Chapter 183 The Head of the Li Family
Inside Chen Shoulin's office, Lin Haoran dialed a number.
This number was the direct work phone of Li Mingze, the current chairman of China Gas Company.
Soon, the call was answered.
"Hello, this is Li Mingze. Who is this?" an elderly voice came from the other end.
"Hello, Mr. Li. I'm Lin Haoran, Chairman of Hong Kong Electric Group. I would like to visit you if you have time," Lin Haoran said directly.
"Mr. Lin? Of course. I'm currently at the China Gas Company office in Quarry Bay, North Point. You are welcome to come by anytime," Li Mingze quickly replied.
"Alright, Mr. Li. I'll be there in about half an hour. See you then," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
The title of Hong Kong Electric Group's chairman indeed carried significant weight. No one dared look down on it. Essentially, whoever he wished to visit would not refuse.
After all, it was a giant corporation with a market value of over two billion Hong Kong dollars.
In comparison, China Gas Company's market value was just over five hundred million Hong Kong dollars.
Although both were public utilities in Hong Kong, the reason China Gas's market value was so much lower was mainly because, despite its long history, it held far less land than Hong Kong Electric Group, mostly small plots, and had fewer self-owned properties. In terms of fixed asset valuation, China Gas was much smaller.
Moreover, its annual profits were also considerably lower than those of Hong Kong Electric Group.
All these factors combined led to a four-to-five times difference in stock market value between the two companies.
"Chairman Chen, let's head over together," Lin Haoran said after putting down the phone.
"Alright, boss, give me a few minutes. I'll first brief the operations director," Chen Shoulin nodded.
"Okay, I'll wait for you in the garage. You can ride with me. After the meeting, I'll return to Hong Kong Electric Group," Lin Haoran said before turning to leave the office.
Hong Kong Electric Group's headquarters was close to Lin Haoran's villa on Sassoon Road, so it would be convenient to return.
Lin Haoran, accompanied by two bodyguards, went to the underground parking lot and waited in the car.
In less than three minutes, Chen Shoulin hurried down.
Li Weidong specially opened the door for him, then returned to the passenger seat after closing it.
"Boss, this car is really luxurious. It's my first time riding in it. Definitely worth every penny," Chen Shoulin said as he curiously examined the custom Rolls-Royce.
Although Chen Shoulin had served as chairman of Hong Kong Electric Group, he was ultimately just a professional manager.
Over the years, he had earned quite a lot—basic salary plus senior management bonuses—becoming one of Hong Kong's highest-paid executives.
However, even with his achievements, his personal assets had not yet reached ten million Hong Kong dollars. He would not easily buy even a regular Rolls-Royce, let alone a custom limited edition costing several million.
"Actually, it's nothing much. To me, a car is just a means of transportation. As long as it's comfortable and safe, that's enough," Lin Haoran said with a smile.
The car quickly departed from Kennedy Road, heading toward Quarry Bay in North Point, about ten kilometers away.
Even during rush hour, the road was clear.
After a little over twenty minutes, the Rolls-Royce slowly parked in front of China Gas Company's headquarters.
China Gas Company, founded in 1862, was the oldest public utility organization in Hong Kong, even predating Hong Kong Electric Group.
Its core businesses included producing, distributing, and marketing gas, selling gas appliances, and providing full after-sales services.
Although its business structure was simple, as a monopoly in Hong Kong supplying gas to millions, its revenues and profits were extremely stable and reliable, making it one of Hong Kong's few high-quality enterprises.
After entering the building and notifying the reception, the two were soon led by a staff member to an office door with a golden plaque reading "Chairman's Office."
The staff member knocked on the door, and a voice from inside said, "Please come in."
"Chairman, the two guests have arrived."
Lin Haoran and Chen Shoulin entered. An elderly man had already stood up from his seat and stepped out from behind his desk to greet them.
This was none other than the famous head of the Li family, Li Mingze, now seventy-five years old, wearing black-framed glasses.
The Li family's rise was not particularly glamorous; they had originally made their fortune through government tobacco trading, which helped them accumulate their first pot of gold.
Afterwards, Li Mingze's father inherited the business and founded Lixin Industrial Co., investing in real estate while continuing the tobacco trade.
However, after Li Mingze inherited the family business, the "Lixin Family" completely withdrew from all tobacco-related businesses, focusing entirely on legitimate industries.
As the heir of the Li family, Li Mingze developed Lixin Industrial Co. into a much larger enterprise, expanding to more than twenty large-scale businesses, turning the family firm into a diversified group.
In recent years, under Li Mingze's leadership, the family expanded into real estate, trade, textiles, tourism, hotels, shipping, banking, trust services, gas, petroleum, telecommunications, and even infrastructure projects like the Hong Kong-Kowloon Underwater Tunnel. His company Hing Wah Semiconductor Industrial Co. opened new paths for integrated circuit production in Hong Kong.
Ignoring the less glamorous beginnings of the family, Lin Haoran found Li Mingze to be a highly respectable elder in the business world.
"Mr. Lin, Mr. Chen, what an honor! Please, have a seat!" Li Mingze said cheerfully, pointing to the sofa near the tea table.
"Mr. Li, sorry to disturb you," Lin Haoran replied with a smile.
After the three of them sat down, Li Mingze curiously sized up the young businessman before him.
Though Lin Haoran was a newcomer to the business world, no one, not even Li Mingze, dared to underestimate him.
After all, he had, at just over twenty years old, successively acquired two British enterprises, each larger than the last. In just two years, he had achieved what most could not accomplish in a lifetime. His emergence was a significant boost to Chinese business interests in Hong Kong.
Not to mention that merely holding the position of Chairman of Cheung Chau Cement Company already gave him notable status among Chinese business circles, even without factoring in his leadership at Hong Kong Electric Group.
"Mr. Lin, you are truly outstanding. The younger generation surpasses the old," Li Mingze said with some emotion.
After inheriting the Li family business, Li Mingze had quickly developed it into one of the top four family groups in Hong Kong, becoming a major pillar among Chinese enterprises.
But compared to Lin Haoran, he felt his lifetime achievements were no longer something to be overly proud of.
Two major British companies acquired in just two years—this was a tremendous source of pride for all Chinese business groups.
"You flatter me, Mr. Li. I was just lucky. Compared to you, I'm merely a newcomer in Hong Kong's business world," Lin Haoran said modestly.
"Turning Hong Kong Electric Group from a British company into a Chinese enterprise was a sensational event among our Chinese business community. The British have always dominated Hong Kong's business world. We Chinese businesspeople have long aspired to surpass them and truly take charge of Hong Kong's economy. Seeing more and more Chinese entrepreneurs rising brings me great comfort. It's just a pity that I'm getting old and don't have much time left. Otherwise, I would have loved to fight alongside young talents like you to push the Chinese business advantage even further," Li Mingze said, clearly moved. By the end, he even sighed.
The "Chinese Chamber of Commerce" that Li Mingze referred to was the Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, established in 1900, with over eighty years of history. Most renowned Chinese entrepreneurs in Hong Kong were members, including figures like Li Jiacheng, Bao Yugang, and Cheng Yutong, as well as Lin Haoran's own father, Lin Wanan.
However, Lin Wanan was just an ordinary member, while Li Mingze served as a vice president of the chamber.
Despite its name, "China Gas Company," it had originally been a pure British enterprise and was even once under Wheelock's control. It wasn't until Li Mingze and a few Chinese businessmen jointly acquired it that it became a Chinese company.
In Hong Kong, since the Chinese population formed the majority, some foreign-funded enterprises had adopted names with "China" in them to curry favor, such as China Gas Company and China Light and Power Company.
China Gas had now become a Chinese-owned enterprise, but the British capital groups still coveted it and had nearly reacquired it five years ago.
Meanwhile, China Light and Power Company, controlled by Jewish interests, remained firmly in foreign hands, nearly impossible to acquire.
"Mr. Li, speaking of it, five years ago, I represented British interests in discussions with you. In the blink of an eye, five years have passed. Looking back now, it's truly emotional," said Chen Shoulin.
"Yes, time flies. In a flash, I'm already half a step into the grave. The future will belong to young talents like Mr. Lin," Li Mingze laughed.
"Mr. Li, you look full of energy and don't seem like someone nearing the end. You look like someone destined for a long life," Lin Haoran said with a laugh.
In truth, Lin Haoran knew that the elderly man in front of him would not live much longer. In his memory, Li Mingze would pass away in 1983, at the age of seventy-eight, meaning he had only about three years left.
Of course, Lin Haoran would never say such a thing out loud.
"By the way, Mr. Lin, Mr. Chen, what brings you here today?" After a lengthy conversation, Li Mingze finally got to the main topic.
"Mr. Li, you should know that Hong Kong Electric Group is also one of China Gas Company's shareholders. I have an idea—I would like to acquire China Gas Company. I wonder if you are willing to sell your shares?" Lin Haoran said without further beating around the bush.
"Acquiring China Gas Company?" Li Mingze was taken by surprise.
He hadn't expected that this was what they had come for.
"Yes, Mr. Li. Just like Hong Kong Electric Group, China Gas Company is a public utility in Hong Kong. I very much favor companies like these. Though the future growth potential is limited, the income is stable. Whether it's Cheung Chau Cement, Hong Kong Electric, or China Gas, they all share that characteristic.
After acquiring Hong Kong Electric Group and discovering that it was also a shareholder in China Gas Company, I naturally developed the idea of acquiring China Gas Company. I wonder what your thoughts are, Mr. Li?" Lin Haoran explained.
After he finished speaking, Lin Haoran looked at Li Mingze with an expectant gaze.
Although it wasn't his real motivation, what he said was still quite reasonable.
Whether it was Hong Kong Electric Group, China Gas Company, or Cheung Chau Cement, they all had one thing in common: monopolistic positions with no competitors in their respective markets, ensuring extremely stable income.
(This chapter ends.)
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