Chapter 249 We Now Hold Over 25% of Hongkong Land's Shares!
By now, many people in the media industry already knew that Jardines Matheson was behind the whole affair. Everyone assumed that Fortress Electrical Company was powerless to counter this move.
What they didn't expect was that Lin Haoran, who had remained silent during the crisis, had already gathered enough strength to resist Jardines!
"So, Mr. Lee, are you willing to let TVB broadcast this video?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile.
"Willing? Why not! It's hugely beneficial for TVB," Lee Siu Ho immediately agreed.
TVB didn't have to bow to Jardines Matheson's influence because it had the backing of several British and American financial groups.
"Since that's the case, I'll leave this videotape in your care. I hope that the Jade Channel can air it tonight at 7 p.m.," Lin Haoran said solemnly.
"Of course, no problem at all. Our family and Mr. Lin are friends—this small favor is the least I can do," Lee Siu Ho replied with a laugh.
It wasn't just about helping Lin Haoran—it was also a great chance to snatch ratings away from Rediffusion Television.
After chatting a little longer, Lin Haoran took his leave.
There was no point in forming deeper ties with Lee Siu Ho, who had only a few days left to live.
If not for the Fortress Electrical incident, Lin Haoran wouldn't have even bothered to approach him.
For the rest of the day, neither Hongkong Electric nor Lin Haoran made any public statements.
Even Jardines' taipan, Noel Croucher, believed Hongkong Electric had admitted defeat.
Time flew by, and soon it was 7 p.m.
This year, with Rediffusion Television's increasing investment in drama productions, its ratings had begun to surpass TVB's.
Yet TVB's ratings were still strong, lagging behind by only a small margin.
At that time, most Hong Kong families were watching TV—some tuned into Rediffusion, others into TVB.
"Breaking news! We now broadcast another video recorded by former Royal Hong Kong Police Technical Superintendent Tong Kit..." announced the Jade Channel's presenter, the well-known actress Angie Chiu, interrupting programming just like Rediffusion had done the night before.
Immediately, it captured public attention.
Many households that had been watching Rediffusion switched to the Jade Channel after neighbors' shouts alerted them.
When the video ended, people all over Hong Kong were discussing it—in homes, at convenience stores, everywhere.
At the entrance of a small store in Tsim Sha Tsui, the owner had moved the TV outside, attracting many citizens who didn't own televisions.
Watching the video, everyone started talking animatedly:
"Jardines Matheson is shameless!"
"I'm not surprised—it's always them behind shady things. How many dirty tricks have they pulled over the years?"
"These colonial firms must be boycotted!"
"Exactly! First manipulating the Hong Kong Times, now bribing police to frame Fortress Electrical—it's disgraceful!"
"I remember—earlier this year, Jardines tried to acquire China Gas Company but lost out to Mr. Lin Haoran. This must be revenge."
"That makes perfect sense!"
"I wronged Fortress Electrical. I wronged Hongkong Electric!"
"How dare Jardines manipulate us into becoming their weapons!"
In that instant, Jardines, which had always operated behind the scenes, was thrust onto center stage.
Everyone now understood why Fortress Electrical had been targeted repeatedly.
It was the work of the so-called "King of the Hongs"—Jardines Matheson.
No wonder.
The video shown by the Jade Channel had an enormous impact.
Nobody doubted anymore that Jardines was the puppet master, especially since Tong Kit had displayed the HK$1 million check, clearly stamped by Jardines' finance department.
By the next morning, all major Hong Kong newspapers were covering the story.
Many papers had already finalized their layouts by 7 p.m., and some printing presses had even started operations.
However, the Jade Channel's broadcast forced them to halt printing and revise their front pages, adding in the scandal about Jardines manipulating the media and framing Fortress Electrical.
Moreover, Oriental Daily also published two solid pieces of dirt on Jardines—both backed by indisputable evidence.
Previously, no one had dared report on these because Jardines was too powerful.
In Hong Kong, you could offend anyone except Jardines or Jardine Matheson Bank.
But now, Oriental Daily was breaking the taboo.
For the first time, the public was learning about Jardines' dark side—things previously hidden because everyone was too afraid to speak out.
Meanwhile, at Jardines' headquarters, Noel Croucher was like a furious lion, roaring over the phone.
Shattered objects littered the office floor, including a smashed vase.
On the other end of the line was the British woman who led his covert operations team.
"Tell me—why did that cop record a confession video in Manila?
Why was it sent back to Hong Kong so quickly?
And why, WHY, was that HK$1 million check stamped with Jardines' finance seal?" Croucher shouted, face flushed with rage.
"Mr. Taipan, we strictly followed your instructions.
What happened in Manila was beyond our control.
Also, I must inform you that Oriental Daily has been acquired by Mr. Lin Haoran.
You made a mistake thinking you could use the media to attack him.
Furthermore, Simon Keswick will hold you accountable at the shareholders' meeting," the woman replied coldly.
Her words left Croucher speechless.
Indeed, the team had only followed his orders.
Yet in just one day, Jardines Matheson had become the most hated company in Hong Kong.
Even so, Jardines wasn't without resources to fight back.
At the same time, Hongkong Electric held another press conference.
This time, Lin Haoran personally spoke.
"As a Hong Kong entrepreneur, I hope for a fair and just business environment.
Jardines Matheson's actions have greatly disappointed me.
I demand a satisfactory explanation and a public apology from Mr. Noel Croucher," Lin Haoran declared, openly challenging Jardines.
Jardines, however, did not respond.
Their guilt was evident.
Meanwhile, Croucher began using Jardines' influence to pressure Hong Kong's major media outlets.
Under their influence, most newspapers agreed not to cover the scandal any further.
All except Oriental Daily.
The next day, Oriental Daily exposed another dark scandal involving Jardines—an incident from December of the previous year.
Oriental Daily remained the best-selling newspaper in Hong Kong.
Even without other media joining in, its influence ensured the news stayed hot.
On the fourth day, Oriental Daily revealed yet another Jardines scandal.
On the fifth day...
Still, Jardines Matheson remained silent, refusing to apologize.
By June 17, at 9 a.m., under Lin Haoran's secret orchestration, a massive protest march erupted in Causeway Bay.
The protest targeted Jardines' unfair competition practices.
The marchers included undercover members of the 13K triad, employees from Hongkong Electric, and ordinary citizens who had suffered under Jardines' tactics.
Initially numbering in the thousands, the crowd quickly grew to tens of thousands by 9:30 a.m.
They marched to Jardines' headquarters, chanting loudly.
Even the police hesitated to intervene—these were ordinary citizens, not gangsters.
Traffic around Jardines' tower was completely paralyzed.
From his office window, Noel Croucher watched the swelling crowd below, feeling a rare pang of fear.
The situation had spun entirely out of his control.
It couldn't continue like this.
He rushed back to his desk and urgently dialed a number:
"Governor, this is Noel Croucher.
I have an urgent matter to discuss…
I need your help mediating with Mr. Lin Haoran…
Yes, I desperately need your assistance…
Alright, I await your good news."
...
Meanwhile, at Wanqing Building, Lin Haoran stood by the window, watching the vast protest from afar.
A satisfied smile crossed his face.
This time, he had gone all out—directly clashing with Jardines Matheson.
Good. Let the chaos grow.
If the government dared to openly side with Jardines and target him again, he would simply liquidate his assets and leave Hong Kong.
He would make the entire business community fear him.
"Boss, our shareholding in Hongkong Land has surpassed 25%!"
At that moment, Su Zhixue entered Lin Haoran's office to report.
Over the past few days, as Jardines and its subsidiaries' stock prices plummeted, they had seized the opportunity to acquire shares.
In just a few days, they had acquired more than they usually did in a month.
"And Jardines itself? How much do we have?" Lin Haoran asked, very satisfied.
"Our stake in Jardines Matheson has reached 14.8%.
According to our information, the Keswick family owns only about 10%–15%.
We now hold roughly the same amount as them," Su Zhixue reported.
"Good. Keep buying.
Also, closely monitor any movements from Jardines and Hongkong Land.
Report any news to me immediately," Lin Haoran instructed.
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