Chapter 254 I Have My Own Plans!
Lin Haoran had been closely following the situation surrounding Lee Siu Ho. It wasn't until the third day, June 30, that TVB officially issued a public obituary.
The news shocked Hong Kong society. Everyone found it hard to believe such a sudden event.
After all, Lee Siu Ho was the chairman of TVB and a leading figure in Hong Kong's entertainment industry; his death felt particularly abrupt.
Not long after, Lin Haoran received a phone call from Lee Ming Chak.
"Mr. Lin, my younger brother Siu Ho has sadly passed away. We will hold his funeral at 3 PM on July 1st at Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery.
You are cordially invited to attend," Lee Ming Chak said in a heavy, sorrowful voice.
Lee Siu Ho's death was undoubtedly a huge blow to the Lee family.
"Mr. Lee, my deepest condolences. I will definitely attend," Lin Haoran solemnly promised.
Time flew by, and soon it was 2 PM on July 1st.
Dressed in a black suit, Lin Haoran made his way to Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery.
Upon arrival, he saw that many of Hong Kong's elite had come.
Chinese tycoons like Run Run Shaw, Li Ka Shing, and Bao Yugang were all present.
Many prominent figures from British business circles also attended, though notable absentees included Simon Keswick, MacLehose, and Noel Croucher.
Like his brother Lee Ming Chak, Lee Siu Ho had significant prestige in Hong Kong's business world.
He had held numerous prestigious positions: chairman of TVB's board, chairman of United Soda Company, chairman of Meadow Limited, director of British-American Tobacco Hong Kong, director of Cathay Pacific Airways, and director of Shanghai Commercial Bank Hong Kong.
In business, Lee Siu Ho's achievements were no less than his brother's, if not greater.
"Mrs. Lee, my condolences," Lin Haoran said as he approached Lee Luk Yin Kwan, who was visibly heartbroken.
Even in his previous life, Lin Haoran had heard of Lee Luk Yin Kwan, a woman famous for her investment prowess and later known as the "First Lady of Hong Kong's Elite."
"Thank you, Mr. Lin, for taking the time to attend my husband's funeral," she responded sorrowfully.
During Lee Siu Ho's lifetime, his wife had mostly focused on supporting the family. His sudden death was a devastating blow to her.
Lin Haoran then offered brief condolences to other members of the Lee family.
On such an occasion, it wasn't appropriate for business tycoons to discuss matters, so apart from polite nods to people like Bao Yugang and Li Ka Shing, there was little conversation.
The funeral proceeded solemnly.
In the evening, Lin Haoran returned home.
For him, Lee Siu Ho's funeral marked the start of an important opportunity: the chance to discuss acquiring TVB shares from the Lee family.
He paid special attention to the developments at TVB.
Since Lee Siu Ho's death, TVB had been temporarily managed by its general manager.
Thus, no board meeting had yet been held, and Run Run Shaw had not yet formally taken over as TVB's chairman.
The next morning, Lin Haoran called Lee Ming Chak.
Although Lee Ming Chak was no longer chairman of China Gas, he still held numerous corporate roles, mainly operating out of the headquarters of Lee Hysan Estate Co., Ltd.
This company was the Lee family's primary business, the foundation of their rise to become one of Hong Kong's Four Great Families.
The call connected smoothly.
"Mr. Lin, what can I do for you?" Lee Ming Chak's voice was still hoarse with grief.
Lee Siu Ho had been a close brother and an essential member of the family.
Moreover, at 75 years old, Lee Ming Chak himself was keenly aware of his own limited time.
Lin Haoran knew from his previous life that Lee Ming Chak would pass away in July 1983—only three years from now.
Though immensely wealthy, he did not share the remarkable longevity of figures like Run Run Shaw or Li Ka Shing.
"I do have something I'd like to discuss," Lin Haoran replied.
"Come to my office at Lee Hysan Estate Co., Ltd. I'll wait for you," Lee Ming Chak said directly.
"Alright, I'm on my way."
Twenty minutes later, Lin Haoran arrived.
He found the elderly man looking visibly fatigued, clearly not yet recovered from the loss of his brother.
"Please, have a seat," Lee Ming Chak gestured to the sofa.
"Thank you," Lin Haoran responded politely and sat down.
"So, Mr. Lin, what brings you here?" Lee Ming Chak asked straightforwardly.
"I'll get straight to the point, Mr. Lee. I'm interested in purchasing the Lee family's shares in TVB and hope to gain your support," Lin Haoran said sincerely.
"You're interested in TVB?" Lee Ming Chak looked surprised.
It was true that TVB's ratings had fallen behind Rediffusion Television.
Its drama quality had declined significantly compared to Rediffusion.
In the Lee family's view, TVB had become a burden—something they had discussed internally.
No one wanted to take over its management.
Lee Siu Ho's son was still young, so passing it down wasn't an option.
TVB's future was likely to fall into either British-American consortium hands or Run Run Shaw's control.
However, the British-American investors had long expressed disinterest in managing TVB, which was why Lee Siu Ho had remained chairman for so long.
"I know, but TVB's low ratings stem only from the poor quality of its programming.
Improve that, and the ratings will recover," Lin Haoran said confidently.
"Improving drama quality is easier said than done," Lee Ming Chak said with a bitter smile.
Although TVB was not directly under him, four members of the Lee family were major shareholders.
As head of the Lee family, Lee Ming Chak knew all the details.
From his words, Lin Haoran sensed that Run Run Shaw had not yet approached the Lees about acquiring more shares.
This was good news—an excellent opportunity.
If Shaw had already made an offer, Lin Haoran's chances would have been slim.
"I have my own plans.
I just hope you will support me.
If the Lee family is willing to sell, I'm willing to establish a close partnership with the Lees.
Any future business collaborations would prioritize your family.
As for the price, as long as it's reasonable, I will accept it," Lin Haoran said seriously.
After forcing Jardines to bow, Lin Haoran's status had risen to the same level as Hong Kong's top tycoons.
Thus, his promise carried considerable weight.
Of course, to Lin Haoran, it was mostly empty promises—but offering goodwill cost him nothing.
"Mr. Lin, I'm not personally a TVB shareholder.
I can't decide for my family members.
But I can help you contact them and lobby on your behalf," Lee Ming Chak replied, clearly moved.
The Lee family had always thrived on strong relationships.
And aligning with Lin Haoran would only benefit them.
Though their wealth wasn't as outstanding as before, their extensive network allowed them to maintain their status as one of Hong Kong's Four Great Families.
Lin Haoran had already learned that the Lee family collectively owned 24% of TVB, making them the largest shareholder.
Run Run Shaw, by comparison, personally held about 21%.
Given that TVB was not publicly listed, it was hard to determine its valuation.
But as long as the price wasn't outrageous, Lin Haoran was willing to buy.
"Thank you, Mr. Lee. I look forward to hearing from you soon," Lin Haoran said earnestly.
Having acted before Run Run Shaw made his chances of success quite high.
"Alright, I'll call a family meeting today and raise the matter.
Once there's a decision, I'll inform you immediately," Lee Ming Chak promised.
"Then I won't disturb you further. I await your good news," Lin Haoran said, getting up to leave.
"Mr. Lin, take care," Lee Ming Chak said, personally seeing him off.
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