Seeing the dispute between the two parties, MacLehose was also embarrassed. According to normal procedures, the British consortium would not be satisfied. After all, he was a British official, so he had to consider the interests of the British consortium.
And if everyone agrees with Shen Bi's opinion, the Li Group will definitely not agree. Facing the turbulent public opinion outside, if the government cannot give a reasonable explanation, it will be a huge trouble.
MacLehose said, "Mr. Li, please don't mention the issue of the right to issue Hong Kong dollar notes. Hong Kong's financial system is now stable, and our government has no plans to change this situation."
Then MacLehose said to Shen Bi and others, "Your harsh conditions are unrealistic. I hope you will also show sincerity. As the helmsmen of two dominant banks in Hong Kong, are you still worried about challenges from others?"
Shen Bi was very happy about MacLehose's remarks and told Li Guangyu before. Li Guangyu still wanted to snatch the right to issue Hong Kong currency notes from himself and others. This was really a dream.
But what did he mean by what he said to himself and Powell Wilson later? Did he think that he and others were afraid of the Li Group, so they prevented Li Guangyu from establishing a bank? Saying it like this in front of everyone, especially Li Guangyu, is not a good idea. I really don’t give myself and others face.
Shen Bi said, "Mr. MacLehose, we at HSBC and Standard Chartered have been standing in Hong Kong for hundreds of years and have never been afraid of competition with the same industry. The reason why we oppose the Lee Group's entry into the banking industry this time is also for the sake of Hong Kong." Based on the bureau’s consideration, we are based in Hong Kong and have the obligation to maintain the financial stability of Hong Kong.”
Li Guangyu immediately said, "Mr. Shen Bi, will our Li Group's entry into the banking industry affect the stability of Hong Kong's financial sector? I know very well what your calculations are. Don't talk about the overall situation of Hong Kong. Our Li Group's Entry will only have a positive effect on the financial community in Hong Kong. I suggest that all banks registered in Hong Kong conduct a vote to determine the bank with the right to issue banknotes. In particular, banks registered in places other than Hong Kong should be excluded. This will be more conducive to the stability of Hong Kong. .”
Powell Wilson exploded when he heard this. Li Guangyu wanted to kick out Standard Chartered Bank. This was a dream.
Powell Wilson said, "Mr. Li, our Standard Chartered Bank has been serving Hong Kong for hundreds of years and has made great contributions to the economic development and stability of Hong Kong. How can we be excluded just because the place of registration is not in Hong Kong?"
Li Guangyu said, "You don't worry about affecting the financial stability of Hong Kong even if your registered place is not in Hong Kong. Our Li Group Bank has not been established yet, and you have judged that our bank will affect the stability of Hong Kong. This reason is so ridiculous." , do you think the citizens of Xiangjiang are all fools?"
MacLehose saw that if these people asked them to discuss like this, let alone today, even this year, they would not be able to come up with a result. In the final analysis, it is still about interests. The establishment of the Lee Group Bank, especially the achievements of HSBC and Standard Chartered, If the business is allowed, many Chinese-funded consortiums will no longer go to HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank, and will hand over their business to the banks of the Li Group.
Especially HSBC. Due to some policies implemented by Shen Bi, HSBC has a very close relationship with the Chinese. The funds of Chinese family companies, especially those involving areas outside Hong Kong, go through HSBC. This time, Li Guangyu was prevented from establishing a bank Shen Bi. Bi is the most active.
MacLehose said, "The application from Lisheng Group Bank will be approved by the Monetary Authority in accordance with the procedures."
Before MacLehose could finish speaking, Shen Bi said, "Mr. MacLehose, I firmly object, and please consider the stability of Hong Kong. I think it is not only me who objects, but also Chairman of Jardine Matheson, Chairman of Nubican Swire Group, John Swire." Even John Madden, chairman of the Wheelock Group, will not agree to the Lee Group establishing its own bank, and we hope the government will listen to everyone's opinions."
In order to prevent Li Guangyu from easily obtaining a banking license, Shen Bi moved out the heads of several British-funded consortiums with the greatest influence in Hong Kong to put pressure on MacLehose.
Li Guangyu naturally would not let Shen Bi succeed. Li Guangyu said, "Mr. Shen Bi, you people can only represent the British-funded consortium. They cannot represent the more than five million citizens of Xiangjiang. The Xiangjiang government serves more than five million citizens." , rather than serving a few of your British-funded consortiums. The establishment of a bank by our Li Group complies with various regulations of the Monetary Authority, and cannot be vetoed by a few of your British-funded consortiums."
MacLehose said, "Please be patient and listen to what I have to say. After the Lee Group obtained the banking license, it immediately stopped the current report and suppressed the public opinion. I don't want the report to continue. Go down."
Li Guangyu immediately replied with a smile, "Mr. MacLehose, you can rest assured that our media groups will report truthfully and will not smear the government. After we obtain the license, there will naturally be no such reports. This shows that Our Monetary Authority attaches great importance to the opinions of Xiangjiang citizens and is willing to listen to outside voices."
Faced with Li Guangyu's shameless words, they were speechless. Is this the opinion of the people of Xiangjiang? If it weren't for your Li Group to add fuel to the flames, the people of Xiangjiang would care about such a thing, especially since some reports directly pointed out that the Monetary Authority Treat Chinese differently.
McBurney Deshawn feels that he is really unjust. If his department treats Chinese people differently, how can there be so many Chinese-owned banks in Hong Kong? This time, Li Guangyu took advantage of the situation and kidnapped millions of Chinese people in Hong Kong and tortured them. pressure.
MacLehose said, "Mr. Li, everyone has something wrong with the reasons this time, so I won't say more. I don't want the media under your group to become the vanguard of attacking our government departments in the future. Your current influence is your own." I am also very clear that I do not want you to influence the views of Xiangjiang citizens on our government departments."
If the British-funded consortium and the Monetary Authority hadn't made things difficult for the Li Group first and Li Guangyu did this, MacLehose would have already caused trouble for him.
Li Guangyu said, "Mr. MacLehose, you can rest assured that our media has always adhered to the principle of not interpreting the government too much and preferring entertainment and economic reports. As long as the Xiangjiang government acts in accordance with the documents issued by the government, it will not do anything to our Li Group." If we treat people differently, our media will not speak out about it."
After hearing what Li Guangyu said, MacLehose was a little angry at Shen Bi and others. If these people hadn't caused this incident, the Hong Kong government and the Monetary Authority would not have been so passive these days.
MacLehose said to Li Guangyu, "After your Li Group established a bank, I don't want you to make some small moves to get the right to issue Hong Kong dollars. The government now needs stability in Hong Kong. If you don't have such plans, you don't want to go." What kind of referendum are you bringing along with you the Chinese banks in Hong Kong?"
Shen Bi and Powell Wilson were also worried after hearing this. There were many more Chinese-owned banks in Hong Kong than their British-owned banks. If there was a referendum, they would really not be able to stop the Li Group from coming in to share the profits.
Li Guangyu proposed it at the time just as a bargaining chip. It was not easy to obtain the right to issue Hong Kong dollar notes. It took many years for the Bank of China on the mainland to obtain this right. Li Guangyu still needed to plan this matter slowly.
Li Guangyu said, "Mr. MacLehose, as long as our bank has a sound business, I guarantee that the bank we established will not get involved in the right to issue Hong Kong dollars without the consent of the Monetary Authority."
After hearing Li Guangyu's promise, Powell Wilson felt relieved. He opposed Li Guangyu's entry into the bank because he did not want to see the Lee Group's strong financial resources get involved in the right to issue Hong Kong currency notes.
As for the rest, he said it didn't matter. Anyway, the cooperation between Chinese-owned groups was basically with HSBC. After the establishment of the Lee Group, it weakened HSBC's strength, and Standard Chartered might still be able to sit on the throne of the largest bank in Hong Kong.
Shen Bi was still unwilling to give in and wanted to impose large-scale restrictions on the Li Group's business. However, Powell Wilson did not support it this time. MacLehose wanted to suppress the public opinion as soon as possible and did not agree with Shen Bi's opinion. .
MacLehose instructed McBurney Deshawn to handle everything in accordance with the regulations of the Monetary Authority. What business licenses the Lee Group can obtain depends on the strength of the Lee Group.
Li Guangyu is very happy. This large-scale publicity by the media may make people like MacLehose unhappy, and it has the intention of coercing them, but he has got what he wants, so he doesn't care so much. If he doesn't do this If so, who knows when I will be able to establish a bank with relatively complete businesses.