novelraw Chapter 25: Sir Michael Sandberg's Optimism About Taking Over Hong Kong Electric
Chapter 25: Sir Michael Sandberg's Optimism About Taking Over Hong Kong Electric
At 9:00 AM on the same day.
Headquarters of Xiangjiang Electric Group, 44 Kennedy Road, Mid-Levels, Central and Western District.
As soon as Li Jiagang and his entourage arrived, they noticed through the car window that the entrance to Hong Kong Electric was packed with reporters. As soon as their convoy stopped, they all surrounded them.
He exchanged a glance and smiled with Huo Jianning.
"Chairman, I'm afraid this matter can no longer be concealed," Huo Jianning said with a smile.
Li Jiagang straightened his clothes and said, "Then let's face it calmly." He then opened the car door, got out, and reporters immediately surrounded him.
"Hello, I'm a reporter from Ming Pao. Are you here to take over the management of Hong Kong Electric Company?"
"Hello, I'm a reporter from Sing Tao Daily. Are you the ones who acquired HK Electric? Is your chairman here? Would you be willing to give an interview?"
"Hello! This is Oriental Daily News..."
………………
Reporters kept asking Li Jiagang and Huo Jianning questions, but more reporters focused their attention on Gao Fuhai, financial director Liu Jieying, and administrative manager Li Haiming.
Because the three women were middle-aged, while Li Jiagang and Huo Jianning were in their early twenties, the reporter consciously ignored their status as business owners.
At this moment, Li Jiagang shouted, "Please be quiet, fellow reporters." His shout drew the attention of the reporters, who all turned to look at him. He continued, "I acquired Hong Kong Electric. Once the handover is complete, a press conference will be held to officially announce it."
After speaking, Li Junjie and Huo Jianning shielded Li Jiagang from the reporters and escorted him toward the building.
No matter what the reporters asked him, he refused to answer. It was better to leave some mystery for the reporters to guess and investigate when facing them for the first time.
At the same time, responding to reporters is of no use, since the handover of HK Electric has not yet been completed, and there is nothing to say without data.
As he approached the building's entrance, Li Jiagang stopped again to look at the HK Electric headquarters building, which was not tall, but consisted of three nine-story buildings.
Moreover, the land area is indeed very large. Judging by Li Jiagang's eyes, it is at least 10 mu (approximately 1.65 acres) in size, or at least 8,000 to 9,000 square meters.
It's a pity that the site of the "HK Electric" headquarters is not in the bustling areas of Central or Causeway Bay, but is very close to the Peak.
If this piece of land is this big in the bustling Central area, it will be incredible in the future.
I abandoned my fantasies and entered the headquarters building.
Upon entering the lobby, Li Jiagang saw a group of foreigners standing there, all wearing work badges. He knew that these people must be employees of Hong Kong Electric.
"Hello, everyone. I am Neil Hua, the current head of Hong Kong Electric Company. May I ask which of you is Mr. Li Jiagang?"
"Hello, this is me."
"Dear Mr. Li, it's a pleasure to meet you. I have received the handover documents from HK Electric, and all departments will fully cooperate with the work."
"Thank you, Neil Ward."
"But I prefer you to call me Chairman Li from now on," Li Jiagang said calmly.
"OK, Chairman Li, please." Neil Hua gestured for Li Jiagang to proceed: "The other shareholders of the group are waiting for you in the conference room."
"Okay, let's go."
Upon arriving at the work area, Huo Jianning immediately led his team to begin the handover process.
Li Jiagang then went to the meeting room to see Hong Kong Electric and its shareholders.
Moreover, Li Jiagang is not afraid that they will make things difficult for him or make things difficult for him during the handover, after all, he is already the absolute controlling shareholder of "Hong Kong Electric".
We entered the large conference room.
Li Jiagang thought he would see a bunch of foreign faces, and even encounter big names like Standard Chartered, Jardine Matheson, Swire, Hutchison Whampoa, and Wheelock.
After all, he didn't know how Sir Michael Sandberg had consolidated the shares of HK Electric to him, or which companies were no longer on the HK Electric board of directors.
But when he saw the people in the conference room, apart from a few foreigners like Sir Michael Sandberg, everyone else was Chinese, which surprised him.
Moreover, he recognized several of the Chinese faces very well, and felt vaguely familiar with the others, but he couldn't quite place them.
"Hi Li, you're here."
Good morning, Mr. Sim Bi.
"Distinguished board members, I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Facing the gazes of so many powerful figures present, Li Jiagang remained completely calm and showed no fear as he directly moved to the chairman's seat in the center.
He knew that many people present had far more assets and background than him, but so what?
He is now the biggest boss at HK Electric.
When the shareholders in the conference room met Li Jiagang, they were extremely shocked.
At first, they thought that the new chairman of HK Electric would be Pao Yuk-kong. Even if it wasn't Pao, they thought that someone who could take over HK Electric as a Chinese person must be a person with extremely high prestige in the Chinese community.
But now...
Li Jiagang is not only very young.
And they don't know each other.
This immediately caused the shareholders to exchange glances, hoping to find out from someone what Lijiagang's background was.
pity…….
They all looked completely bewildered.
Although Li Jiagang saw through their thoughts, he didn't care and wouldn't point it out.
With a professional smile, he looked at the shareholders and said, "Good morning, board members." At that moment, his secretary was sending his personal information to everyone: "My name is Li Jiagang, and I am 23 years old."
"I know that the directors here may be worried that I am young and not mature enough, and whether I have the ability and experience to manage and operate HK Electric well."
"I understand why you all have this thought."
"Today's meeting is mainly to get to know everyone, because I'm not the kind of person who likes to make empty promises or convince you with words. I prefer to prove it to you with concrete actions."
"From this day forward, if Hong Kong Electric's annual profit in the next fiscal year does not increase by more than 10% within one year under my supervision, and does not increase by more than 30% within three years, I will take the initiative to resign."
At this moment, Li Jiagang exuded unparalleled confidence, surprising the old-timers present.
Meanwhile, some directors also believed that Li Jiagang was too arrogant and boastful, daring to make promises of a 10% increase in profits within one year and a 30% increase within three years.
It's worth noting that Hong Kong Electric's annual profit hasn't increased for many years, and in some years it almost suffered losses due to excessively high maintenance costs.
While the other directors were lost in their own thoughts, Sir Michael Sandberg, who was sitting closest to the chairman, clapped his hands in celebration for Li Ka-shing.
"Chairman Li has great vision, I support you."
Seeing that Sir Michael Sandberg had stood up for him, the other directors, even if they had any complaints about Li Ka-shing, could only clap along.
There are reasons why Sir Michael Sandberg is optimistic about Hong Kong. Having lived in Hong Kong for so many years, he has seen all kinds of people.
But from the first time he met Li Jiagang, he showed composure and maturity.
Most businessmen would be very deferential to him, and even Li Ka-shing seemed somewhat restrained and anxious when they first met and talked.
And what about Lijiagang?
Who wouldn't feel nervous or excited upon seeing him at his age?
But he didn't.
Shen Bi had a vivid memory of his first meeting with Li Jiagang, noting that Li, at his age, remained calm and composed. Li was experienced and steady during negotiations, and even dared to propose terms to him.
This is why Shen Bi thought highly of him.
By uniting the shareholders of Hong Kong Electric to allow him to take over the operation of Hong Kong Electric, Sir Michael Sandberg wanted to see how capable Li Ka-kong was and whether he was worth winning over.
The meeting ended shortly after it began.
The meeting mainly consisted of getting acquainted and the new chairman, Li Jiagang, making some guarantees to the company.
Regarding the company's future development plans, etc.
The meeting will only officially begin after they have completed the liquidation and Li Jiagang has truly taken control of the company.