Rebirth of the Hong Kong Millennium Conglomerate

On the morning of November 4th, Zhang Zeyang got up early, washed up, and habitually read the day's "Qian Gu Daily".

The moment his gaze swept across the page, his eyes were firmly captured by the bold "GG" that occupied the entire front page.

The words "Dairy Company" and "Rothschild & Sons" were listed side by side. There was no hostile intent between the lines, but rather a sincere admonition—requesting all shareholders to postpone any decisions and await the formal announcement to be issued by the board of directors.

These few words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, are about to create ripples in Hong Kong's capital market.

This joint statement was not only published in the mainstream newspaper, The Chancery.

Almost simultaneously, several influential newspapers in Hong Kong, whether professional publications focusing on financial news or general newspapers covering everyday life, prominently featured this news in front of their readers.

In no time, newsboys on the streets waved newspapers and shouted their wares, merchants and celebrities in teahouses read them carefully while enjoying their morning tea, and even ordinary people had a hot topic of conversation at their breakfast tables.

The silent smoke of battle quietly spread over Hong Kong. Anyone with even a slight understanding of the capital market could see that a direct confrontation without gunpowder was already imminent and ready to be launched.

This means that the milk company camp, led by Zhou Xinian, is finally going to break off relations and engage in a head-to-head confrontation with Henry Joseph, the head of Jardine Matheson.

On the day the news broke, the Hong Kong stock market was hit like a bombshell, causing quite a stir.

Inside the trading hall, the numbers on the electronic screens kept changing. The share prices of Dairy Farm and Hongkong Land surged as if injected with a stimulant, making the traders' hearts race.

Driven by these two companies, the turnover of the entire Hong Kong stock market soared, eventually breaking through the HK$400 million mark and setting a new recent high.

The clamor of trading rose and fell, a cacophony of keyboard clicks, telephone rings, and the chatter of the crowd.

However, this uproar didn't last long. The market's enthusiasm seemed to have been paused, and it temporarily quieted down.

For the next week or so, both Dairy Farm and Hongkong Land seemed to tacitly remain silent, releasing no further major news.

The calmer it was, the more it felt like a storm was brewing, and everyone held their breath, waiting for both sides to make another move.

This peace was finally shattered on November 8th.

The Milk Company dropped another bombshell, another full-page "GG" (Gap) story that dominated prominent positions in major newspapers.

Unlike their previous tactful persuasion, this time their attitude became extremely firm, and their words conveyed a sense of determination.

They made their position clear and firm, rejecting the acquisition offer from Hongkong Land and urging all shareholders not to be blinded by immediate interests and easily accept the seemingly tempting terms offered by the other party.

This challenge sent shockwaves through Hong Kong's capital markets. Faced with Dairy Farm's strong response, the company reacted with lightning speed, accepting the challenge almost immediately without hesitation.

At 11:00 a.m. on the same day, the sun shone brightly on the boardroom on the top floor of the magnificent office building of the Landmark Company.

Jardine Fleming and Wardore, two long-established financial institutions, joined forces to hold a grand press conference here.

Inside the venue, flashbulbs went off one after another as reporters aimed their cameras and microphones at the podium, afraid of missing a single detail.

At the meeting, Hongkong Land's representatives not only officially announced the detailed rules of the acquisition, but also issued an ultimatum to all Dairy Farm shareholders: anyone interested in accepting the acquisition must personally go to the Central Registry on Pedder Street to complete the transfer procedures before November 29th; those who fail to do so will not be accepted.

Suddenly, the situation changed dramatically.

The dairy company was on high alert, determined not to yield an inch of ground; while Hongkong Land was pressing forward relentlessly, each move aimed directly at the heart of the matter.

The game between the two sides has entered a heated phase, leaving no room for maneuver.

The streets and alleys of Hong Kong were in complete uproar. All sorts of rumors spread like wildfire, with countless versions emerging.

Some say the Dairy Farm has found a new backer, while others say Hongkong Land already has enough shares to secure victory.

The media, sensing the opportunity, mobilized, with astute reporters shuttling between office buildings, teahouses, and taverns, digging up all sorts of inside information.

The newspaper's financial pages were filled with a barrage of reports, and the sensational news, some true and some false, became the talk of the town. Even old ladies who didn't usually care about the stock market would get together and chat about the battle between milk and land.

The capital market was ignited to an unprecedented level of fervor.

Hongkong Land's share price soared like a rocket, while Dairy Farm's share price followed suit, skyrocketing with astonishing gains.

The entire Hong Kong was engulfed in a frenzy of stock speculation. From wealthy business tycoons to housewives with meager savings, and even women who secretly saved money by living frugally, everyone rushed into the stock market with cash in hand.

Every day, long queues form outside the stock exchange, with everyone's faces beaming with excitement, as if buying shares in these two companies would make them rich overnight.

Amid this fervent atmosphere, the Hang Seng Index also surged forward, breaking through the 700-point mark in one fell swoop.

This number acted like a shot in the arm, plunging Hong Kong's stock market investors into even greater frenzy.

After the market opened that day, the trading halls of Hong Kong's four major stock exchanges were bustling with activity, as lively as a vegetable market.

All the stocks, led by Dairy Farm and Hongkong Land, started a surge as soon as the market opened, with red lines appearing one after another on the electronic screen, dazzling the eyes.

Retail shareholders of dairy companies, in particular, have become highly sought after, with almost no one willing to sell.

Those retail investors holding onto their stocks stared wide-eyed at the numbers on the screen, eagerly anticipating a new high in stock prices and the prospect of making a fortune.

Time slipped by quietly, and the setting sun painted half the sky red.

As night falls, the neon lights of Hong Kong gradually illuminate, their dazzling glow outlining the city's prosperity and bustle.

At this moment of great anticipation, the Milk Company held its first press conference in the large conference hall of the company headquarters.

This reception was destined to be the focus of everyone's attention. The venue was packed, with not only reporters from major media outlets but also many business people who were following the event.

All the top executives of the dairy company were present, making it a truly impressive lineup. Chairman Zhou Xinian, dressed in a sharp suit with his hair neatly combed, sat calmly in the main seat.

Sitting next to him was Executive Director and General Manager Ke Lin.

In addition, Kee Tak-Chun, director of Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited and chairman of Hutchison International Holdings Limited, John Madden, chairman of Wheelock & Co. Ltd., and Li Chu, chief director of Rothschild London Ltd., also attended as scheduled.

Such a lavish lineup demonstrates the importance the dairy company attaches to this reception and sends a strong signal to the outside world—they will never easily admit defeat.

As soon as Zhou Xinian and his entourage appeared, they were surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

The flashbulbs kept going off, and a barrage of questions came out like a machine gun.

Faced with a barrage of questions, Zhou Xinian maintained a calm smile throughout, remaining composed and unhurried. Once the room quieted down a bit, he slowly picked up the microphone and said, "I can tell you all clearly that I will never tolerate the success of Hongkong Land's acquisition plan, because this acquisition fundamentally harms the vital interests of all employees and shareholders of Dairy Farm."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Xinian's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice growing louder and more resolute as he declared, "For the sake of the company's two thousand employees, and all the shareholders, big and small, I will fight to the end and will absolutely not allow Jardine Matheson to acquire Dairy Farm!"

His voice, transmitted through the microphone, reached every corner of the venue and the ears of countless listeners watching on radios and televisions, conveying an undeniable determination.

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