In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

On his second night back in Hong Kong, Lin Haoran went to see Guan Jiahui.

On the third night, I went to Liu Xiaoli's place.

Guo Xiaohan tacitly refrained from asking any questions about Lin Haoran's failure to return to the Shi Xun Road villa for two consecutive nights.

In the blink of an eye, three days have passed since Lin Haoran returned to Hong Kong.

Today is December 10, 1981, a seemingly ordinary day.

However, for Oriental Press Group, today is a moment destined to go down in history, as the world's first truly meaningful rich list is about to be released here.

Inside the banquet hall of the Peninsula Hotel at the southern tip of Kowloon Peninsula, three enormous crystal chandeliers cast a soft yet dazzling light into every corner, while the gold leaf decorations on the ceiling shimmered under the light.

Outside the French-style floor-to-ceiling windows, the view of Victoria Harbour is unobstructed, with several white yachts slowly passing by, adding a flowing backdrop to this feast of wealth.

At 2 p.m., the banquet hall was already bustling with activity.

Waiters in black uniforms moved about, adjusting the seats and checking the sound equipment on the stage.

Behind the stage, a huge banner was already hung up, which read "Hong Kong Rich List 1981 Global Release Conference".

Lin Haoran stood in the VIP lounge on the second floor of the banquet hall, looking down at the bustling crowd below through the one-way glass.

"Boss, all the media and guests are in place, but there's something I need to trouble you with." Cui Zilong pushed open the door and entered, his suit impeccably tailored, but fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He was obviously very busy today.

All of Hong Kong's top ten richest people were present, and even the head of the Swire family flew back from London. In addition, Hong Kong's richest people ranked within the top two hundred were also present as guests.

Governor-General Merrihau, the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the Attorney General, and other secretaries will also arrive in ten minutes. Mr. Guo Henan, the richest man in Southeast Asia, is also present.

In fact, Oriental Media Group had already informed the individuals who were likely to be among the top 200 richest people.

These wealthy individuals simply don't know their exact ranking.

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Cui Zilong: "Have people from the Governor's Mansion also come?"

He did not personally invite Governor Merrih to this press conference; instead, Cui Zilong, in his capacity as general manager of the Oriental Press Company, extended the invitation.

“Yes, boss.” Cui Zilong took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead. “We had originally invited them, but the Governor’s Office replied that Mr. Mai Lihao might not be able to attend due to other matters.”

Just half an hour ago, Sir Merrihow's secretary personally called to confirm that the Governor will attend the ceremony in a private capacity.

Also accompanying him are Sir Keith, the Chief Secretary; Sir Robert Ho, the Financial Secretary; and Sir Robert Ho, the Attorney General. They will arrive in ten minutes. Your position, sir, is sensitive, so it would be more appropriate for you, sir, to personally greet him.

Mr. Guo Henan had rushed back from Singapore to attend, and was personally greeted by Mr. Ma Shimin and seated in the front row.

Lin Haoran stood in front of the one-way glass, his gaze sweeping over the guests who were gradually taking their places downstairs.

Inside the banquet hall, almost half of Hong Kong's political and business circles were present. This was not only a gathering of the top ten richest people, but also a gathering of the entire upper class of Hong Kong society.

He turned around, his tailor-made dark blue suit making his tall and straight figure even more outstanding.

Since Lin Haoran was attending today as one of the top ten richest people, rather than as a boss, he did not greet the group of wealthy guests.

He straightened his cuffs, patted Cui Zilong on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Okay, I understand. I will personally greet the Governor when he arrives. You go ahead and get busy. Thank you for your hard work today. I will give you a surprise at the press conference."

Cui Zilong was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Boss, it's already an honor for me to participate in such a historic project. How could I dare to ask for any surprises? I'll go and make the arrangements first. I'll inform you as soon as the Governor and his party arrive."

After saying that, Cui Zilong hurriedly left the VIP room.

As the person in charge of today's press conference, he certainly has too many details to personally oversee.

Only Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan remained in the VIP room.

Today, Guo Xiaohan wore a deep purple satin dress and a necklace with a twelve-carat sapphire, a birthday gift from Lin Haoran, which sparkled under the lights.

"The Governor suddenly changed his mind about attending. It seems that the influence of this list has gone beyond the business world. Will it bring any unnecessary attention?" Guo Xiaohan said softly, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

Lin Haoran walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a small glass of brandy, and gently swirled the glass: "Mai Lihao will be leaving office next year, and he has his reasons for choosing to attend at this time."

This isn't a bad thing; on the contrary, it shows that our list already carries sufficient weight.

He took a sip of his drink and continued his analysis: "During his tenure, Mak Lei Ho promoted the development of the New Territories, improved public housing, and built the subway. He was a pragmatic administrator."

His attendance at such a grand event, as he is about to leave office, is both an affirmation of Hong Kong's commercial achievements and a demonstration of his nine-year term's accomplishments to London.

Lin Haoran paused for a moment, then continued, "Moreover, the shadow of the Sino-British negotiations is already looming. Mak Rihau's choice to attend a purely business event at this sensitive time may also be sending a signal: Hong Kong's prosperity and stability should transcend political disputes."

Guo Xiaohan nodded thoughtfully.

As the future daughter-in-law of the Lin family and the daughter of the Guo family, she has spent the past three years in Hong Kong learning business management from her uncle Guo Henan, and has also learned many things that ordinary people do not know. She is no longer the simple rich girl she once was.

She understood what her fiancé meant by the "signal." Given the uncertain future of Hong Kong, the continuity of business and the security of wealth had become the most pressing concerns for all upper-class individuals.

"Do you need to adjust the content of your speech?" Guo Xiaohan asked with concern.

Lin Haoran put down his wine glass and smiled calmly: "No need. It is precisely at times like these that we must adhere to our original intentions. The core of this list is business, wealth creation, and entrepreneurial spirit."

We don't need to deliberately pander to politics; we just need to truthfully present the achievements of Hong Kong's business community. Sincerity is the best strategy.

As Lin Haoran's wealth and status continued to rise, he no longer felt the same sense of awe and reverence for the Governor's Mansion.

Now, he hopes to build an equal and pragmatic cooperative relationship with the Governor's Office.

He and Hong Kong have formed a mutually beneficial relationship. He needs Hong Kong as his local base, and Hong Kong also needs the support of this super-rich man.

When Mak attended the event, he saw it as nothing more than a courtesy exchange between equals, rather than a special favor from someone in a higher position.

Guo Xiaohan nodded.

Lin Haoran added: "Moreover, after Merrihau steps down next year, whoever London sends as his successor will need to maintain a good relationship with the Hong Kong business community."

This list precisely defines who the core forces in Hong Kong's business community are. It would be inexcusable for the Governor to be absent from such an important press conference.

Guo Xiaohan was impressed by her fiancé's insightful analysis.

She walked over to Lin Haoran and straightened his already neat collar: "You're right, Hong Kong's prosperity ultimately depends on business, not politics. Today's stage should belong entirely to entrepreneurs."

At that moment, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Ma Shimin pushed the door open and came in: "Boss, the governor's motorcade has arrived at the hotel's main entrance and is expected to arrive at the banquet hall entrance in two minutes."

Lin Haoran glanced at his watch; it was 2:48 PM. "The timing is perfect. Xiaohan, please take your seats. I will personally greet the Governor and his entourage."

"Do you need me to come with you?" Guo Xiaohan asked.

“You’re attending as a guest today, so please sit in the front row.” Lin Haoran gently patted the back of her hand. “It would be more dignified for me to greet the Governor alone.”

Guo Xiaohan nodded in understanding.

In such a formal setting, it would be most appropriate for Lin Haoran, as the host and Hong Kong's richest man, to greet the Governor alone.

Lin Haoran straightened his suit and calmly walked out of the VIP room.

In the corridor, Cui Zilong, Ma Shimin, Wei Li, He Shanheng and others were already waiting.

In fact, Ho Sin-hang is also one of the top 200 richest people in Hong Kong.

Although Hengsheng Bank was acquired by Huifeng Bank at the time, He Shanheng, as the founder of Hengsheng Bank, still held a certain number of shares. In addition, he served as the chairman of Hengsheng Bank for decades, so his net worth was naturally considerable.

He will be ranked 128th on the upcoming list, with an estimated wealth of HK$4.8 million.

Today, however, he is more known as the head of Hengsheng Group, under Lin Haoran, than simply a listed billionaire.

Cui Zilong reported in a low voice: "Boss, everything is arranged. According to etiquette, you will greet him at the entrance and then accompany the Governor into the venue and lead him to the VIP seats."

A few of us will accompany you at a suitable distance from behind.

Lin Haoran nodded slightly: "Thank you all for your hard work, let's go."

The group walked along the corridor covered with a deep red carpet toward the main entrance.

The corridor is lined with European oil paintings from the Peninsula Hotel’s collection. Under the soft lighting, the nobles in the paintings seem to be watching the upcoming grand event.

Upon arriving at the main entrance, I saw a convoy parked outside the hotel porch, with a black Rolls-Royce at the front, bearing the Governor's exclusive flag—the Governor's official car.

Several uniformed attendants and security personnel stood beside the car, their expressions solemn.

A moment later, surrounded by several attendants, Sir Merrih Mahon, the Governor of Hong Kong, entered the hotel lobby.

The Scottish governor was nearly sixty years old, tall, with his gray hair neatly combed. He wore a dark gray suit and a blue and white striped tie, a typical British style.

He was accompanied by several high-ranking officials from the Governor's Office, including Chief Secretary Keith, Financial Secretary Robert Ho, Secretary for Justice Robert Ho, and Police Commissioner John Han, all of whom were key figures in Hong Kong's political circles.

"Governor, welcome." Lin Haoran stepped forward, greeting him in fluent English while bowing slightly.

“Mr. Lin, congratulations.” Mai Lihao smiled and extended his hand to shake hands with Lin Haoran. “It is my honor to witness the birth of the world’s first rich list.”

The handshake between the two was captured by accompanying official photographers and media reporters, with flashes going off one after another.

At this moment, Hong Kong's richest man and the outgoing governor faced each other as equals, with no distinction of rank, only mutual respect. "Thank you, Governor, for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend. Your presence makes this press conference even more meaningful. Please allow me to show you the way," Lin Haoran responded politely.

Lin Haoran turned to the side and gestured an invitation, then accompanied Mai Lihao and his group toward the banquet hall.

Cui Zilong, Ma Shimin, and others followed behind, maintaining a proper distance.

“I’ve read Mr. Lin’s speech in the United States carefully. It was very insightful, but also very bold. You know, people in London are also paying close attention to your views.” As they walked, Malihao suddenly brought up this topic.

Lin Haoran responded calmly: "These are just my personal opinions based on data analysis. If there are any immature points, please feel free to point them out. I am more concerned about the healthy development of Hong Kong's economy, which is why I am standing here today."

Mai Lihao nodded approvingly: "A very pragmatic view. Hong Kong needs more visionary entrepreneurs like you. I've heard that your business empire has expanded to Japan, Europe, and the United States?"

“Globalization is an irreversible trend, and Hong Kong companies should bravely go global. However, our roots will always be in Hong Kong. This list is a window to showcase Hong Kong’s business strength to the world. No matter where we invest in the world, it will ultimately benefit Hong Kong,” Lin Haoran replied with a smile.

During the conversation, the group had already arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall.

As everyone stepped into the banquet hall, the scene unfolded before their eyes: a grand gathering of nearly a thousand people, dazzling crystal chandeliers, and celebrities from all walks of life gathered together.

Upon the governor's entrance, the previously noisy banquet hall fell silent. All eyes were focused on the entrance.

Lin Haoran accompanied Sir Michael Merrih and his entourage into the venue. The emcee immediately announced through the microphone: "Distinguished guests, let us warmly welcome Sir Michael Merrih, Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Keith, Chief Secretary for Administration, Sir Robert Ho, Financial Secretary, Sir John Leigh, Secretary for Justice, and Sir John H. H., Commissioner of Police!"

The entire audience rose to their feet and applauded thunderously.

Mai Lihao nodded to those around him and, led by Lin Haoran, walked to the reserved seats in the front row of the VIP section.

That seat was right next to Lin Haoran's, adjacent to the ship king.

After arranging for the governor and his entourage to be seated, Lin Haoran walked to his own seat.

As Lin Haoran walked toward his seat, his gaze inadvertently swept across the venue.

In the front row of VIP seats, Guo Henan, the richest man in Southeast Asia, was looking at him with a smile and nodding slightly.

Bao Yugang was talking quietly to the governor, and the two were clearly having a pleasant conversation.

At 2:50 p.m., the banquet hall lights began to rhythmically change between bright and dim, signaling that the press conference was about to begin.

The emcee went on stage to make final equipment adjustments, while staff moved between the aisles to ensure that every detail was impeccable.

Lin Haoran's gaze calmly swept across the entire room.

He saw Bao Yugang talking in hushed tones with John Swire, the head of the Swire family.
Zheng Yutong and Li Zhaoji sat next to each other, both with solemn expressions.
Liu Luanxiong was chatting with Lin Haoran's older brother, Lin Haoning, and looked relaxed.
Li Jiacheng sat alone in the first row, on the side, expressionless, seemingly lost in thought.

Ma Shimin, Wei Li, and others retreated to the work area. As core executives under Lin Haoran, they needed to coordinate various matters in the background.

Burton sat near the media area, his British subordinate whispering with a Wall Street Journal reporter, apparently preparing for a later report.

Now that the Galaxy Strategic Committee has been established, although everyone is usually responsible for the affairs of their respective groups, they will gather to discuss and help each other when major issues arise.

Today's press conference is one of the major events that the Galaxy Strategic Committee needs to pay close attention to.

In the back media area, reporters stood ready.

James Carter, the Wall Street Journal's Hong Kong correspondent, is setting up his recording equipment; the BBC cameras have already started recording.

Oriental Media Group's own team of reporters was also on site. They were not only responsible for reporting, but also for recording all the details of the scene to prepare for subsequent in-depth reports.

Other media outlets include TVB, RTV, Hong Kong Radio, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, Hong Kong Securities Daily, Ming Pao, Hong Kong Economic Journal, Sing Tao Daily, and others.

There were nearly three or four hundred people in the media area.

This is because of limited space; media outlets were screened, and some smaller media outlets were not eligible to enter.

Otherwise, this banquet hall, which can accommodate a thousand people, probably wouldn't even have room to stand.

After Lin Haoran sat down, Guo Xiaohan gently squeezed his hand and whispered, "There are more media than expected."

"It was all expected."

Lin Haoran glanced at the densely packed media area behind him and smiled, "This list is not just a ranking, but a landmark event. Everyone wants to record this moment."

At this point, it was 2:55.

The main lights in the banquet hall slowly went out, leaving only a few spotlights focused on the stage.

The projector shines its light onto the screen on the stage, and a pre-show video begins to play.

In preparation for the release of this rich list, Oriental Media Group specially commissioned a professional company to produce a three-minute short film in the form of a movie.

A magnificent symphony begins, and the scene starts with the sunrise over Victoria Harbour.

The camera slowly pans across fishing boats returning to port and the busy figures of dockworkers. Then the scene switches to the streets of Hong Kong in the 1950s, with trams shuttling back and forth, rickshaw drivers running, and street vendors hawking their wares.
Then came the 1960s, factories sprang up everywhere, and workers worked day and night to keep up with demand;

The stock market frenzy of the 1970s saw trading halls bustling with activity.
The final shot focuses on the skyscrapers of Central in the early 1980s, with the glass curtain walls reflecting golden light under the setting sun.

A line of large golden characters appears in the center of the screen: "The Trajectory of Wealth - Forty Years of Change in Hong Kong Commerce".

The moment the short film ended, the entire audience erupted in applause.

The spotlight focused on the center of the stage, and the emcee walked to the front.

He is Tang Ying-man, a top TVB host, who was dressed in a dark suit tonight and looked solemn.

As a mainstay host of TVB's "Enjoy Yourself Tonight," Tang Ying-man's hosting skills are considered top-notch in Hong Kong.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon!" His deep voice resonated throughout the banquet hall through the sound system. "Today, we gather here to witness a milestone moment in business history—the world's first truly meaningful rich list is about to be born in Hong Kong!"

Applause erupted again like a tidal wave.

"First of all, please allow me to introduce our special guests today." The emcee began to read out the names of the distinguished guests in the front row one by one.

Each time a name was called, a spotlight would shine on it, and the guest would stand up and greet the audience.

"Sir Merrih, Governor of Hong Kong!"

Mai Lihao stood up, smiled, and nodded to those around him.

"Sir Keith, Chief Secretary for Administration! Sir Robert Ho, Financial Secretary! Sir Robert Ho, Attorney General! Sir John H., Commissioner of Police!"

Senior Hong Kong government officials stood up one by one to signal.

"Mr. Guo Henan, a wealthy businessman from Southeast Asia, the Sugar King of Asia, and Chairman of the Kerry Group! Sir Derek Barber, Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank! Sir Swire, Chairman of Swire Group!"

When the name of "Mr. Lam Ho-yin, Chairman of Hongkong Land Group, Chairman of Hutchison Whampoa and Chairman of Wan Tsing Group" was read, the applause reached its first climax.

Lin Haoran calmly stood up, bowed slightly to the audience, and looked confident.

The emcee continued to introduce the other top ten richest people and important guests, and the whole process was solemn and smooth.

After finishing his introduction, he paused briefly to allow the atmosphere to settle.

"Today, the eyes of the world are focused here." The emcee's voice was full of charisma. "Through reports from dozens of well-known media outlets around the world, this press conference will be watched by countless people. This is not just a press conference, but a window for Hong Kong to showcase its business achievements to the world!"

Below the stage, flashes of light created a sea of ​​light, and the sound of camera shutters rose and fell in waves.

"Now, let's welcome Mr. Cui Zilong, the chief planner of this Rich List project and the general manager of Oriental Media Group!"

Amidst thunderous applause, Cui Zilong steadily walked onto the stage.

He took a deep breath and stood behind the podium.

Under the spotlight, this middle-aged man, who was once just a newspaper manager, now stands in the spotlight of history.

Cui Zilong began by saying, "Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of Oriental Media Group, to express my heartfelt thanks to all the guests present."

Special thanks to Governor MacLehose and all the officials of the Hong Kong Government for their presence; it is a great encouragement to our work.

He turned to the VIP area and bowed respectfully.

“More than a year ago, when Mr. Lin Haoran first proposed the idea of ​​compiling a rich list, many people in our company thought it was an impossible task. They believed that no rich person would be willing to disclose their wealth.”

Cui Zilong returned to the main point: "But today, we stand here and have proven with facts that Hong Kong can not only do it, but can do it the best in the world!"

“Our team consists of professionals from different fields, including accountants, lawyers, appraisers and financial journalists. We have established a five-fold data verification mechanism to ensure that every figure is supported by at least two independent sources.”

For assets of non-listed companies, we engaged three international valuation firms—Jones Lang LaSalle, Cushman & Wakefield, and Cushman & Wakefield—to conduct independent valuations, and took the median value as the final result.

We even interviewed most of Hong Kong's billionaires, and we were fortunate that almost all of them cooperated fully with our wealth survey, giving us an extremely authentic and authoritative data foundation.

Here, I sincerely thank all the billionaires in Hong Kong for helping us compile this relatively reliable list of richest people.

This rigorous methodology earned the silent approval of many business people in the audience.

In Hong Kong, a place that values ​​professionalism, such a procedure is indeed impeccable. (End of Chapter)