Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1198 Breakthrough
"The Hong Kong government's top leader visited China.com today, the day China.com was launched. China.com is also the first local internet company in Hong Kong!"

"Rumor has it that China.com has invested over HK$62 million, making it the Chinese internet company with the largest investment to date!"

"China.com claims it aims to become the world's number one Chinese-language internet portal..."

Hong Kong's morning news and several local television stations, including TVB, also reported on China.com's news. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Hong Kong government is promoting China.com.

……

Inside the villa of the Li family of Changjiang, Mr. Li of Changjiang, along with the eldest son of the Li family, Li Zekai, and Huo Jianning, a key figure in the Li family of Changjiang, all gathered at the breakfast table today, a rare occasion.

Mr. Li from Changjiang is discussing the matter of Orange Telecom in the UK with Huo Jianning.

"So, does this mean a new round of telecom mergers and acquisitions has begun in old Europe?"

After taking a few bites of breakfast, Mr. Li from Changjiang asked Huo Jianning, who had just returned from England.

"The old European telecommunications market firmly believes that the internet age is coming, the telecommunications industry will experience explosive growth, and 3G technology will also become a reality."
Germany's Mannesney, Britain's Vodafone, Telefónica, Telecom Italia, and Telefónica have all been quite active, issuing huge amounts of stock to raise funds.

Next year, and even in the latter half of this year, I believe the old European telecommunications industry will embark on an unprecedented wave of mergers and acquisitions, and I think the UK, where Orange Telecom is located, will be no exception.

As the right-hand man of Mr. Li of the Yangtze River, Huo Jianning's abilities and vision are beyond question. He could see that the game of big fish eating small fish in the old European telecommunications industry was about to begin.

Mr. Li stopped eating after hearing Huo Jianning's words. "Do you think Orange Telecom will also receive an acquisition offer?"

Huo Jianning remained silent for a moment, but this was already a way of expressing his attitude to Mr. Li of the Yangtze River.

"Whether it's Vodafone, which wants to become the dominant player in British telecommunications and then dominate the old European telecommunications market."

Or companies like Mannesner from Germany, aiming to enter the British telecommunications market.

"I think they might all make acquisition offers to Orange Electronics!" Huo Jianning said.

Origin is the third largest mobile operator in the UK, but this position is rather awkward.

The three major mobile operators in the UK, besides Orange Telecom, are Vodafone and BT. These two have been vying for the top spot, and whoever acquires Orange Telecom will become the leader in the UK mobile telecommunications market!

Similarly, German companies like Mannesner, Telefónica France, and Telecom Italia, aiming to enter the UK telecommunications market, also target Orange Telecom.

Orange Telecom is the weakest of the three, and its major shareholder is the Li family of Yangtze River, an outsider, making it a natural target for takeover.

Mr. Li from Changjiang was eating breakfast when, after a while, he said leisurely, "I've always believed that if you're not going to make the last penny, you should leave when it's time to leave!"

After saying that, Huo Jianning and others from the Yangtze River Li family company understood the decision made by Yangtze River Boss Li: to choose the right time, when the wave of mergers and acquisitions in the old European telecommunications industry was rising, to cash out Orange Telecom at a high price!
But then, the eldest son of the Li family of Changjiang frowned and asked the owner of Changjiang Li, "But Cyberport has also invested in Orange Telecom. If we want to withdraw, what about over there..."

Mentioning this matter, the expressions of the Li family members of Changjiang, as well as Li Zekai and others, changed slightly. Cyberport's surprise attack on Orange Telecom really caught the Li family of Changjiang off guard.

Even now, if the Li family of Cheung Kong wants to cash out Orange Telecom, they still need the cooperation of Orange Telecom's second-largest shareholder, Cyberport!
As they were talking, a news report on the television caught their attention.

Seeing the Hong Kong government leader personally visit China.com to show his support, Li Zekai's hand, which was under the table, slowly clenched into a fist.

In the past, such moments of glory for China.com belonged to the Li family of Changjiang. But now, the spotlight in Hong Kong seems to have been drawn to Cyberport. When people in Hong Kong mention the Li family, the first thing that comes to mind is no longer necessarily the Li family of Changjiang.

"It seems that Cyberport is really going to launch the Silicon Harbor plan!"

Jianning, do you think China.com can succeed? If it does, the landscape of Hong Kong will truly change!

Mr. Li, the owner of Changjiang, watched the news on TV and asked Huo Jianning a question in a leisurely manner.

Although Mr. Li from Changjiang asked with a smile, Huo Jianning, who was familiar with Mr. Li, knew that Mr. Li was being very cautious at this moment.

"It's hard to say, but... Li Dongling is different from other people in Hong Kong!"

Huo Jianning spoke cautiously, but the meaning behind his words made Boss Li of Changjiang take another look at him.

What Huo Jianning meant was that if China.com were managed by a local Hong Kong tycoon, the chances of success would be slim, but if it were Li Dashan, would he dare not comment on it so casually?
Among these assessments, Huo Jianning's evaluation of Li Dashan is in a class of its own, distinguishing him from the other wealthy families in Hong Kong.

"I'm done eating!"

At this moment, Li Zekai could no longer sit still. He glanced at the TV, felt a little anxious, and turned to leave.

If China.com succeeds, a new trend will emerge in Hong Kong, and countless people will flock to the internet. At that time, will Yingke Power also chase this trend?
If we follow the trend, wouldn't Yingke Power be begging for food by following behind Cyberport?

The thought made Li Zekai feel a tightness in his chest. Watching Li Zekai's departing figure, the owner of Changjiang Li gently shook his head, then took a towel from the servant, wiped himself, and said to the eldest son of the Changjiang Li family and Huo Jianning.

"The Cheung Kong Group should also increase its investment in the internet, technology, and biotechnology sectors; we can't put all our eggs in one basket!"

Old ginger is spicier. As for face, Mr. Li of Changjiang doesn't care about it anymore. The wind of the Internet has not yet fully blown in the port city, but Mr. Li of Changjiang doesn't mind placing a bet first.

……

Inside the Dongling High-Tech Port City Building, Li Dongling, along with the Hong Kong government's top leader, Chen Guoan, Lin Xianhui, and many others, were talking in the lobby of China.com's office.

Meanwhile, everyone's gaze frequently swept towards the electronic clock hanging in the office lobby and another large screen.

This large screen was specially airlifted from Dongfang Optoelectronics as a gift for the opening of China.com.

After China.com is launched, this screen can display information such as the number of online users, website visits, and peak visitors.

It's almost nine o'clock!

At this point, the digital clock was almost at nine o'clock, which was precisely the time when China.com went live globally.

"Please launch the listing ceremony for China.com!"

Lin Xianhui said to the Hong Kong government leader, "China.com has created a button. Please press it."

This thing is just a formality, just like the bell-ringing ceremony when an IPO occurs. In reality, whether it's ringing the bell or pressing the IPO button together, it's all just a formality and has nothing to do with the actual IPO. The key is the string of code in the background.

But formalities aside, sometimes it's still necessary to go through the motions.

The footage of the Hong Kong government's Chief Executive launching China.com today will be captured by numerous media outlets and reporters present, becoming part of the Chief Executive's resume and even the memory of the city of Hong Kong!

If the Silicon Harbor project comes to fruition, the historical significance of this shot will likely increase even further!

A flurry of flashes went off as the Hong Kong government chief pressed the button, and China.com officially launched simultaneously in mainland China, Hong Kong, Siam, Singapore, Japan, and other regions.

While China.com claims to be launching globally, it is actually targeting Southeast Asia. China.com in the United States and Europe will have to wait until then to launch in those regions.

After China.com went live, the Hong Kong government chief executive, Secretary for Justice Tsang, Chan Kwok-on, and other officials, along with media reporters, kept glancing at the LCD screen.

Not to mention senior executives of China.com such as Lin Xianhui, Li Xiao, and Wei Fang, they started running around busily at this time.

At the same time, China.com in the port city also launched a large number of news articles, uploading news selected from more than 300 media outlets that have signed contracts with China.com.

In addition to traditional news, the entertainment section of China.com also used sensationalist headlines to upload news such as the Malaysian "witchcraft murder case," a beauty pageant for special groups in Siam, and rumors of vampires in the Philippines.

The news about these things is basically reported in the style of "Approaching Science," and there is actually nothing mysterious about them, but the sensational headlines can attract the attention of a lot of onlookers.

As media outlets, sometimes we need sensational headlines to generate buzz!
After China.com launched, the secretary of the Hong Kong government leader came to his side, clearly urging him to leave.

The fact that the Hong Kong government leaders came to China.com so early in the morning to attend the launch ceremony is enough to show their support for China.com. However, there are still a lot of things to do and many important figures waiting for the Hong Kong government leaders to meet with, so it is impossible for them to stay at China.com all day.

"Postpone those meetings and other matters; I need to see the number of visits to China.com!"

The Hong Kong government chief made no attempt to conceal what he said to his secretary. Many people around, especially Hong Kong reporters, were astonished by the chief's support for China.com, which was beyond their wildest imagination.

Upon hearing the words of the Hong Kong government leader, Lam Yin-fai, Lai Siu, and the others became even more nervous.

The number of visits to China.com after its launch is calculated from different regions, including mainland China, Taiwan, Siam, and Singapore, and due to delays, it takes about half an hour to get the statistics.

For the executives of China.com, those half hours were definitely the most difficult half hour!
Li Dongling and Guo Jingyun were talking in hushed tones.

"Websites such as Tianya Forum, Tianya Sports, 3721 Navigation, Lu Master, and Himalaya FM, as well as offline platforms such as Focus Media, have all placed advertisements for China.com!"

"All the mainland and overseas media outlets that cooperate with China.com have published news about the launch of China.com today!"

Guo Jingyun said to Li Dongling, "Dongling Hi-Tech has already invested all its resources to promote China.com."

Li Dongling nodded. Dongling Hi-Tech has already burned itself out for China.com. Now it's up to China.com to see if it has the luck to live up to that!
"In the first ten minutes, China.com received over 80,000 visits!"

Wei Fang first reported the data from China.com to the audience, and then, fearing that those who were not experts would not understand the significance of this data, he added, "This has set a new record for the global Internet!"

(End of this chapter)