed, secretly thinking how lucky they were that they hadn't impulsively sold their stocks these past few days, otherwise they would probably be kicking themselves and regretting it to the core.

Their faces, which had been tense with worry, gradually relaxed. They gathered together, whispering among themselves, their faces beaming with the joy of surviving a disaster.

Cheers erupted instantly at the scene, with shareholders praising the governor for his wise and far-sighted decision.

In the crowd, a middle-aged man in a long gown, his face flushed with excitement, waved his hat vigorously and shouted, "The Governor is truly the guardian of Hong Kong! With you here, we feel at ease!"

Those around him nodded in agreement, and applause and cheers rose and fell, lasting for a long time.

Mai Lihao smiled and waved to the crowd, showing no embarrassment at his self-promotion.

He then urged everyone to leave as soon as possible: "Everyone, please disperse. Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC will be holding a press conference tomorrow, at which time there will be more information."

As the crowd gradually dispersed, the crisis of the gathering was finally resolved.

Our gaze shifts to the Kang Le Building.

At this moment, Lin Haoran sat upright in a chair in his office at the Galaxy Securities Exchange.

On the desk in front of him, there was a report quietly listing the "results" of the past few days. It detailed the share acquisition of Hong Kong listed giants such as Huafeng Bank, Hang Seng Bank, Cheung Kong Holdings, Hutchison Whampoa, and Cathay Pacific, as well as the corresponding capital expenditures.

"Boss, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC have now reached an acquisition agreement. In my opinion, it's not a good time for us to continue acquiring shares tomorrow. Given the current situation, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Hang Seng Index will definitely rise sharply tomorrow."

At that time, the related stocks affected by the incident in the past few days will all see a surge in prices. During this period, investors are like springs stretched to their limit. Their pent-up emotions and demands have been suppressed for too long. Once released, the energy will be immeasurable, just like a volcano that has been suppressed for a long time, with an unstoppable eruption.

Moreover, institutions, speculators, and conglomerates will certainly not miss this opportunity and will further push up the stock price.

"Perhaps it won't be long before the stock prices of all companies except Huifeng Bank and Hengsheng Bank rise back to their pre-decline levels." Dai Shi stood to the side, clearly explaining his views.

Looking at the data on the report, Lin Haoran smiled and said, "That's enough. Starting tomorrow, stop accumulating all stocks except for Hengsheng Bank's shares!"

The numbers on the report are like bombshells; if made public, they would surely cause a huge uproar in Hong Kong.

"Regarding Huifeng Bank, Galaxy Securities currently holds a total of 26.47% of its shares, making it the largest shareholder of Huifeng Bank on the surface (not counting Standard Chartered Bank, which is about to become the holding company of Huifeng Bank)."

"At present, Galaxy Securities holds a total of 24.3% of the shares of Hengsheng Bank, successfully becoming the second largest shareholder of Hengsheng Bank."

"In Hutchison Whampoa's case, Galaxy Securities currently holds 18.71% of its shares, making it the second largest shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa."

"In the Cheung Kong Holdings sector, Galaxy Securities now holds a total of 16.25% of the shares, making it the second largest shareholder of Cheung Kong Holdings."

"Among Swire Group, Galaxy Securities currently holds 13.22% of the shares, making it the second largest shareholder of Swire Group."

"Regarding Wheelock & Co., Galaxy Securities currently holds a total of 19.18% of the shares, firmly holding the position of Wheelock & Co.'s second largest shareholder."

……

Who would have thought that in less than a week, Galaxy Securities would become the second largest shareholder of major listed companies?

Moreover, and most importantly, the stock prices acquired were shockingly low. Compared to the true value of these companies, the cost was like finding a rare treasure at a bargain price.

(End of this chapter)