History of Hong Kong Island

Chapter 58 Opportunity
Zou Huaiwen was timid, and said disappointedly: "Is the business of the paper factory hopeless?"

"No." He Dingxian firmly vetoed it: "When the cost of every industry rises, it is an opportunity for new companies to emerge. To do business, you must know how to seize opportunities in a crisis, just like robbing a bank."

"If the new company can find a way to reduce costs, it will have a huge advantage in price, and it will be able to grow bigger and stronger in a blink of an eye!"

Raw materials in the paper industry must rise, and the extra cost will not be borne by merchants, but will be passed on to consumers.

The extra cost will either be borne by the newspaper, or it will cause the price of the newspaper to rise.Right now, newspaper offices are highly competitive, and it is difficult to make a price increase decision. If the cost rises too high and too fast, newspaper offices will directly import white newspapers.

The paper industry in Europe and the United States is well developed, and the cost has been compressed to a balance point. The advantage of Hong Kong Island Paper is only to reduce transportation costs. Once the price rises higher than the transportation cost, the entire industrial chain of Hong Kong Island Paper will be eliminated. There would be no paper mills.

The role of money is particularly prominent in the intrigue of business and the power of the jungle. Zou Huaiwen asked like a dream: "Now Hong Kong Island white newspapers cost two yuan a knife, and the ex-factory price of each is two cents. The selling price of a newspaper is one cent. (The monetary unit of Hong Kong Island: one penny is one penny, one penny is one dime), the cost of raw materials for production is 10 yuan and 100 knives, and it is mainly made of miscellaneous wood pulp."

"White newspapers are already the cheapest in the paper industry. Mainstream paper mills have begun to recycle old newspapers and continue beating. Is there any other way to reduce costs?"

White newspapers are cheaper than writing paper and toilet paper, but writing paper and toilet paper in Hong Kong Island are not as big as white newspapers. At least white newspapers have fixed sellers. Toilet paper and writing paper are exclusive to wealthy families, so in 70 White newspapers have always been the most mainstream paper industry in the world.

The manufacturing process of white newspapers is also constantly upgrading. In the early years, newsprint was made of pure wood pulp, and now it has been advanced to make paper from mixed wood pulp.

Paper newspapers made of straw pulp in later generations need to add a lot of chemical processes. At present, there are no relevant talents in the newspaper industry, and it is nonsense to want to reduce the cost of technology.

He Dingxian did not have the scientific research ability to reduce technology costs, but he had a business mind. He tapped his temple with his finger and asked contemptuously: "Use your brain, rookie!"

"What is Hong Kong Island? It is a port city in East Asia. The most convenient thing about Hong Kong Island is its fast logistics and low shipping costs."

"When Hong Kong Island lacks raw materials, it is enough to find a way to transport them from abroad. Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos in Southeast Asia have a large area of ​​virgin forests that lack everything except wood."

Zou Huaiwen's expression froze, his eyes brightened immediately, and he patted his legs and praised: "Yes! There are a lot of wood in Southeast Asia, just go to Southeast Asia to buy wood!"

"No, but why didn't other paper bosses think of it?" Shipping related related to his knowledge blind spot, and the fledgling shopping mall rookie immediately became like a fool.

He Dingxian didn't look down on him either, he is a smart person if he doesn't get caught for the first time when he comes out, how can he demand too much from the youngsters!

He explained with a smile: "People are like this, they are greedy for stability and unwilling to seek change. This is especially true for businessmen. If there is a way to make money, it is not to change the model of making money. Paper mills can be moved from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon, Kowloon Moving to the New Territories is because we are unwilling to find ways to open up shipping channels.”

"Of course, this is also because of the fear of being dominated by shipowners, and profits will continue to be cut. After all, opening up relationships requires money and contacts. Some factory owners may not have enough contacts, but when news of the burning of paper mills in the New Territories comes out, there must be The factory owner began to think of a way, sharpened his head, and started to arrange the import of raw materials." He Dingxian's expression immediately became serious: "If you are poor, you will change. Don't underestimate those bosses. Even if they have read as many books as you, they have seen more. The world is far beyond yours."

"Rookie!"

Zou Huaiwen was listening with gusto and was shocked, but his face turned red when he heard the last curse, and he refused to argue.

As far as the news and views on current affairs are concerned, the policeman in military uniform in front of him is more sophisticated than him. No wonder he can make a name for himself, and doing business with him must be profitable.

"Then how to get through the shipping channels? Go directly to the shipping company, or rely on connections." Zou Huaiwen asked.

He Dingxian felt amused: "Go to the shipping company and wait for someone to kill you? What's more, who is the largest ship owner in Hong Kong?"

"Boss Xu of Shunchang Aviation Industry, the most prominent family in Guangwan District! You and I will never get along."

Boss Xu's name is "Ai Zhou". He made a fortune in Zhanjiang in his early years. He started as a grocery store, selling gasoline as a consignment, producing peanut oil and edible oil, and the products are exported to Europe and the United States.

At that time, Zhanjiang happened to be the "free port" designated by the previous dynasty. giant.

In the 30s, he began to obtain the "reclamation rights" to reclaim land in Guangwan District and develop real estate. The land under his hands was counted as "street" and "road".Later, during the subversive period of real estate, it resolutely transformed into shipping, and purchased dozens of cargo ships such as "Gemstone", "Dabaoshan", and "Dabaoxing", making "Shunchang Shipping" the largest shipping company in East Asia, and also established a joint venture with others. Four shipping companies including "Pacific International Shipping" and "Rentai Shipping" were established.

This kind of businessman's sense of crisis and foresight allow him to easily abandon the land when the situation changes, invest in the development of a new free port, and take the ship away to continue the prosperity of the family. It can be said that Shunchang Shipping is important to Boss Xu. It is a capital savings pool, a physical bank. When he has accumulated enough cash flow on Hong Kong Island, he will enter a new round of land reclamation on Hong Kong Island and become the first real estate tycoon on Hong Kong Island.

In addition, Boss Xu still has the power of the Guangzhou Bay Chamber of Commerce from the previous dynasty under his hands. He has countless names under his hands for a living, and has been ranked among the four major real estate families on Hong Kong Island until later generations!
At present, the business atmosphere on Hong Kong Island still has a legacy of troubled times. The big bosses are used to the turbulent life of licking blood and changing the world. No one values ​​​​the land that cannot be taken away. If you prefer to engage in shipping, but not land, who knows that next year will be too uneventful?

But Mr. Xu started to engage in shipping in the 30s. After relying on "live business" to save his fortune, he gradually quit the shipping industry in the early 50s and landed on the shore to start a dead business. Eat head soup for a lifetime!This vision and courage are excellent!
Of course, the withdrawal of a generation of ship tycoons will definitely lead to a new generation of ship tycoons in the market, just as the frustration of a generation of gambler kings will allow the next generation of gambler kings to appear on the stage with a license!
Hong Kong and Macau’s ship tycoons, gambling tycoons, and real estate tycoons are always a generation of newcomers replacing old ones. Now the Haojiang gambling king “Fu Laorong” has been in charge of the Haojiang gambling industry for 20 years. How much better is it, and how many people in later generations know about it?The name of "Lu Jiu", the first generation of gambling king in the Qing Dynasty, has long been buried in history, so many things in ancient and modern times are all jokes, it will be difficult for a hundred years to be as beautiful as Xu's family, at least!

"Then what should I do? I know a lot of people in the press, but in the shipping industry, I'm really blind." Zou Huaiwen said.

He Dingxian said confidently: "You don't know people, I have a way to know them, the key is, I will pay, I will find a way, and I will find someone."

"You are only in charge of management, I'm afraid you won't get shares."

(End of this chapter)