The article is full of sarcasm: "With the influence of Sun Hung Kai Properties, Mr. Kobayashi is too arrogant! Do you really think that British-owned properties in Hong Kong can be taken at will? Rediffusion Television is the heart of Britain. How can we allow such young people to get involved?"
Such an act of overestimating one's own abilities only adds to one's ridicule and is truly asking for a slap in the face! I advise Mr. Xiaolin to keep his feet on the ground and stop dreaming of undeserved wealth!
At the newsstand, a dock worker who saw the Oriental Daily report scoffed at his companions, saying, "See? Just being rich is such a big deal? The foreigners just said they wouldn't sell! That Japanese guy, does he really think that buying a Jardine Matheson property means the whole world has to give in to him? He's really courting disaster!"
The Sing Tao Daily used a more subtle analysis headline: "Kobayashi's aggressiveness is too apparent, and British capital is scrambling to clear the field! The acquisition of Rediffusion failed, exposing the limits of its capital expansion."
The article also contained derogatory implications, suggesting that Kobayashi Tenmo was too eager and tough, and had aroused the full vigilance and countermeasures of British capital.
Of course, these newspapers are all troublemakers. The article in Sing Tao Daily is obviously intended to undermine Kobayashi Tianwang's reputation while at the same time sowing discord between him and British capital and even the Hong Kong government.
In a high-end tea restaurant in Central, several financial white-collar workers in suits were eating breakfast and reading newspapers.
"Tsk, this Xiaolin Tianwang is still too young and impetuous. He won so beautifully on that deal with Jardine Matheson that he's become a little cocky."
"Yeah, Rediffusion Television is not that easy to take. It's one of the face of British capital. Just after slapping it, you turn around and want to take away another treasure. How is that possible? I think even if Rediffusion Television's UK headquarters is willing, the Hong Kong government will refuse."
"It seems that the British capital is determined to teach him a lesson. I'm afraid that Xiaolin Tianwang will face greater resistance when doing business in Hong Kong Island in the future."
The front-page headline of Ming Pao was more neutral: "Kobayashi's acquisition of Rediffusion falls through, barriers to entry for British-owned media companies are stiff."
The article focused on analyzing Rediffusion Television's parent company's attitude toward Hong Kong assets and the current situation of TVB, Rediffusion Television, and ATV being the three major players. Finally, the article shifted its focus: "Looking at the landscape of Hong Kong's television industry, TVB has a deep foundation and has become one superpower among many strong players.
Rediffusion is clinging to its old ways and failing to make progress, leading to a continuous decline in market share. If it continues to stagnate and refuses to change or bring in new talent, it may not be a long-term solution. As for ATV, despite the significant investment from the Lam family and the ambitions of its major shareholder, shareholder constraints and severe internal friction mean its future is uncertain.
Given this setback, perhaps Mr. Kobayashi might consider alternatives, such as turning to ATV, which still holds potential but faces similar challenges. However, Mr. Lin Xiufeng is hoping to leverage this platform to expand his media ambitions, so the likelihood of him relinquishing control at this point is slim.
These newspapers are relatively positive, but some tabloid headlines are even more outrageous.
In particular, the tragic love story between Kobayashi Tenwang, Peter Ho, Liu Rumeng and Rebecca Chiu was fabricated in a way that was so vivid and absurd.
But sales are incredibly good. Don't the lower-class citizens of Hong Kong Island love this? Otherwise, there would be no way to support the hundreds of gossip newspapers.
In the study of the Governor's House, Sir Murray MacLehose put down the Ming Pao in his hand, but there was a playful smile on the corner of his mouth.
He said to his wife, Deng Liping, who was standing beside him, "Did you see that? The media's reaction is even more enthusiastic than I imagined. This is a good way to pour cold water on this popular Xiao Linsheng. It's just the right thing to do to cool him down."
Let him understand that the water in Hong Kong Island is much deeper than he imagined. The sky of Hong Kong Island still belongs to us British people.
Since he wants to work for us and has taken advantage of us, he needs to behave himself."
Mrs. MacLehose nodded gracefully and said, "Indeed. Although our British counterattack is silent, it is very effective. This will also make many people see things clearly."
The UK is about to enter into a series of negotiations with the mainland, primarily concerning the ownership of Hong Kong Island. "Dear, you must manage the overall situation in Hong Kong Island during this period. We British people cannot afford to lose face again."
Governor Murray MacLehose also quite agrees with this point. However, he wants to implement the home ownership plan, which requires him to rely on Kobayashi Tenmo in many aspects.
It can be said that since Kobayashi Tianwang acquired Hong Kong Swire Properties and proposed the Home Ownership Scheme, which was approved by the Governor's Office, he has been tied to Murray MacLehose.
The two can now be said to be in a honeymoon period, and Governor Murray MacLehose will not easily offend Kobayashi Tenmo.
In a tenement building in Sham Shui Po, a female flour mill worker who had just returned from her night shift was reading the exaggerated headlines and sarcastic words in the Oriental Daily.
She smiled, curled her lips, and said to her husband, "These rich people are fighting each other all day long. What does it have to do with us? But this young man is really sharp. He dares to fight with foreigners."
The husband, puffing on a cheap cigarette, said in a muffled voice, "What's the point of being sharp? You still get humiliated! Even if you have money, you can't buy a Rediffusion TV. This just proves the power of the foreigners in Hong Kong!"
Amidst this clamor, the Asia Times stood out as unusually silent. Its front-page headline was a lengthy, in-depth report on the social unrest sparked by economic policy adjustments in a Southeast Asian country.
Calm and objective, as if the storm surrounding Mr. Kobayashi's failed acquisition in Hong Kong had nothing to do with it.
However, the deliberate silence of the Asia Times, amid the clamor of many media outlets, makes people feel that Kobayashi Tenmo has run out of ideas and is afraid to even speak out through the Asia Times.
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