The Birth of the Hong Kong Island Family.

Chapter 157 [Overlord of Causeway Bay]

June.

In Cheung Kong's office, Lin Zhichao is working. Recently, Cheung Kong has made persistent efforts and purchased two more pieces of land, namely:

The first picture: the 'Golden Triangle' located at Pak Wo Street, Paterson Street, and George George Street in Causeway Bay. The old building on this site belongs to Wangdi; The plot ratio must be very high (plot ratio: the "land area" multiplied by the "floor ratio" is the floor area), if a triangular building is built (the tip is flattened, so as not to offend others), then it is three sides Street shops.At the same time, this piece of land is parallel to the previously purchased 'Paterson Street West Half Street', only separated by Jiande George Street, and can be developed as a whole at that time.The land area is 4 square feet, and the price is HK$158 million.

The second picture: "Jardine's Warehouse" located on Jardine's Street, opposite to Jardine's Square (later Jinhua Center), there are also two frontages - Hennessy Road and Jardine's Street.The land area is 2.8 square feet and the price is HK$108 million.

Because there are properties, the owner will not sell them according to the price of the land. Generally speaking, it is not expensive. The two lands are commercial in nature, and they are only less than 40 Hong Kong dollars per square foot.

After purchasing these two old sites, Lin Zhichao decided to continue to purchase land in Causeway Bay and focus on developing the Causeway Bay area.Like the three pieces of land in Causeway Bay in his hands, the development model adopts a mixed model of "commercial real estate" on the ground floor and "residential real estate" on the middle and upper floors.

Causeway Bay is not yet a bustling commercial area, and building all commercial real estate is a dead end, and office buildings can hardly be rented out; in real estate, there is a practice of using residential buildings to cultivate commerce, which is suitable for the development model of Causeway Bay.

At the same time, Causeway Bay was not a shopping area in the 50s. If Lin Zhichao wanted to develop buildings in Causeway Bay, he had to cultivate the shopping trend in Causeway Bay, instead of renting out the shops on the ground floor after Cheung Kong Industrial built the building. things.

He needs to attract investment and attract a department store with appeal, and then this department store can drive the surrounding business.In the 70s and [-]s, of course, Japanese-funded department stores had the most appeal, because Japanese products were too competitive.

"Boss, the properties on Xiyun Street in Causeway Bay belong to the church. They don't directly discuss business with us, saying it's not good." Hu Zhaoxu walked into Lin Zhichao's office and reported.

Lin Zhichao immediately thought about it, and then he said: "If you don't directly negotiate business with us, then you can negotiate business indirectly. This church seems to belong to Christianity, so you should contact his Chinese followers. It is best if they are famous. If you can do business for us We introduced that the agency fee can be given 3 points."

These properties are more than 12 square feet, and the value is more than 350 million. About seven buildings can be built. If they are won, it will be another big project.

Lin Zhichao wants to focus on the development of Causeway Bay to drive up the popularity, so that the rent of his commercial real estate can increase.Of course, land and old buildings in other areas will continue to be acquired, but they may be used as "reserve land".

"Okay, I'll go find out the situation right away, and report back to you!"

"Well, if there is a suitable partner, I can come forward and have a chat."

It's not that there are few lands on the market, but Lin Zhichao thinks it's more exciting to develop such a big project.If the old site of this church is won, more than 1200 million has been spent on land purchase this year.In addition to the previously purchased land, more than 2000 million Hong Kong dollars have been invested.

This courage is already unique in Xiangjiang!

After Hu Zhaoxu left, Lin Zhichao remembered one more thing, that is, the Miramar Hotel must be acquired.He is not interested in the Miramar Hotel, but the land of the Miramar Hotel, which has a full 8.6 square feet.

If the Miramar Hotel is taken down, it will be rebuilt as a 'Shangri-La Hotel', which will then compete with the Peninsula Hotel.

At this time, the Miramar Hotel was not called the Miramar Hotel, but a hotel founded by several Spanish priests. It was originally used to receive expelled priests from the mainland. Open to the outside world, the proceeds are used as church funds.

But what is certain is that such an approach is against the missionary spirit, so sooner or later the newly appointed bishop will order the sale.

Urgent is not urgent, but keep it in mind and inquire about the specific situation later.

On weekends, Tang Zhongyuan and Song Qiaoling and their two sons Tang Xianqian and Tang Youqian came to Lin's mansion as guests. The relationship between the two families has always been very good, and Lin Zhichao has always been grateful to Tang Zhongyuan and his wife for their success.

During the banquet, everyone exchanged cups and had a pleasant conversation.

"Father-in-law, how is the factory developing recently?" Lin Zhichao asked with concern.

Tang Zhongyuan then said: "Relying on the advanced equipment, I can still rank among the best in the textile industry in Hong Kong. Although the profit has not increased, it has remained stable. I am now accumulating strength. Once the embargo is over, I will continue to purchase new equipment and open up overseas markets." market."

This is the case in the textile industry, where equipment is updated quickly, and even a certain type of cloth is 'all the rage', but will be replaced soon.In this case, in fact, some small and medium-sized factories are more beneficial. They can quickly follow the trend and turn around in time.Of course, large factories also have the benefits of large factories, it can only be said that they do not have an advantage in certain aspects.

Lin Zhichao suggested: "Equipment is not a panacea. For example, South Africa has a basic requirement for imported cloth, at least 172 yarns per inch, otherwise heavy taxes will be imposed. As far as I know, Hong Kong textile factories think it is impossible?"

Tang Zhongyuan nodded and said, "It is indeed a very difficult skill to complete!"

Lin Zhichao is not ignorant of textiles, on the contrary, he has been in contact with them for many years, because the Yangtze River zipper needs textiles, and the current crocodile shirts also need it, so he still has a good understanding of cloth.

Textiles in Hong Kong are generally divided into cotton spinning and wool spinning. A factory can only produce one type, and cotton spinning is the most popular textile.Cotton spinning requires cotton to be spun into yarn first, and then the yarn is spun into cloth. These are two processes.So some factories are called "spinning factories", which means that others only do spinning, not spinning.

Textile dyeing, four major steps, are the four major industries.However, large factories generally do industrial integration, at least they have to do 'textile dyeing', and may not be involved in ready-made garments.

"I don't know the specific technology, but I think it can be achieved since others ask for it. If anyone in Hong Kong solves this problem, it will definitely open up the markets in South Africa, Indonesia, and even the United States. My father-in-law can set up a research group specifically for the South African market. Carry out technical research and development. Straight weaving is not enough, you can try twill!"

Tang Zhongyuan was taken aback for a moment, and then said: "Twill?"

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "Everyone is researching on straight fabrics, but they haven't opened their minds. Twill fabrics can not only look good, but maybe they can meet better requirements."

Tang Zhongyuan said happily: "What you said makes sense. I will organize a team to study it later. However, when will this embargo be lifted? Some pessimistic.

Lin Zhichao said: "The lifting of the embargo is inevitable, and the war will end soon. The important thing is that Japan's textile industry is now dominated, and Hong Kong's textile industry is no match for it. Therefore, there is no need to wait for the day. Although Japan's light industry is being dumped around the world, the It is bound to be targeted by Europe and the United States, and the wages of Japanese workers will also rise, so Hong Kong’s light industry still has great opportunities.”

"Makes sense!"

Tang Zhongyuan naturally believed in his son-in-law's vision. He was often surprised by his son-in-law's talent in business, and the expansion speed of the fleet was unimaginable.

Later, Lin Zhichao asked, "Does father-in-law know Dr. Tang Yuhan?"

Tang Zhongyuan immediately said: "Yes, he is a famous doctor in the medical field. I have known him since I was in Shanghai. Last year, my mother-in-law visited him for medical treatment, and I have been in touch with him all the time. By the way, what do you want him for?"

Lin Zhichao said: "I am interested in an old site of the church and plan to buy it. However, it is not convenient for people in the church to discuss business directly. I plan to go around and communicate with the Chinese in the church. It happens that Dr. Tang is a member of this church."

Tang Zhongyuan nodded, and said, "In that case, let me make an appointment for you, just to have a meal together."

Lin Zhichao said, "Well, thank you father-in-law."

Later, Tang Zhongyuan became concerned about real estate matters.

"Could it be that you plan to start real estate again?"

"I've been doing it all the time. But now that global shipping has developed, so I spent some money to buy land and properties, and plan to reserve it in my hands, and then develop it when it's appropriate in the future."

Tang Zhongyuan asked again: "So, are you optimistic about the prospects of Hong Kong's real estate?"

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "A certain degree of industrialization means that many people are developed, and real estate will form new purchasing power. Therefore, real estate is a very stable wealth, not as risky as sailing on the sea. Could it be that my father-in-law is also interested in real estate?"

Tang Zhongyuan shook his head and said, "I still like industry. When industry develops in the future, I can consider development."

Lin Zhichao didn't advise anything. After all, before the 70s, real estate in Hong Kong went up and down, which was not something ordinary people could play with.Although Tang Zhongyuan is his father-in-law, he only gives some superficial advice when he wants to develop real estate.

As for the old site that Lin Zhichao helped Li Gaofu find, the reason was that he wanted to buy the land and offered to cooperate in the development in the future, so he found a good old site.Otherwise, he will not participate and advise.

In the evening two days later, Lin Zhichao and Tang Zhongyuan entertained Tang Yuhan in Lu Yu's teahouse.

Tang Yuhan, a native of Ningbo, was born in Hong Kong in 1913. He returned to his hometown with his parents when he was still a baby, that is, Wantang, Zhenhai, Ningbo. In the 30s, after graduating from the Shanghai Medical College, he entered the University of Leuven in Belgium, engaged in pathological research and practicing medicine, and obtained a doctorate in medicine.After returning to China, he successively served as the dean of Shanghai Central Belgian Radium Ingot Hospital, the dean of Shanghai Red Cross Hospital, and the professor of Shanghai Medical College. In the 40s, he went to the UK for further study and practiced medicine. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, becoming one of the earliest Chinese people to receive this honor.

Tang Yuhan's wife, Chen Yunshang, is also a celebrity. She used to be a well-known movie star in Shanghai. She went from a Hong Kong rookie to her career peak after filming "Mulan in the Army". This work broke through within three months after it was released. She broke the box office record and achieved a full house effect, so she was also known as the Queen of the Lonely Island. Before she got married, she had been named the movie queen three times, and her fame was close to that of Zhou Xuan and Hu Die.

"Lin Sheng, look up to me for a long time!"

"Doctor Tang, you are everyone, and you can help the world by hanging the pot."

When the two met for the first time, they were very polite.

In Tang Yuhan's view, Lin Zhichao is a leader in Hong Kong's business community, and it is rumored that he is highly valued by the British Hong Kong government.

In Lin Zhichao's view, Tang Yuhan is a famous doctor; while doctors and lawyers in Hong Kong, or in a capitalist society, are high-income groups, people who are friends with the rich and powerful, and people who are worthy of respect.

The teahouse brewed a cup of high-quality Pu'er tea for everyone, and the aroma was overflowing.

In this era, the term Pu-erh tea refers to tea leaves fermented by watering, high-temperature and high-humidity aging, etc. There are no strict regulations on the source of tea greens. Therefore, some tea houses on the border of Thailand use local raw materials to produce Pu-erh tea.

The sales of Pu'er tea have always been "flowers blooming outside the wall and fragrant inside the wall". Before Yunnan Province obtained the right to export tea, the export production and sales of Pu'er tea were almost dominated by Hong Kong companies owned by Guangdong Tea Import and Export Corporation. In the 50s, Hong Kong was not only the main base of Pu-erh tea consumption, but also the main force of production. Hong Kong tea shops started with the local tea drinking habits, using artificial aging technology to quickly age Pu-erh tea, and supplied it to teahouses.

This old-fashioned method and technology is actually to use artificial watering to ferment, shorten the aging time, make red soup tea that satisfies Hong Kong tea drinkers, and play the role of saving storage rent and quickly recovering costs.

After accumulating technological advantages, the business of the Hong Kong tea house grew bigger and bigger, and at one time produced "replica" tea of ​​the highest grade, and sold these teas to Singapore, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.

However, since Hong Kong itself does not produce tea, it needs to import tea greens from various places for fermentation. Among them, tea greens from Yunnan are the most popular, and there are also border tea greens from Vietnam and Thailand.

After chatting about some gossip, Lin Zhichao also got straight to the point: "Dr. Tang, I have an appointment with you this time. I really want to ask for something!"

Tang Yuhan said with a smile: "Mr. Lin is serious! If there is something wrong, it's okay to say it!"

He thought that Lin Zhichao or his family had some kind of disease, so he wanted to go through the 'back door' in advance.

Lin Zhichao nodded, and said, "I'm interested in the old church site on Xiwan Street, Causeway Bay, but I can't find a place to buy it. So I found out that you are a church member, so I want to ask you to help me as an intermediary."

No matter how famous a doctor is, an intermediary fee is definitely a big sum, so I will tell you about the intermediary fee frankly.

Tang Yuhan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It turned out to be this matter, which really surprised me. No problem, I can take a trip for Mr. Lin."

Lin Zhichao didn't expect Tang Yuhan to be quite straightforward, so he said: "That's troublesome! Don't worry, the agency fee will be funded by my buyer, and it will be calculated at 3 points of the transaction price."

The church cannot be a greedy person, so if they want to sell it, the price will not be too high. As for the three-point agency fee, it is a relatively high level in the industry, and it is a good time to meet Tang Yuhan.

"Lin Sheng is a straightforward person. This will definitely help. But I'm curious. Mr. Lin is going to show his strength again. I've heard about Lin Sheng's deeds. It's a good way to stratify and install. It was all proposed by you." Tang Yuhan said with interest.

Lin Zhichao said: "I plan to reserve it in my hands and develop it in the future. At least this war will end and the embargo will end."

Tang Yuhan nodded, and asked again: "Mr. Lin is optimistic about the future of Hong Kong's property market?"

"Overall, it is optimistic. After all, if you have money, you will always find a more comfortable nest."

"Haha, that makes sense."

Next, Lin Zhichao did not expect that this Tang Yuhan was so keen on real estate and asked a lot of questions about real estate.

Looking at him like this, I'm afraid he also wants to invest in real estate.

Lin Zhichao also talked about real estate affairs in a so-so manner, which can be regarded as a friendship with Tang Yuhan. After all, a famous doctor like him may be useful to him in the future.Of course it wasn't that Lin Zhichao needed to see a doctor, he had never been sick since he was reborn, and his body was very strong.

Be prepared, this thing!

In the end, Tang Yuhan became more active than Lin Zhichao, which made Lin Zhichao slander. He wouldn't think about cooperating in the development of real estate projects in the future, right?

At the end of June, the former church site on Xiwan Street in Causeway Bay was finally acquired by Cheung Kong for 360 million Hong Kong dollars.This price is not expensive, because there are properties on it, which can be rented.

What's more, it is quite cost-effective when it comes to less than 30 Hong Kong dollars per square foot.At the same time, he paid Tang Yuhan an agency fee of 10.8 Hong Kong dollars, and he was also very happy, and the two became friends because of this.

Cheung Kong Industries.

In the office, Lin Zhichao calculated the land and former site of Cheung Kong, four in Causeway Bay, two in Central, and one in Yau Ma Tei.These lands are enough for the development of Cheung Kong Industrial Co., Ltd. within two years from 1955 to 1957. If more residential lands are developed, there may be a sharp drop.Although with Cheung Kong's strength, the plunge will not have too much impact, but Lin Zhichao will still avoid this risk.

Every sharp drop in Hong Kong real estate is an opportunity for Lin Zhichao. In his previous life, in 1957, due to the Hong Kong government's restrictions on "sales of uncompleted properties" and "imbalance between supply and demand", land prices once fell by as much as 70%, and many people went bankrupt.Fortunately, it resumed its rise in 1959, and did not fall again until the bank run in 1965.

Lin Zhichao likes this kind of behavior of going up and down with the market, and he doesn't like the government's intervention in real estate. After all, he can buy low and sell high.

Although Cheung Kong has bought enough land developed in the 50s, Cheung Kong will definitely continue to purchase reserve land in the future.

However, this year has already spent 1200 million Hong Kong dollars to buy land, or 215 million U.S. dollars; but Lin Zhichao also wants to complete the goal of global shipping this year as soon as possible, and buy the remaining 5 tons of cargo ships. After all, he can sign a long-term contract.

Therefore, he stopped searching for land and properties, and planned to raise money to buy a ship first, preferably in August or September.

(End of this chapter)