Newbijian immediately understood that Shen Bi was worried that Lin Huowang's radical actions would endanger the security of HSBC's loan, and that the "high-quality collateral" of Hutchison Whampoa would be hollowed out.
So, he immediately laid out his previous arrangements and said, "Don't worry, Boss. I've contacted several directors, including Fok Chun-ting, and they've unanimously agreed to convene an extraordinary board meeting tomorrow to formally question Chairman Kobayashi about this exorbitant advertising fee. Fok Chun-ting is particularly vehement about this matter, and he will be the main force in challenging Kobayashi tomorrow."
If Mr. Kobayashi withdraws the sponsorship under pressure from the board of directors, his prestige will be severely damaged and he will lose face.
If he insists on doing so... he must prove to all shareholders that this advertising investment, which far exceeds market value, can bring a return commensurate with the value of the investment to Hong Kong Land and Dairy Farm itself. Otherwise, he will definitely be accused of profiteering!
There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, and then came Shen Bi's response, which was neither praise nor criticism: "Hmm. In order to revitalize the sinking ship of Asia Television, Xiao Linsheng is not hesitant to drag the Hong Kong Land Group into the water, and may even cross the red line of listed company governance... This move is risky and foolish. You should be sensible."
The implication is that HSBC is watching, but also tacitly approves of Newbigin's direction of action.
As the de facto central bank of Hong Kong Island, HSBC's role is similar to that of the Hong Kong government, with the focus on maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong Island.
On this basis, we will be more inclined towards British companies.
Of course, the people who can make HSBC most biased are definitely those Chinese tycoons who have completely surrendered and expressed their loyalty.
Such lackeys of Chinese tycoons can help HSBC more effectively and covertly control the entire business and economy of Hong Kong Island, as well as the direction of the entire flow of wealth.
For example, Li Jiacheng, who was trained by Shen Bi in recent years, is a very obedient person. Through his operation, Shen Bi has also solved many difficult problems.
This is the benefit that British companies find difficult to bring to HSBC, and the Kobayashi Tenwang that is being cultivated now has greater energy and actions, but at present, Shen Bi sees some uncontrollable factors and risks.
But it’s okay now. All of Kobayashi Tianwang’s actions are still under the control of HSBC. As long as he doesn’t go too far, Shen Bi will be very tolerant.
What's more crucial is that Chen Bi also wants to see how Kobayashi, the whirlwind who can make traditional paper media so creative, will run a TV station and challenge the dominance of TVB, the old TV station!
The news of the astronomical advertising fee of 10 million yuan spread across Hong Kong Island overnight as if it had wings.
The next morning.
The news that "Swire Properties' advertising sponsorship of Asia Television for a whopping 10 million" and "Kobayashi Tenmo is suspected of bribery" immediately occupied prominent positions in the financial sections and even the front pages of major newspapers.
Such news is naturally talked about with great interest by the people of Hong Kong Island.
In the tea room of a Central office building, a young white-collar worker in a three-piece suit gasped in amazement, forgetting to put down his coffee cup.
"Ten million! Just for an ad on Asia Television? Dairy Farm is already well-known enough! Why does it need such a big show? Everyone in Hong Kong knows its brand, right? I think Chairman Kobayashi is just giving his newly purchased TV station a boost!"
A colleague beside him flipped through the newspaper and sneered, "The chairman of a listed company is using minority shareholders' money to subsidize his own company. How shameless! It's only natural for Newbigin and Ho Chun to support them and make trouble!"
"That's not the way to say it," an older manager pushed up his glasses. "Mr. Xiaolin is always doing things in unexpected ways. Maybe he really has some big plans. ATV was revitalized by Qiu Degen for a while, so it might be possible to revive it again."
"You don't need to spend 10 million to bring someone back from the dead! What's the market price? 300,000 or 500,000 at most! Isn't that obviously problematic?" the young white-collar worker immediately retorted. "Just wait and see. Today's board meeting is sure to be lively."
Not only these white-collar workers, but also the residents in North Point Market, although they don’t understand anything about economics and finance!
But they are very good at counting and are very smart at daily accounting!
When they heard that the advertising fee was 10 million Hong Kong dollars, they couldn't help but click their tongues and start talking about it.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, 10 million!"
The elderly vegetable seller pointed at the figures in the newspaper and lamented to the fishmonger next to her, "I could never make that much selling vegetables my entire life! Just for advertising? These rich people really have too much money to burn!"
The fishmonger snorted while scraping the scales off the fish, "How can this be considered burning money? This is taking money out of the pockets of us small shareholders! The Dairy Company is owned by Hong Kong Land, and isn't Hong Kong Land's money the shareholders' money?
Boss Xiaolin owns the TV station himself, and he's profiting from it, enriching himself and screwing over shareholders! I bet there's definitely a shareholder of the Hong Kong Land Group who will speak up for justice..."
A housewife carrying a vegetable basket also interjected, "But then again, if ATV can really do a good job and broadcast more good programs, and the milk company's commercials are popular, it doesn't seem to be any bad for us ordinary people."
"You wish!" the fishmonger scoffed. "The wool comes from the sheep! Advertising costs have increased, and sooner or later the milk company's various products will increase in price! Who knows, the price of milk may increase tomorrow!"
Indeed, most of these ordinary people only consider their own immediate interests.
Moreover, the lower-class people in Hong Kong Island have gradually begun to develop a clear aversion to various business tycoons and elites, that is, a hatred of the rich.
In the eyes of the lower-class people, the actions of the rich are mostly intended to suck the blood of ordinary people.
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