In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 823 Shocked the entire audience; this is simply a myth!

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted in the banquet hall.

Seeing this, Cui Zilong smiled slightly and continued, "In the end, we selected the two hundred most representative people from more than four hundred candidates for the title of wealthy man."

A pyramid-shaped chart was displayed on the projector screen behind him.

"This list covers all major industries in Hong Kong, such as real estate, finance, shipping, trade, manufacturing, and retail..."

He paused for a moment to allow the information to be fully digested.

"Before officially announcing the list, I must emphasize three points."

Cui Zilong raised a finger and continued solemnly:
First, wealth means responsibility;

Second, the ranking is only a fleeting moment;

Third, true success lies not in the size of the numbers, but in the value created.

The original intention of this list is to record this era and inspire future generations, rather than to create a competitive atmosphere.

Due to the limited number of entries, not all wealthy individuals could be included. Therefore, we ultimately decided to include 200. We also hope that Hong Kong entrepreneurs who did not make it into the top 200 will work harder. I look forward to seeing you on next year's rich list.

These words won a round of applause from the audience, and even Governor Merrih nodded repeatedly.

"Now, let's start from number two hundred and reveal the 1981 Hong Kong Rich List!"

Cui Zilong raised his voice, and the projection screen behind him, under the operator's control, transformed into a deep starry sky background, with each star seemingly representing one of the listed billionaires.

As Cui Zilong's voice faded, the golden number "200" slowly emerged from the nebula on the screen, then burst forth like fireworks, transforming into the detailed information of the first person to be listed.

To create this video, Cui Zilong hired Hong Kong's top special effects company.

Although Lin Haoran thought the special effects in this video were a bit outdated, they were actually quite good for the early 80s.

"Ranked 200th, Mr. Ronnie Chan, with an estimated wealth of HK$1.58 million, mainly from the garment industry and real estate investment."

Polite applause rang out in the hall.

The fact that all 200 of them have a combined wealth of HK$1.58 million is enough to show that there are more than 200 billionaires in Hong Kong.

The reason why Oriental Press Group only included the top 200 on this rich list, instead of including all Hong Kong billionaires, is to make the list more prestigious and the selection process more rigorous.

Lin Haoran sat in the first row, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips.

This not only raises the bar for inclusion but also saves face for those who didn't make the list, showing that it's not that they're not rich enough, but that the list has limited capacity.

Cui Zilong continued in a calm tone to announce the next rankings: "199th place, Mr. Lin Jianming, estimated wealth: HK$1.59 million, shipping business..."

"Ranked 198th, Mr. Fang Renjie, estimated wealth: HK$1.63 million, hardware manufacturing and import/export..."

As the rankings were revealed one by one, the wealth figures on the projector screen steadily climbed.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was like tea being gradually heated, initially just polite attention.

But as more and more names were read out, especially when many of them were the guests themselves or people they knew, the room began to ripple with whispers and more sincere applause.

Many people began to mentally calculate which range their names would likely appear in.

Lin Haoran observed quietly from below the stage.

He watched like a calm observer, enjoying the spectacle he had orchestrated.

He saw the gleam in the eyes of those whose names were called, the subconscious adjustment of posture by those not yet mentioned, and the fleeting, subtle expressions on the faces of some competitors when they heard each other's rankings.

This list is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, its ripples subtly altering the original perception of Hong Kong's business community's niche.

By the time the 150th person was announced, their estimated wealth had climbed to HK$280 million.

The screen displayed a collection of silhouettes of this group of wealthy individuals.

Don't underestimate the seemingly small sum of one or two hundred million. This is the early 1980s, and today's billionaires are far more powerful than the average billionaires of decades to come.

It can be said that if we only estimate the purchasing power based on the inflation rate, the average annual inflation rate over the past forty years from the early 1980s to the 2020s was about 3.71%. One hundred million Hong Kong dollars today will be more than four billion Hong Kong dollars in 40 years!
Therefore, it is clear that this list is actually quite prestigious.

Cui Zilong paused briefly before concluding, "At this point, the last fifty richest people have been revealed. Even those at the relatively bottom of the list have achieved a considerable level of wealth."

This not only confirms the success of those on the list, but also reflects the depth and richness of Hong Kong's overall commercial wealth.

A round of applause, filled with approval, erupted from the audience.

Many of the billionaires ranked in this range wore expressions of pride.

Being able to make it into the top 200, which has been rigorously selected, is itself a symbol of strength.

This is why they are willing to be open about their wealth.

The announcement process continues, with a stable pace.

The numbers began to rise rapidly, and the atmosphere at the scene became increasingly focused.

The 100th person's estimated wealth reached HK$380 million.

Ranked 80th, exceeding HK$650 million.

The threshold for the fiftieth place has been raised to HK$13.2 billion.

The 30th place saw its figure jump to HK$23.5 billion.

When Cui Zilong clearly read out, "Twenty-first place, with an estimated wealth of HK$35.7 billion," the entire audience fell almost silent.

By this time, the announcement had been going on for quite some time, but no one was distracted.

Everyone was drawn to this ladder of wealth, eagerly anticipating the unveiling of the list that truly represents the pinnacle of Hong Kong's business community.

“Next,” Cui Zilong’s voice rose slightly, with obvious solemnity, “we will announce the eleventh to twentieth place winners.”

These ten entrepreneurs, each with an estimated wealth exceeding HK$37 billion, are pillars of Hong Kong's business community and a backbone force supporting economic prosperity!

The image on the projection screen changed again, with brilliant golden light converging to form a more magnificent and solemn border, and the number "20" unfolding slowly and majestically.

Inside the banquet hall, the air seemed to tighten instantly.

Everyone subconsciously adjusted their breathing, their eyes fixed on the stage.

Cui Zilong cleared his throat and began to announce:
"Ranked 20th, Mr. Zhao Chongyan, with an estimated wealth of HK$37.2 billion, engaged in shipping and real estate businesses!"

"Nineteenth place, Mr. Hu Yingxiang, with an estimated wealth of HK$38.9 billion, from real estate and infrastructure businesses!"

"Number 18th: Mr. Chan Chung-hei, with an estimated net worth of HK$39.3 billion, Hang Lung Group!"

"Seventeenth place, Mr. Lui Che-ho, with an estimated wealth of HK$41.6 billion, K Wah Group!"

……

When the 11th person's wealth reached HK$50 billion, the audience was in an uproar.

This means that the threshold for the top ten has become astonishingly high, with the lowest exceeding HK$50 billion!
Cui Zilong paused at the opportune moment, took a sip of water, and allowed everyone's nerves to relax slightly. Then, in an unprecedentedly solemn tone, he announced:
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, let's move on to the most exciting part of the evening—revealing the ten richest people in Hong Kong in 1981!"

All eyes were fixed on it with intense intensity.

Even Governor Merrih's expression turned serious.

Although he had a deep understanding of which wealthy people were in Hong Kong, as the governor, he did not know exactly how much money they had.

The media area was filled with flashes of light.

On the backdrop, a dark gold background emerges, and a dazzling golden crown pattern rotates and unfolds into the Roman numeral "X".

"Tenth place," Cui Zilong drawled, "Mr. Liu Luanxiong, with an estimated wealth of HK$51 billion!"

The spotlight is on Liu Luanxiong.

He stood up briskly, his young face radiating confidence under the lights, and applause thundered.

Thirty years old, 5.1 billion, top ten!

Its legendary status is growing stronger.

"Ninth place: Li Mingze family, with an estimated wealth of HK$55 billion!"

"Eighth place, Mr. Li Jiacheng, with an estimated wealth of HK$69 billion!"

When Li Jiacheng was mentioned, a spotlight shone on him.

He maintained a smile on his face, but in reality, Li Jiacheng's heart was filled with complex emotions.

He was once incredibly successful, taking over Hutchison Whampoa.

If they hadn't deliberately offended Lin Haoran, Hutchison Whampoa wouldn't have been forcibly acquired by him.

If Hutchison Whampoa hadn't been forcibly acquired, it wouldn't be in eighth place now, but in the top three, or even possibly second!

Unfortunately, there aren't that many "what ifs" in the world.
Regret is useless now.

However, Li Jiacheng has now completely given up on provoking Lin Haoran.

Because he already knew that the gap between himself and Lin Haoran was widening.

The chasm was so vast that he completely lost the courage and the will to catch up.

Moreover, he and Lin Haoran are now partners, as Lin Haoran also owns shares in Cheung Kong Holdings and is the second largest shareholder!
"Seventh place, Mr. Li Zhaoji, with an estimated wealth of HK$73 billion!"

"Sixth place: The Kwok family, with an estimated wealth of HK$76 billion!"

"Fifth place: The Kadoorie family, with an estimated wealth of HK$94 billion!"

"Fourth place, Mr. Zheng Yutong, with an estimated wealth of HK$115 billion!"

Each one drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

After all, being able to enter the top ten already makes one a true business tycoon in Hong Kong.

A wealthy person of this status would be entitled to sit on equal footing even with the Governor-General's office.

Next up are the top three.

Cui Zilong took a deep breath, and the entire venue fell into complete silence.

Everyone already knew who the top three would be. After all, those were the only three who hadn't been called yet.

The top billionaires in the front row also involuntarily sat up straight.

Everyone knows that the real showdown is about to begin.

“Third place,” Cui Zilong’s voice was clear and steady, yet carried immense weight, “the Swire family, with an estimated wealth of HK$157 billion!”

Sir John Swire slowly rose, nodded slightly, maintaining the composure and dignity of an English aristocrat.

Swire Group's sheer size justifies this position.

“Second place,” Cui Zilong raised his voice, his gaze sweeping over the figure with a gentle smile, “the famous world shipping magnate, Mr. Bao Yugang, with an estimated wealth of HK$163 billion!”

World shipping magnate Paul Yugang stood up, greeted the audience with a humble smile and an elegant demeanor.

His gaze met Lin Haoran's, who was not far from him, for a fleeting moment, filled with admiration and a touch of complex emotion.

Before Lin Haoran rose to prominence, Bao Yugang was the undisputed richest man in Hong Kong.

He is not only famous in Hong Kong, but also has a high profile globally, and is an irreplaceable representative of Hong Kong's business community.

However, after Lin Haoran rose to prominence, Bao Yugang's position in Hong Kong's business world was gradually replaced.

Another reason is that the "abandon ship and land" policy severely damaged the Bao family, and they have been recovering for the past two or three years.

Although it has recovered considerably, the gap is still widening compared to Lin Haoran's rocket-like rise and terrifying accumulation of power.

Bao Yugang was quite open-minded about this. He believed that new talents would emerge in the business world, and he had always had a good relationship with Lin Haoran, whom he had always thought highly of.

Moreover, Lin Haoran reminded him, allowing him to realize he had cancer early on, which indirectly made Lin Haoran his savior.

Therefore, Bao Yugang was not jealous of Lin Haoran surpassing him.

Finally, Cui Zilong paused.

A full ten seconds.

For those ten seconds, you could hear a pin drop in the banquet hall; it was as if all breathing had stopped.

The camera was already focused on that undisputed focal point.

Everyone's heart pounded faster in the silence.

Everyone knows who is number one, but what they want to know even more is how much wealth Lin Haoran actually possesses.
"First place,"

Cui Zilong's voice finally rang out again, clearly transmitted to every corner through the speakers, each word seemingly etched into the air:
"Mr. Lin Haoran's estimated wealth is HK$678 billion!"

"boom!!!"

When this astronomical figure appeared on the giant screen along with Lin Haoran's name, after a brief silence, there was a thunderous applause and exclamations that nearly lifted the roof off!

678 billion!
This number itself is a dizzying miracle!

It's not just number one; it created a breathtaking gap, reaching almost four times the score of second-place Bao Yugang!
It's more than thirteen times that of Liu Luanxiong, who ranked tenth!
This enormous gap has completely transcended the scope of ordinary business competition; it's as if they exist in two completely different dimensions!
Amidst thunderous applause and countless fervent gazes that seemed to ignite him, Lin Haoran calmly rose to his feet.

The spotlight completely enveloped him, and his dark blue suit gleamed elegantly under the bright light.

His face showed no elation or smugness, only a calm confidence that seemed to indicate he had everything under control.

He bowed slightly to the audience, a small gesture, yet it exuded an air of profound authority and disdain for all living beings.

Cui Zilong waited for the initial shock to subside slightly before continuing to explain, his tone filled with undisguised amazement:
"Mr. Lin Haoran's wealth valuation is mainly based on the value of his controlling stakes in his core companies, including but not limited to Hongkong Land Group, HK Electric Group, Hutchison Whampoa, Hang Seng Group, and Wan Tsing Group, as well as the valuation of related industries. Three years ago, Mr. Lin's assets were only a few million Hong Kong dollars!"

"boom!!!"

These words caused an uproar at the scene once again!

In just three years, it went from millions to HK$678 billion?
What is this concept?
This can no longer be described as a "business miracle," it's simply a myth!

Countless gazes, like searchlights, focused on Lin Haoran, filled with disbelief, awe, curiosity, and even a trace of indescribable fear.

This rate of wealth growth has completely exceeded the comprehension of ordinary people.

In fact, this is not a secret in upper-class society.

After all, the story of Lin Haoran and Lin Haoning competing for Wan'an Group had already been thoroughly exposed by the bigwigs.

But few ordinary people know this.

Most people assumed that Lin Haoran had Lin Wan'an's full support in the early stages of his business.

However, at that time, Lin Haoran only owned a dilapidated cement factory and had very little cash at his disposal.

If he hadn't mortgaged the cement plant, while simultaneously using Lin Wan'an's name as collateral, and then obtained the loan through Wharf Holdings' shareholding increase to acquire his first pot of gold...

Through a series of ingenious maneuvers and meticulous planning, the foundation for today's vast empire was laid.

Many of the top tycoons and well-informed people present were already somewhat aware of these details, but the impact of Cui Zilong highlighting them in such a public and solemn setting with such shocking figures was still unparalleled.

However, those present were unaware that this HK$678 billion was only a portion of Lin Haoran's assets.

If all assets were accounted for and disclosed, it would definitely surprise the audience even more.

However, Lin Haoran has no intention of making it public.

If he hadn't already been recognized as Hong Kong's richest man, he would have preferred to remain a reclusive tycoon.

After all, he understood the principle of not flaunting wealth and that too much of anything is as bad as too little better than anyone else.

The figure of 678 billion yuan can solidify his undisputed status as the richest man and add unparalleled authority to the list, without being too shocking and attracting unnecessary excessive attention and potential risks.

As for the vast overseas assets that were not included in the calculation, let them remain hidden beneath the surface, serving as his confidence and trump card in dealing with future changes.

At this moment, the whole audience was in an uproar.

Everyone was stunned by this number.

Even foreign media outlets were stunned by this number.

HK$678 billion! Even if converted to US dollars, that's over US$10 billion!
Currently in the United States, there are only 10 companies with a market value exceeding 10 billion US dollars.

Each of these ten companies is a behemoth on a global scale.

In Hong Kong, not a single company has a market capitalization that ranks among the top ten in the US stock market.

Even at its peak, Huifeng Bank couldn't!

For example, AT&T, which ranks first, is also currently the world's most valuable company, with a market value of $479 billion.

The second-largest company is IBM, with a market capitalization of $337 billion.

ExxonMobil is third, with a market capitalization of $271 billion.

Currently, only these three companies have a market capitalization exceeding $200 billion.

The following companies, Schlumberger, Amoco, Chevron, General Electric, General Motors, Kodak, and Atlantic Tomfield, all had market capitalizations of just over ten billion US dollars.

In particular, the tenth-ranked Atlantic Tomita Corporation has a market value of only about $110 billion.

Lin Haoran's HK$678 billion, if calculated at the current exchange rate, is equivalent to more than US$113 billion!
What this signifies is self-evident.

This means that Lin Haoran's personal wealth is already enough to rank him among the top ten listed companies in the United States.

The top ten companies on the US stock market!
In the eyes of Americans, Hong Kong is nothing more than a tiny place.

In a tiny place, a billionaire was born whose wealth rivals that of the top ten companies in the United States by market capitalization.
This has completely overturned the understanding of these overseas media reporters.

Even though this Hong Kong's richest man recently made a very influential statement in the United States.

This is simply an incredible business success story!
Almost everyone in the room was so shocked by the conversion result that they were speechless.

Most of these worldly foreign journalists stared wide-eyed at the numbers on the projection screen, trying to confirm their authenticity.

They were completely stunned by the number.

HK$678 billion, US$113 billion!
This means that, in terms of personal wealth alone, Lin Haoran is already among the world's top billionaires, with a wealth comparable to that of a giant multinational corporation!
On this day in 1981, the significance of this number was revolutionary.

It proclaimed to the world that a business tycoon capable of influencing the global economic landscape had been born in this small port city in the Far East.

Cui Zilong clearly anticipated the impact this conversion would have.

He waited a moment, until the gasps from the audience subsided slightly, before continuing in an almost chanting tone:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the numbers of wealth may be cold, but what they represent is Mr. Lin Haoran's profound understanding of Hong Kong's economy, his forward-looking planning, and his extraordinary courage and execution."

From its initial foray into prominence with the Wharf Holdings deal, to its takeover of Hongkong Land, integration of Hong Kong Electric, and the massive acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa...

Every move they made accurately grasped the pulse of the times, leading the industry's transformation.

On the projection screen behind him, the logos and brief introductions of Lin Haoran's core industries appeared at just the right moment, each name carrying immense weight:

Hongkong Land Group, one of the largest landowners in Hong Kong;

Hong Kong Electric Group, the energy lifeline of Hong Kong Island;
Hutchison Whampoa, a comprehensive commercial giant;
Hengsheng Group, a dominant player in Hong Kong's financial industry;
Wanqing Group, a diversified giant in manufacturing, real estate, and other industries.
Hong Kong Telephone, China Bus, Oriental Press Group...

These companies, like stars surrounding the moon, together form the solid foundation of Lin Haoran's vast business empire.

"What is even more remarkable is that Mr. Lin Haoran's wealth is not merely a paper valuation or personal enjoyment. He actively promotes technological innovation and industrial upgrading of his companies, creating tens of thousands of jobs."
He invested heavily in urban infrastructure and public welfare. His charitable foundation, established not long ago, made huge donations in education, medical care, poverty alleviation and other fields, which is a model in Hong Kong and even the Chinese world.

This confirms what we emphasized at the beginning of our list: wealth means responsibility,” Cui Zilong continued.

These words shifted the atmosphere from mere awe at the wealth to a deeper level of reflection and admiration.

Applause rang out again, this time with less surprise and more heartfelt admiration and respect.

In the front row, Bao Yugang once again cast an approving glance at Lin Haoran and nodded slightly.

A complex emotion flashed in Sir Swire's eyes, an acknowledgment of true strength mixed with a sense of melancholy for the fading era of British capitalism.

Li Jiacheng lowered his head completely, and the last bit of resentment in his heart turned into deep powerlessness and fear.

Liu Luanxiong's eyes gleamed with a mixture of envy for Lin Haoran's achievements and excitement.

It turns out that wealth accumulation can be so rapid and so legendary!
(End of this chapter)