Chapter 623: 607 Million-Shareholding Plan at the Port; Reporter: Sorry

The next day,

news of Mr. Li being admitted to the hospital hit the headlines of several major newspapers.

"Mr. Li Urgently Sent to Hospital; Prelude to the Battle for the Li Family Fortune Begins!" — *Sing Tao Daily*

"The Start of an Elite Family Feud: Mr. Li Suspected to be in Critical Condition; Who Will Inherit the Multi-Billion Fortune?" — *Oriental Daily News*

"..."

Once the papers were out, they instantly dominated the hottest topics across the entire Hong Kong Island.

On every street corner, in companies, at home, in restaurants... everyone was discussing what exactly had happened to Mr. Li.

At the Stock Exchange,

at 9:00 sharp, the floor was buzzing with noise; traders were preparing for battle, and a large number of citizens had arrived as well...

"Did you see the news?"

"I did. Damn it, Mr. Li has kicked the bucket and ended up in the hospital; it looks like he's about to die..."

"How old is Mr. Li now?"

"I think he's 65..."

"He looks young, but don't forget he's suffered too many setbacks these past few years and has been to the hospital several times. He might not make it."

Soon,

the stock market opened...

And then, a chorus of wailing erupted in the trading hall of the Stock Exchange~~~

"It's falling! It's falling again! Cheung Kong Holdings opened three points lower!"

An old man cursed loudly,

"Mr. Li just went to the hospital, he's not dead yet! Does it have to fall like it's the end of the world?!"

The retail investor section was in even greater chaos.

An elderly woman clutched her stock slip and beat her chest: "My retirement money! They just said last month that Superman Li was in good health, and today he's in the hospital?!"

"Damn it! Falling again! What does Mr. Li going to the hospital have to do with the stocks?!" A middle-aged man gripped his trading slip, staring at the screen with eyes wide enough to split.

A young man in slippers next to him threw his shoes: "Damn! I was fully leveraged on Cheung Kong; I've been liquidated this morning!"

In a second-floor VIP box, several big investors roared: "Liquidate immediately! I don't care if the Li family lives or dies, save the principal first!"

A dull "thud" suddenly came from behind—someone had fainted.

Sanatorium Hospital, VIP ward.

Mr. Li lay in the hospital bed, his right eye bandaged, his left hand tightly clutching the latest issue of the *Oriental Daily News*.

"Crazy! I'm not dead!!"

Mr. Li slammed the newspaper onto the floor, his chest heaving violently.

Was this a curse on him?

Mr. Li had believed in feng shui his whole life and was most superstitious about things like this.

Mr. Li glanced at his secretary: "How is the stock market doing?"

The secretary hesitated for a moment and said: "Boss, the share prices of several companies... the highest has fallen by 8%..."

"What?!" Mr. Li felt a dark cloud hanging over his head.

JPMorgan withdrew its investment, the newspapers were bad-mouthing him, and now even the stocks were coming to kick him while he was down?!

He grabbed the water glass on the nightstand to throw it, but suddenly remembered the injury to his eye and forced himself to stop.

After taking a few deep breaths,

he said to his secretary with a calm expression: "Arrange the legal team. Sue those newspapers; sue them until they go bankrupt."

The secretary nodded: "Yes!"

Just when Mr. Li thought it was all over,

at noon,

ATV News provided a detailed report on Mr. Li's hospitalization.

What the *Oriental Daily News* knew, naturally could not be hidden from ATV.

Mr. Li had been meddling in the Five Star Group.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu naturally meddled in the Cheung Kong Group as well, so when Mr. Li was admitted to the hospital, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu received the news and had people sell it to the *Oriental Daily News* and other papers.

Why didn't the *Five Star Daily* report it? Because the *Five Star Daily* could not report such false information.

At noon, ATV reported in detail the cause and effect of Mr. Li's hospitalization.

"Mr. Li was preparing to transfer assets abroad and wanted to sell the port..."

"He negotiated with JPMorgan for over a month, but in the end, it was ruined by Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu..."

The audience across Hong Kong watching ATV News, upon seeing this,

had expressions like this:

Brother Zu!

How are you! Why is it always you!

How old are you! Why is it always you!

Do you have some deep-seated grudge against Mr. Li?

It's making us feel a little sympathetic toward Mr. Li.

Laughing and crying~~~

Unsurprisingly, this piece of news from ATV had a more explosive and ruthless negative effect than Mr. Li's hospitalization.

The hospitalization was just speculation, but this news directly stated that the Li family's multi-billion project had been severely crippled by Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

Therefore, in the afternoon, several Cheung Kong Group stocks continued to plummet!

Many retail investors shouted:

"Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, I'll fight you to the death!"

"I won't buy anymore, okay? I was wrong!"

Sanatorium Hospital...

Upon hearing the news, Mr. Li closed his eyes in despair.

This Hong Kong Island is too dark!

Perhaps not acquiring TVB or ATV back then was the biggest mistake of his life.

Public opinion was controlled by Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, and he had no way to fight back.

Even if he wanted to acquire TVB now, it was too late; ATV was firmly suppressing TVB, and it was impossible to beat ATV.

That evening,

ATV News announced a piece of information.

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu of the Five Star Group will hold a press conference at the Five Star Group tomorrow morning at 10:00 to explain in detail to the public the reasons for building the new port..."

"At the same time, he will announce a major piece of news concerning the interests of all Hong Kong citizens..."

Once the news was out, all of Hong Kong was watching.

A new day,

10:00 AM, Central Plaza, Five Star Group conference hall.

The press conference was about to begin.

Reporters gathered.

It was exceptionally lively.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, in a crisp black suit, walked onto the podium with steady steps.

"Friends from the media, citizens of Hong Kong..."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's gaze swept over the dense crowd of reporters and cameras below.

"For today's press conference, I must first explain one thing—why the Five Star Group 'sniped' Mr. Li's port deal."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu gave a rough explanation of the importance of Mr. Li's HIT International Container Terminals company.

"This port is not only the lifeblood of Hong Kong Island, but also a key hub for the East's foreign trade. If it is controlled by foreign capital, our trade security and even our strategic layout will be at the mercy of others!"

"That is the reason I sniped him."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu did not hypocritically quibble, but admitted it directly.

The reporters below recorded rapidly, and flashes went off in a continuous stream.

At this moment, a reporter from the *South China Morning Post*, which carried foreign capital, raised a hand to ask:

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, many citizens believe Mr. Li was just engaging in normal commercial behavior. Aren't you bullying people? This is already the many-th time you have deliberately targeted Mr. Li."

Many people held this sentiment.

After all, in their hearts, there was only Hong Kong Island, not the East, and they certainly wouldn't feel that the port was important to the East.

So what if it's sold to foreigners?

It's just normal business practice.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu smiled, did not answer this question, and instead threw out a bombshell.

"Currently, the Five Star Group is preparing to unite with the Bank of China, China Resources, Everbright... and other enterprises to launch a formal invitation for acquisition negotiations regarding Mr. Li's port..."

"If Mr. Li does not agree, we will open up a new port..."

The reporters in the room were in an uproar once again.

This is forcing Mr. Li.

A reporter from the Taiwan-leaning *Hong Kong Times* stood up immediately:

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, I have always felt that it is a very foolish act for business behavior to involve politics."

"Mr. Li is just selling a port, why must it be tainted with politics?"

"Politics?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu sneered: "Speaking of politics, Taiwan is the most formidable. When some of our actors go to the mainland to film, Taiwan immediately jumps out to ban these actors. May I ask, is this politics, or normal business behavior?"

Taiwan reporter: "............"

Speechless.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "Since Mr. Li says business is business, then I am also doing business; he sells his, I build mine, both are business behaviors."

Now, many reporters did not know how to question Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

A TVB reporter changed the subject:

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, I heard that you called this press conference today to announce an important matter. May I ask what it is?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's voice became serious.

"That's right..."

"I do have a very major matter to announce."

"And that is... the 'Million Citizens Port Shareholding Plan'!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

"Hmm?"

"Whoa!"

The entire room of reporters exploded.

Such a familiar term!

The last "Million Shareholding Plan" was for the Five Star Bank!

That time, the citizens of Hong Kong truly earned tens of thousands, although it was the kind of tens of thousands that couldn't be withdrawn immediately.

This time, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu is doing it again?

Letting the citizens make a big profit again?

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu held his head high, standing tall: "I have said that the corporate vision of the Five Star Group is to take the citizens of Hong Kong along to share in the dividends of urban development..."

"I have even said, I will not enjoy the glory alone!"

"And the port is undoubtedly one of the most important economic pillars of Hong Kong; this is an opportunity to let the whole public participate in the port's development and enjoy the port's dividends."

"We will open 30% of the new port's shares for all Hong Kong citizens to subscribe to, with specific rules similar to the Five Star Bank's 'Million Shareholding Plan'. For the next few decades or even a century, 30% of all the port's profits will be distributed directly as dividends to the shareholding citizens, passed down from generation to generation, giving citizens basic economic security!"

"As for the subscription price for each citizen, it will be calculated either based on the acquisition price of Mr. Li's port or based on the construction and operating costs of the new port..."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu raised his voice an octave:

"Moreover, I must declare: the shareholding citizens will also have the right to supervise the port's operations. What the Five Star Group wants to do is to make Hong Kong's resources truly belong to the people of Hong Kong!"

Finally,

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu looked around the room, his words ringing with power:

"Some people only have money in their eyes."

"But in my eyes, there is always the future of the Hong Kong citizens."

Enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience instantly.

Clatter, clatter~~~

The applause almost overturned the entire venue.

Several reporters who were still shouting 'Mr. Li is innocent' and 'You are going too far' changed camps without hesitation at this moment.

"Brother Zu, I support you!"

"This Mr. Li is simply too bad, how could he sell to foreigners?"

"Is Mr. Li selling a port? He is selling Hong Kong!"

One reporter after another began to denounce him.

The speed of their face-turning was simply too fast.

Yes! Mr. Li is very pitiful, having been beaten repeatedly by Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, suffering heavy losses, and it is unbearable to watch!

But!

Sorry!

We stand on the side of money (crossed out) justice!

Hehehe~~~

(End of chapter)