Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 196 HSBC's Will (Seeking monthly votes, recommendations, and subscriptions!)

In the HSBC chairman's office, Sir Michael Sandberg looked at the letter of inquiry jointly sent by Swire Properties and Jardine Matheson on the table, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He casually tossed the letter aside, picked up the whiskey on the table, and took a sip.

Swire and Jardine Matheson?

Joint questioning?
Who do they think they are?

In Sir Michael Sandberg's view, HSBC was the true master of Hong Kong's financial order and the gatekeeper of British capital interests.

Why should one explain in detail to these so-called "established British companies" when disposing of their own assets?
They are simply trying to assert their presence by relying on their shared British background and their pitiful shareholding.

However, no matter how disdainful one may feel in their heart, they still have to put on a show.

Directly confronting the issue is not the best approach, as it can easily escalate the conflict and give the other side a handle to use against you.

Thinking of this, he pressed the intercom button: "Connect me to Sir Swire's office and Sir Jardine Newbridge's office."

The call was answered quickly.

Shen Bi immediately adopted a relaxed and even slightly smiling tone.

"Sir Shi Yadi?"

I am Shen Bi.

I received your letter. Haha, it was a complete misunderstanding, utter nonsense.

"As the major shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa, HSBC naturally prioritizes the interests of the company and all shareholders in all its decisions. There are currently no definite plans for a sale, let alone any secret contact with specific buyers."

Those market rumors are just rumors; don't take them seriously.

"Of course, if there are any major changes, we will definitely follow the procedures and have them fully discussed by the board of directors."

Rest assured, HSBC will never harm the interests of its British partners.

Another phone call to Newbikin was similar, with a sincere and impeccable tone.

Although Shi Yadi and Niu Bijian on the other end of the phone were skeptical of Shen Bi's words, Shen Bi's personal call to reassure them was quite appropriate.

They lacked concrete evidence and could not launch an attack on Shen Bi based solely on an anonymous letter.

Their purpose was simply to express concern, exert pressure, and remind Sir Michael Sandberg not to forget the "rules of the British business circle," not to immediately break ties with HSBC.

After receiving Shen Bi's promise to "follow the procedures," the two temporarily put aside their doubts and chose to wait and see.

After reassuring his British allies, Sir Michael Sandberg's face darkened.

He immediately had his secretary connect him with Li Ka-shing of Cheung Kong Holdings.

“Mr. Li, things have changed somewhat.” Sir Michael Sandberg’s voice was devoid of emotion. “There have been some rumors in the market about HSBC possibly selling its stake in Hutchison Whampoa. Swire and Jardine Matheson have already heard about it and just sent formal letters to inquire about it.”

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Li Jiacheng's voice, which he tried to keep calm but couldn't hide his excitement: "Sir Sir Benjamin Shen, how could the news have leaked?"
Our previous contacts were kept very confidential.

“There are no secrets that stay hidden forever,” Shen Bi interrupted him. “Now is not the time to pursue this.”

The immediate priority is to stabilize the situation. I have temporarily reassured Shi Yadi and Newbijian, but they will not be completely at ease.

You also need to be prepared; avoid making any major moves in the near future to prevent further market volatility.

“I understand, Sir.” Li Jiacheng’s voice carried a hint of anxiety. “I will handle this carefully. What about the terms we agreed on before?”

“Continue,” Shen Bi said firmly, but added, “but we need to be more discreet, and we may need to make some adjustments to the plan to deal with the current situation.”

"I'll let you know the details later." After ending the brief call with Shen Bi, Li Jiacheng's hand holding the receiver trembled slightly, and his face turned ashen.

Suddenly, he grabbed the receiver and slammed it hard onto the telephone!
With a loud bang, the telephone receiver shattered.

Hearing the noise, Hong Xiaolian, the secretary at the door, pushed open the door in a panic and poked her head out: "Mr. Li?"

With his back to her, Li Ka-shing waved his hand and said in a low voice, "It's nothing. Go out. Don't let anyone bother me."

He paced restlessly around the office a few times, feeling a tightness in his chest.

The meticulously planned scheme, the immense effort invested in building a relationship with Shen Bi, and the step-by-step advancement of negotiations were all on the verge of success when, at the crucial moment, someone stabbed him in the back!
He became increasingly agitated and lost all interest in staying in the office. He grabbed his coat and headed out.

"Get the car ready, let's go home."

As the car pulled into the villa at 79 Deep Water Bay Road, Li Ka-shing walked into the living room with a still gloomy expression.

Zhuang Yueming was arranging flowers when she saw him return at this time with a grim expression, so she immediately put down her scissors and came to greet him.

"Brother Cheng, what happened? You look so pale?" she asked with concern.

Li Ka-shing loosened his tie, sat heavily on the sofa, rubbed his temples, and recounted the contents of the call from Sir Run Run Shaw.

As he spoke, he grew increasingly angry: "I don't know who it was!"
Using such despicable tactics as anonymous letters!
Now that Swire and Jardine Matheson know, Hutchison Whampoa's Wylie must have heard about it too!

"Shumbi is under a lot of pressure, and the negotiations might take an unexpected turn!"

Zhuang Yueming was startled and sat down beside him: "How could this happen? Do you know who did it?"

"The letter isn't in HSBC's hands, and we can't trace its origin at all," Li Ka-shing said irritably. "The key question now is, what's our next step? Should we still acquire it from Hutchison Whampoa?"

"Accept! Of course we must accept!" Zhuang Yueming said without hesitation and with unusual determination. "This is a crucial step for Cheung Kong to become a top conglomerate, and we absolutely cannot give up."

Now is not the time to back down. The more trouble there is, the more decisive we must be in dealing with it. She calmly analyzed, "The anonymous letter is just speculation; there is no concrete evidence."

The key is HSBC's attitude, the key is Sir Michael Sandberg's attitude. As long as HSBC insists on selling, no matter how much Swire and Jardine Matheson cause trouble, they can't turn the tide. HSBC is the true helmsman.

Li Ka-shing calmed down a bit after listening to his wife's words: "You're right. The key is Sir Michael Sandberg."

“You should contact Sir Michael Sandberg immediately,” Zhuang Yueming suggested. “Don’t wait for him to notify you, but take the initiative to express your opinion.”

First, firmly express Cheung Kong's determination and sincerity in the acquisition, letting him know that we will not back down because of this turmoil. Second, inquire whether he needs our cooperation in any way, or whether the plan needs to be adjusted to address the current situation, demonstrating our sincerity and flexibility in cooperating.

Finally, and most importantly, we fully understand the pressure HSBC is currently facing, and CK Asset is willing to fully cooperate with HSBC's strategy, whether it is adjusting the trading structure, slowing down the pace, or any other means, and will follow Sir Michael Sandberg's arrangements.

In short, let him know that you are the most reliable and obedient collaborator, and that choosing you will not be a mistake.

Li Jiacheng's eyes lit up immediately after hearing this.

Zhuang Yueming's analysis always hits the nail on the head.

That's right, the most crucial thing now is to cling tightly to Shen Bi's coattails, make him believe that he can handle the trouble and is the most suitable buyer.

“Alright! I’ll call Sir Michael Sandberg again right away!” Li Jiacheng rallied his spirits and immediately got up and headed to the study.

He picked up the phone at home and dialed Sim Bi's private line directly.

“Sir, it’s me, Jiacheng.” His tone had returned to its usual composure. “I’ve thought about the news from earlier carefully.”

Cheung Kong Holdings is confident in Hutchison Whampoa's future, and its determination to acquire the company will not be shaken by the tricks of some unscrupulous individuals.

No matter what difficulties we encounter, we hope to move forward side by side with HSBC.

I'm not sure if there's anything we can do to help with the current situation.
Or, regarding the plan, does the Jazz think some adjustments are needed to reduce unnecessary trouble?

We will follow your instructions completely.

Upon hearing Li Ka-shing's statement, Sir Michael Sandberg on the other end of the phone showed a satisfied expression.

He enjoys dealing with smart people who are "sensible" and know how to adapt to the times.

“Mr. Li, it’s good that you have this determination.” Shen Bi’s voice came through the phone, carrying a sense of composure that everything was under control. “There’s no need to pay attention to the rumors outside.”

HSBC's decision cannot be changed by a few anonymous letters.

The plan could perhaps be tweaked with some technical adjustments to make it more secure.

We'll discuss the specifics when we meet in a couple of days.

Wait for my news.

After hanging up the phone, Li Ka-shing let out a long sigh of relief.

Shen Bi's attitude remained unchanged, which was the biggest reassurance.

"How is it?" Zhuang Yueming asked.

“Shumbi told us not to worry, the plan might be slightly adjusted, and we should wait for his news,” Li Ka-shing said, his eyes sharpening again. “It seems this battle is far from over.”

The Chairman's Office of HSBC.

Shen Bi put down the phone and called his assistant in the outer room, instructing him: "Have the heads of the legal department and the finance department come over."

Additionally, notify the public relations department to prepare a brief statement in a neutral tone, emphasizing that HSBC always adheres to market rules and shareholder interests, and that any major decisions will be carefully evaluated; there is currently no concrete plan. Send it to several newspapers with which we have good relations by tomorrow morning.

Since Swire and Jardine Matheson had both received anonymous letters, Sir Michael Sandberg was worried that newspapers and the media might also receive them.

Rather than waiting until tomorrow when all the media in Hong Kong rush to report on HSBC's sale of its Hutchison Whampoa shares, it's better to take the initiative and seize the upper hand in public opinion first.

"Yes, Sir."

After his assistant left, Sir Michael Sandberg walked to the window, looked down at Victoria Harbour, and pondered for a long time.

The anonymous letter incident did disrupt his rhythm, but it also gave him a clearer view of the reactions from all sides.

The opposition from Swire and Jardine Matheson was within his expectations, but its intensity seemed to be more restrained than he had imagined.

It seems that the British-owned camp is not a monolithic entity, with each group having its own agenda.

As for who wrote the anonymous letter?
He doesn't care at all.

Faced with absolute power, these tricks can at most create a little noise.

There's nothing HSBC can't do on Hong Kong Island.

The sale plan, which could have been done more leisurely, now needs to be slowed down and perhaps given a more secure veneer.

For example, could the one-time transfer be transformed into a phased, conditional transaction? Or could a seemingly interim shareholder be introduced?

Several preliminary plans flashed through his mind. No matter how he proceeded, the final result would not change.

What belongs to someone will belong to them.

He wanted everyone to understand that on Hong Kong Island, HSBC's will would ultimately be realized in some way.

(End of this chapter)