Chapter 889
The Giants at the Wedding of the Century
In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.
On the morning of February 16, the sea fog over Victoria Harbour had not yet dissipated, but Hong Kong had already awakened.
From Queen's Road to Nathan Road, from Victoria Peak to Kowloon Walled City, the entire city's attention is focused on the Peninsula Hotel.
Many citizens noticed a significant increase in police presence on the streets from Hong Kong Island to the Kowloon Peninsula today.
The area around Tsim Sha Tsui, where the Peninsula Hotel is located, is shrouded in a tense and mysterious atmosphere.
Police cars with flashing lights patrolled slowly down the street, officers scanning their surroundings warily.
Police officers can be seen standing guard at regular intervals throughout the streets and alleys.
The once bustling streets were now quieter, with pedestrians hurrying along.
Everyone knows what day it is today.
Newspaper kiosks on the streets were sold out. Oriental Daily News, Ming Pao, Sing Tao Daily and other newspapers all published full-page announcements of today's wedding on their front pages, with headlines such as "Richest Man Lin Haoran to Get Married Today, Tycoons Gather in Hong Kong!"
At nine o'clock in the morning, Hong Kong's top tycoons began to arrive in droves outside the Peninsula Hotel.
A black Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit pulled up, and Li Ka-shing, chairman of Cheung Kong Holdings, and his wife got out.
He wore a bright tie, a rare sight today, and waved to the media with his usual humble smile.
"Mr. Li! What are your thoughts on today's wedding?" a reporter asked loudly.
Li Ka-shing paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Mr. Lin is the richest man in Hong Kong. His success is proof of Hong Kong's vitality. I sincerely congratulate him on this joyous occasion."
A few months ago, Li Ka-shing and Lin Haoran were bitter rivals in the business world.
But ever since Lin Haoran forcefully acquired Hutchison Whampoa and became the second largest shareholder of Cheung Kong Holdings, Li Ka-shing has been completely convinced of the young man's talent.
You have to admit it; our own Cheung Kong Holdings was almost swallowed up by them.
The phrase "Hong Kong's richest man" uttered by Li Ka-shing carried a complex yet sincere sense of recognition.
This "superman" who has spent half his life navigating the ups and downs of the business world and built a vast real estate empire from scratch has to admit the changing times when he faces this young man who has risen to prominence in just a few years and even once threatened the very foundation of Cheung Kong Holdings.
Lin Haoran not only surpassed him in terms of wealth, but also demonstrated an astonishing level of vision, methods, and international influence.
Today's wedding, which brings together the world's top elites, is proof of this.
Li Jiacheng's answer caused a slight commotion among the reporters.
Because everyone knows how fierce the business battle between Li Jiacheng and Lin Haoran was.
If anyone else had said that, even the Governor-General or Bao Yugang, they wouldn't have been too surprised.
It is certainly interesting that the title of "Hong Kong's richest man" was uttered by Li Ka-shing himself.
The camera frantically captured every subtle expression on his face, attempting to decipher the inner turmoil of this former overlord.
Almost at the same time that Li Jiacheng entered the hotel, another Rolls-Royce stopped.
Henderson Land Development Chairman Lee Chiu-kei got out of the car alone. He looked particularly energetic today. After nodding to familiar reporters, he walked inside without stopping.
Li Zhaoji, who had occasional but not close business dealings with Lin Haoran, seemed more like he was there to observe and assess the young tycoon's background and the astonishing network of energy behind the wedding.
Kwok Tak-shing of Sun Hung Kai Properties and Cheng Yuk-tung of New World Development arrived together.
The two tycoons chatted and laughed on the red carpet, as if they were just attending a wedding banquet for an old friend's child, but a keen observer could see a hint of seriousness in the exchange of their eyes.
Sun Hung Kai Properties and Hongkong Land Group are direct competitors in commercial real estate and residential projects, while New World Development, despite its broader business scope, inevitably clashes with the Lam family empire in various sectors.
Their visit was both a courtesy and an opportunity to examine their strongest competitor up close.
"Mr. Zheng, Mr. Guo, what do you two think of Mr. Lin's entourage today?" a bold reporter shouted.
Cheng Yu-tung laughed heartily and said in Cantonese with a Shunde accent, "The younger generation is truly formidable. We're old now, let's watch the young people perform!"
Guo Desheng, on the other hand, was much more reserved, simply smiling and nodding without uttering a word.
Not long after, Bao Yugang and his four sons-in-law arrived at the scene.
Everyone in Hong Kong knows that Bao Yugang and Lin Haoran have a very good relationship.
Even now, Wharf Holdings has been privatized by Pao Yu-kong in partnership with Lin Hao-ran.
As soon as Bao Yu got out of the car, he caused an even bigger sensation.
This "Shipping King" is not only a leading figure among Hong Kong's Chinese businessmen, but also a pivotal giant in the international shipping industry.
He looked energetic today, dressed in a dark Chinese-style long gown with a Western-style suit jacket, a blend of Chinese and Western styles that was both dignified and true to his Chinese businessman roots.
Bao Yugang recovered very well after undergoing major surgery, and there is no indication that he was diagnosed with cancer.
Beside him stood his four sons-in-law, each a distinguished figure and a leader in their respective fields.
The very existence of this family represents a powerful business force.
"Bao Sheng! What are your thoughts on coming to congratulate Lin Sheng on his joyous occasion today?" The reporters asked even more questions.
Bao Yugang stopped and faced the camera, his smile warm and full of elder's demeanor: "Haoran is a young man I've watched grow up. He has vision, courage, and a broad mind."
Today's wedding is not only his happy occasion, but also a major event for Hong Kong's business community.
This shows that the young people of Hong Kong are now able to stand at the center of the world stage and receive blessings from all over the world.
His words carried great weight, not only affirming Lin Haoran's achievements but also elevating them to the status of pride and a symbol of Hong Kong as a whole.
"There are rumors that Mr. Bao and Mr. Lin will be collaborating on something big. Is it convenient to disclose that?" a reporter from the South China Morning Post asked.
Bao Yugang chuckled and waved his hand: "Today is an auspicious day, let's only talk about happy events, not business."
Although she didn't give a direct answer, her calm and confident smile conveyed her meaning to everyone present.
The alliance between Bao and Lin has long been one of the most stable and powerful combinations in Hong Kong's business community.
The privatization of Wharf Holdings is just the beginning. In the future, the alliance between these two giants in shipping, real estate, and even broader fields will surely create even greater waves.
Bao Yugang and his entourage entered the hotel. Their arrival almost represented the highest level of acceptance and support from the traditional Chinese business community in Hong Kong for Lin Haoran.
This scene, in subtle contrast to the attitudes of real estate tycoons like Li Ka-shing, also indicates a new power divide in Hong Kong's business landscape.
A close strategic alliance has been formed between the established Chinese business tycoons, led by Bao Yugang, and the newly rich Lin Haoran, while other forces are in varying degrees of observation, cooperation, or competition.
Subsequently, representatives from the British-owned consortium took the stage, and the atmosphere became even more delicate.
Tyronn of Standard Chartered Bank, Schjöck of Swire Group, Rowland of CLP Power, John Madden of Wheelock Bank...
These former true masters of Hong Kong's economy are all attending as guests today.
Their arrival was less of a congratulatory gesture and more of a cautious observation, even carrying with it a complex feeling about the changing power structure.
As Schjok spoke in hushed tones with Tyrell, his gaze drifted toward the depths of the hotel, and he said softly in English, "Governor MacLehose has really given him a lot of face this time, even managing to get the Queen to come."
Tyron straightened his cuffs and said in a calm voice, "We've given them plenty of face, but what about the substance? The Revival Fund has propped up the real estate market, but how much high-quality assets has Lin Haoran taken the opportunity to acquire?"
After this wedding, his foothold in Hong Kong will likely be difficult to shake.
That's what they say, but when the revival fund was established and people were asked to contribute, no one wanted to pay.
As they entered the hotel, they nodded slightly to Li Jiacheng and his group, who were exchanging pleasantries in the lobby, maintaining a tacit distance between them.
Chinese and British capital, old kings and new nobles—beneath this festive occasion, undercurrents still flowed.
At 9:30, the arrival of international giants brought the atmosphere to a new climax, temporarily diverting the subtle attention from local capital. Motorola Chairman Robert Galvin and Apple CEO Steve Jobs emerged from their respective cars almost simultaneously.
Two tech pioneers unexpectedly met on the red carpet and shook hands briefly.
"Mr. Robert, I didn't expect to see you here." Jobs was still wearing his signature black turtleneck sweater and jeans, standing out in an atmosphere full of formal attire, yet exuding an aura of a disruptor.
Galvin held up his Motorola DynaTAC 8000X mobile phone, an early model of which would later be known as the "Big Brother" mobile phone, and laughed, "Steve, mobile communication is the future."
Lin saw it, I saw it too, what about you? Still insisting that personal computers are the future?
Jobs glanced at the brick-like device, a slight smirk playing on his lips, his eyes sharp: "The future belongs to those products that perfectly combine technology and humanity."
Size, aesthetics, user experience, and so on—Robert, you still have a long way to go.
After saying that, he took the lead and walked inside, as if unwilling to waste a second on what he considered clumsy and inelegant techniques.
Although Apple is a relatively young company, it is now a recognized technology giant with a market value of over two billion US dollars.
Although Lin Haoran, who was a shareholder in Apple's pre-IPO financing round, has now sold all his shares, he still retains an advisory role at Apple.
Therefore, when Lin Haoran's invitation reached Jobs, he accepted without hesitation.
This was not only because Lin Haoran was an important early supporter of Apple, but also because the two had several in-depth exchanges in Silicon Valley. Jobs appreciated Lin Haoran's almost intuitive grasp of technological trends, which resonated with his ambition to "change the world".
In Jobs' eyes, Lin Haoran was not just an investor, but also a fellow traveler who understood his "crazy" ideas.
Therefore, when Lin Haoran was at Apple headquarters, Jobs even wanted him to stay and serve as an executive at Apple.
Unfortunately, Lin Haoran was naturally not interested.
The witty conversation between Jobs and Robert was recorded by several media outlets, becoming a popular anecdote in the tech world and foreshadowing the fierce competition between mobile communications and personal computing in the coming decades.
Their presence at Lin Haoran's wedding is undoubtedly a strong endorsement of Lin Haoran's forward-looking vision in the field of technology investment.
Especially Steve Jobs, as a young representative of the American technology industry, is known to rarely participate in such social activities, so his appearance itself is a strong signal.
At 9:45 a.m., Warren Buffett's unassuming Cadillac arrived.
He got off the bus alone, without a female companion, dressed simply as usual.
He smiled warmly at the swarm of reporters, like a kind and wealthy neighbor.
"Mr. Buffett, your long journey to attend Mr. Lin's wedding, does it mean you are optimistic about his investment plans in Asia?" a CNN reporter asked eagerly.
Buffett winked and said in his signature Omaha accent, “I’ve come to see an interesting young man and, while I’m at it, have some afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel. I’ve heard their little cakes are quite good.”
It was a typical Buffett-style humor, avoiding the main point but eliciting good-natured laughter from the audience.
He rarely comments on specific investments in public, but given his status and the time commitment involved, his personal presence is the strongest and most valuable signal of approval.
It is no secret that Lin Haoran is the second largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway, and his arrival also symbolizes that Lin Haoran has a close relationship with this stock market guru.
His arrival had just calmed the commotion at the scene when, three minutes later, another black Mercedes pulled up.
George Soros got off the bus.
He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sharp as an eagle's, quickly sweeping across the scene, pausing briefly on the reporters' cameras and the surrounding security personnel.
At this moment, he felt no shame or anger at Lin Haoran's refusal to cooperate with him.
When Soros saw Buffett talking to the hotel manager not far ahead, he paused almost imperceptibly, and a subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips.
That wasn't a friendly smile; it was more like a hunter's assessment and wariness when spotting another apex predator.
The two did not speak, nor did they make direct eye contact.
Buffett entered the hotel accompanied by his assistant, while Soros paused briefly to allow reporters to take photos.
Today he was wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit with a dark red tie, which made him look aloof and cold.
Although Soros is already very famous in the financial industry today, his reputation is obviously not as bad as it would be a decade or so later.
"Mr. Soros, what are your views on Hong Kong's financial markets?" a Reuters reporter boldly asked, attempting to get the financial magnate to talk.
Soros turned to the camera, his voice calm and even: "Hong Kong is one of the most important financial centers in Asia, full of vitality. My trip here is mainly to congratulate Mr. Lin."
His answers were official and watertight, but his calmness made those familiar with his style feel uneasy.
This financial cheetah, known for its attacks on currencies and the creation of crises, is not here simply to offer a congratulatory message.
Shortly after Soros entered the hotel, a convoy attracted everyone's attention.
Leading the way were two motorcycles from the Hong Kong Police Force, followed by three black Mercedes-Benzes, the middle one with a special diplomatic license plate.
The car door opened, and former US Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger stepped out steadily.
Although he has been out of politics for several years, his wisdom as a man who once mediated between major powers and profoundly influenced the world order still commands respect.
He did not linger on the red carpet, but merely nodded slightly in the direction of the media before quickly entering the hotel surrounded by his entourage.
His arrival elevated the political significance and strategic level of this wedding to the level of observing international geopolitical games.
The content of Henry Kissinger's meeting with Lin Haoran yesterday is enough to give intelligence agencies and analysts from various countries a lot to think about.
Immediately afterwards, Saudi Oil Minister Yamani's convoy arrived.
Wearing a white robe with gold trim and a red and white checkered headscarf, the atmosphere at the scene changed once again when this figure, who controls the pulse of global oil and whose word carries immense weight within OPEC, appeared.
The spotlight flashed wildly, and everyone realized that this wedding was not only a gathering of capital and political wisdom, but also energy.
The world's industrial lifeblood.
With a smile, Yamani spoke fluent English to the approaching reporters: "Mr. Lin is a visionary friend. Energy is the lifeblood of global development, and we look forward to cooperating with visionary partners."
These words were practically a public announcement that Saudi Aramco and Lin Haoran were about to embark on a deep strategic cooperation that went beyond ordinary business dealings.
From downstream retail to upstream refining and even strategic reserves, Lin Haoran's energy empire is rapidly taking shape.
At around 9:40 a.m., a black sedan with a special license plate drove up discreetly.
The person who got out of the car was a representative from Taiwan, a veteran of the business community with deep ties to the Guo family, accompanied by his wife and two attendants.
They clearly didn't want to be too conspicuous, and quickly entered the hotel after getting out of the car, giving reporters almost no chance to take pictures.
Subsequently, more international dignitaries arrived.
Special representatives of Lee Byung-taek, president of Mitsubishi Corporation, chairman of Sumitomo Corporation, and chairman of Samsung Group; political and business leaders or royal family members from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia; descendants of several long-established European noble families; and heads of several top investment banks and funds on Wall Street…
The area in front of the Peninsula Hotel looks like a miniature "Global Economic, Political and Technological Power Summit".
Behind each name lies a massive industry, a regional market, or a force capable of influencing the course of the world.
They gathered here simply because of a newlywed couple from Hong Kong.
In the crowd, a senior reporter from some media outlet, speaking to the camera in a low, wistful tone, commented: "What we are seeing is not just a wedding, but a microcosm of a new economic order."
Mr. Lin Haoran has built a super network connecting East and West and bridging tradition and modernity, based in Hong Kong.
The Queen represents the traditional order and the influence of the Commonwealth; Kissinger represents American political wisdom and global strategy; Yamani represents energy hegemony; Buffett and Soros represent the two poles of capital; Jobs and Galvin represent the future of technology; and Bao Yugang, Li Jiacheng, and others represent the rise of Hong Kong and even Asian local capital.
All these forces are now united because of him—a sight never before seen. (End of Chapter)