The Birth of the Hong Kong Island Family.

Chapter 253 [Shunde Group of Four]

Lin Zhichao came to the former site of the 'Hong Kong Hotel' on Pedder Street, accompanied by Huang Changhong, Li Paulo and other high-level executives.

The demolition of this 2.6-square-foot site has been completed, and even the design drawings have been almost finalized. It is expected to be moved early next year.The planning and design is a 24-storey commercial building with a total area of ​​more than 28 square feet.

The floor area and height of each floor are different. For example, the bottom four floors have a floor area of ​​1.47 square feet and a floor height of 3.6 meters, because this is a "shopping center". It's a real shopping center

Starting from the fifth floor, each floor is only 1.1 square feet, and there is a balcony between the fourth and fifth floors.Such a design, in addition to a more beautiful appearance, can also prevent the hidden dangers caused by the falling of the outer wall, and of course separate the 'shopping center' and the 'office building'.

Lin Zhichao sighed: "The higher the floor, the higher the cost!"

After the building was built, it was called 'Poly Building', named after its subsidiary Poly Building.The cost is as high as 1500 million Hong Kong dollars, twice as high as the price of the Crocodile Shirt Building.

Of course, Crocodile is only 16 stories high and has a floor area of ​​only 10.8 square feet.

Paul Lee said with a smile: "The boss is willing to use materials, and the construction cost has increased by at least 20%. Li Sheng (Li Gaofu)'s building on Yongle Street cost only 700 million yuan, with a floor area of ​​18 square feet."

Lin Zhichao nodded, but did not continue.He knew in his heart that there was no chance for these four buildings, such as the Crocodile Shirt Building, Poly Building, Yingzhi Building, and Universal Building, to merge.

That being the case, these four buildings will have to remain leased until at least 2023. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that Lin Zhichao will sell some buildings in advance.

For more than 60 years, what if the quality is not good!
"Okay, this project is ready to start!" Lin Zhichao said.

Due to the high technical difficulty, Universal Building is still in the design drawing, and the mechanics inside need to be finalized by experts, and because it is a glass curtain wall, it must be resistant to typhoons.

In 1951, the Lever Building in New York showed people a brand new glass box for the first time. This glass curtain wall building composed of glass and metal is considered to be a symbol of modern high-tech development in architecture, and is deeply loved by architects. of favor.

However, the glass curtain wall has a slight disadvantage, that is, it is easy to fall off, so the design must do a good job in all aspects; it is just that Hong Kong is a typhoon zone, so it is necessary to analyze the mechanics more seriously.

Of course, technology is not a problem. Lin Zhichao believes in the technology of this era.

"Okay, if it is soon, it is expected to enter the market at the end of the year or early next year!" Huang Changhong said.

This speed is enough, Lin Zhichao is not in a hurry anyway.

Poly Building and Global Building are expected to open in late 1960 and mid-1961.The Yingzhi Building (No. 1960, Zhaolong Street) will be completed in early [-].

Afterwards, everyone did not go back to the company, but drove to Paterson Street in Causeway Bay.

In one place, Lin Zhichao asked his assistant to spread out a map of Hong Kong Island, and then a meeting started on the spot.

"You see, Central is a commercial center. When Hong Kong's economy is sufficiently developed, the commercial center will move eastward, and then Wanchai will take over the commercial part of Central. This is called prosperity eastward. But what is the positioning of Causeway Bay? I think it will be Ideal location for shopping."

"So, we want to make good use of the land in Causeway Bay to create a concept of 'using residences to cultivate commerce' and 'using commerce to drive prosperity'."

"The Paterson Street plot, this triangular plot (Paterson, Jardine, and George Street), can be jointly developed. In this triangular area, I plan to build a high-rise building, with at least five floors below it as a shopping center, and above It is an office building. On the west half of Paterson Street, there are almost eight I-shaped buildings, or half-I-shaped buildings. The building near the Triangle Building is designed to be a first-class department store building. The upper floor is also Office buildings or residences, and the rest of the buildings are almost all the layout of shops on the ground floor, office buildings on the second and third floors, and residential buildings above."

Everyone has recorded that the boss is very professional, and the general layout of the design not only considers simple issues, but also considers deeper issues-Hong Kong's economic prospects, regional positioning, and creating a business environment.

In short, everyone admires Lin Zhichao's general plan.

Even when they first heard about 'prosperity will move eastward', they firmly believed in it, and they would not think that 'prosperity will move westward' and ran towards Sheung Wan and Western Wan.

After a long time, Huang Changhong said: "Boss, this project is a huge project, and the capital requirements are relatively high. I'm afraid we will be able to sell off-plan properties, or complete it with a loan."

After thinking about it, Lin Zhichao said: "Funds are not considered, but it is not in the interest to sell uncompleted properties too early, so I hope to get the blueprints out in the first half of next year, start construction in the second half of the year, and sell uncompleted properties in installments after 1960. If the funds are available during the period If there is a problem, just take a loan."

After all, he is not short of money. If he sells the uncompleted property when the price is low, it will be more or less incompatible with his interests.Although emphasizing that "goods are like rotation", it is weak in financial strength, and the most important thing is that in the case of "unsure of market analysis", the model of "goods like rotation" and "real estate like opening a factory" is required, that is, as long as the site is And a certain profit, no matter whether the market is good or bad, they will be sold.

Huang Changhong immediately felt relieved and said, "Well, we understand."

The boss is very confident about the future of real estate, so to find the right time to develop the site, it is all about calculations and careful calculations.

Lin Zhichao nodded, and then said: "We still have Xiyun Street, the Embassy Building, and Jardine's Warehouse in Causeway Bay. Let's talk about it in the 60s!"

Unknowingly, Lin Zhichao also cultivated deeply in Causeway Bay.

The Jardine's Warehouse should be the Jinghua Center in the previous life. It can erect a first-class building site in Causeway Bay, so it is reserved for development in the 70s.

Lin Zhichao, Zheng Yutong, Li Zhaoji, and Li Gaofu, four fellow Shunde natives, are gathering in the private room to play cards at the Yacht Club in Yibozhou.

Lin Zhichao was not very interested in playing cards, but when a few big men sat together, there must be some entertainment; everyone just played cards and had a rest.The card game is 'Hoe Big D', also known as 'Big Two'.

Card games are not necessarily gambling, they can also be intellectual games, after all, there are big people who like to play bridge.

But the four Shunde businessmen are all wealthy, so the money is counted in hundred-dollar Hong Kong dollar bills, and the winning or losing is also calculated in thousands of dollars.

The same is entertainment!

Li Zhaoji played a card and said casually: "The recent real estate shows signs of warming up. Have you noticed this problem?"

Lin Zhichao immediately shared his experience generously: "Well, it is true! Generally speaking, this sharp drop is an 'imbalance between supply and demand'. It has been digested for so long, and it should be warmed up. Brother Zhaoji, your Yongye Company is right, and I am afraid that it will be the next year. Now that you can stand on your feet, you have a good career and family. When you have a wedding, you have to let me know in advance!"

Zheng Yutong and Li Gaofu teased Li Zhaoji one after another. After all, he only got married at the age of 30, and the woman is the champion of Miss Hong Kong, so it is naturally topical.

Although Li Zhaoji is usually not good at talking, but today he is an old friend, so he is not false, he said generously: "Cheng Linsheng has a good word, I will be the first to inform you."

What he said is not a lie, Lin Zhichao has always supported him, and he has always been very grateful.

Lin Zhichao laughed "haha" and said, "Then I'll just wait for this glass of wedding wine!"

For Lin Zhichao, Lee Shau Kee was promoted, but it didn't change too much.

In the previous life, Sun Hung Kai was more like a "partnership company" at the beginning. When the three were running Sun Hung Kai, many projects were planned share allocation (according to the investment quota). Lee Shau Kee also had his own real estate company, and Feng Jingxi also had his own securities business.

And this life will also develop like this, the difference is that Lee Shau Kee has more funds to invest in real estate projects.As far as Lin Zhichao knows, he has recently personally purchased an industrial site, and it is estimated that he intends to invest in an industrial building.

In fact, it is impossible for Lin Zhichao to snatch everyone's opportunities, and those who have a good relationship with him will generally not move.Although Lee Shau Kee has lost the opportunity of the 'Miramar Hotel', Lin Zhichao will not follow the China Gas project, even though it is a monopoly enterprise.

After all, the two tycoons Li Jiacheng and Bao Yugang have already been wiped out, and the other three of the four major families cannot be wiped out.

Lin Zhichao has always believed that "the giant has no friends", just like the dinosaurs, they are going to perish.So he can't be too monopolistic in Hong Kong, at least he has to have a few decent 'foils'.

Because of this, Lin Zhichao also gave up the 'gold shop business', he will not do it now, and he will not do it in the future.

Lin Zhichao teased Zheng Yutong: "A good friend fills the market, but you are a casual friend. Are you still waiting for an opportunity?"

He is not encouraging Zheng Yutong to enter the market, but a kind of ridicule among friends, after all, everyone will not be easily bewitched.

Zheng Yutong showed a smile like a Maitreya Buddha, and said unhurriedly: "A friend asked me to play, so I will play for a while. On the contrary, the incident of Li Kangjie and Chen Detai just confirmed my consistent thinking-don't learn everything, It should not be overdone, once the real estate market crashes, everything will be gone!"

Li Gaofu responded: "Chen Detai is fine, I heard that he has calmed down recently and continues to invest in real estate."

Every time Lin Zhichao talks about real estate, he is always full of enthusiasm. He knows the prospects of real estate, so he is full of confidence.

In fact, in the previous life, he experienced several plummets and bank runs, which pushed all the real estate seniors to the ground and rubbed them against each other.Those speculators who put all their eggs in one basket and gambled were almost all killed, and their entire army was exhausted.Among them, many billionaires retired with nothing, and have since disappeared from the Hong Kong business community.

If there hadn't been a sudden banking crisis or political crisis, these people would have been the real estate tycoons later on, instead of Zheng Yutong, Guo Desheng, Li Zhaoji, and Li Jiacheng, who were not well-known in the real estate industry at this time.

During the chat, Lin Zhichao also talked about one thing: "Hong Kong's economy is taking off. In the middle of this year, many overseas companies have set up branches in Hong Kong. For various reasons, it is normal for real estate to pick up. By the way, Brother Tong, I think you should do Diamond business!"

Zheng Yutong was shocked, and quickly asked: "Lin Sheng, will the sales of this diamond in Hong Kong be good?" Lin Zhichao said: "The number of tourists visiting Hong Kong this year will definitely exceed 10, and the purchasing power of those foreign tourists is comparable to that of locals. , Hong Kong does not have any taxes, do you think tourists who come to Hong Kong will not like diamonds that are 'rare and expensive'?"

Zheng Yutong nodded and said, "What Lin Sheng said makes sense!"

After all, Lin Zhichao is the best businessman in Hong Kong, so he is convinced of it. What's more, he has been paying attention to 'diamonds', but there is only one in Hong Kong that sells diamonds, and that is Liao Guichang of the 'Diamond King', who owns the only A De Beers license.

Liu's father was in the watch and diamond business, and since the 50s, Liu has inherited his father's business. The family owns a diamond processing factory in Wong Chuk Hang.The factory is heavily guarded and outsiders are not allowed to enter.People only know that Liao's watch shop has diamond watches on display. Tiny diamonds are worth tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.Hong Kong is the world's largest production base of cheap watches, and the high value-added watches inlaid by the Liao family must have made a lot of money.

Lin Zhichao stopped talking too much, and a few words of advice from Zheng Yutong were enough.If he intends to, he will take action soon and do everything possible to obtain a De Beers license.If it is difficult, there will be no "Sha Dan Tong" in future generations.

And Lin Zhichao not only gave advice to Zheng Yutong, but he was afraid that Blue Chimney (New World Center) would not snatch it in the future. After all, he can get Wharf, so why bother to get a lot of sites again and again!

The four of them played cards until evening, and had dinner in the clubhouse before going back to their homes.

Lin Zhichao came to the Yangtze River Industrial Park. There are five factories in total, one-, three-, five-, five-, and eight-story industrial buildings, with a total area of ​​22 floors and 72 square feet of factories.

now:

Changjiang Zipper uses two industrial buildings, five floors and three floors, with a total floor area of ​​26 square feet and 4000 employees;
Changjiang Toys uses a five-story building with a total floor area of ​​16 square feet and employs 3500 people;
Changjiang Plastics has used four floors of the "eight-storey" building, and the number of employees has reached 4000;
The wig factory is on the fifth floor of the 'eight-story industrial building', the crocodile shirts and traveler's suitcases are on the sixth and seventh floors; as for the doll shop, it is on the eighth floor.

As for the factory on the first floor, the warehouse is used; the staff canteen is the factory building in the 30s, and the original Changjiang Plastic Factory has been remodeled.

As for the Global Maritime Academy, it has moved to another place in Tsuen Wan, which is a three-storey building.

"Two more three-storey industrial buildings have to be built. This time, the floor area should be larger, and we will strive for a floor area of ​​[-] to [-] square feet." Lin Zhichao said to Wang Liang, the deputy general manager.

Wang Liang nodded and said, "Indeed! The toy factory is growing gratifyingly. If you want to relax, you can build two industrial buildings for backup."

Lin Zhichao said: "Later, the 'Traveler' luggage will be incorporated into the 'Uniqlo Clothing Enterprise' under Cheung Kong Industrial. The factories of the two companies will also be moved to Kwun Tong, and will be managed by my comprehensive group in the future."

Uniqlo clothing company may set up a group in the future, and will not be affiliated with the listed company - Cheung Kong Industrial Group. After all, this listed company is too large and it is outrageous.

In case the two daughters become talents, I am afraid that they have to prepare a decent enterprise to show them their talents.

When Wang Liang heard Lin Zhichao's separation plan, he didn't have any opinion, and asked tentatively, "What about the doll noodles?"

Lin Zhichao said: "It will also be included in the system of Cheung Kong! The factory will also be moved to the factory in Kwun Tong."

Cheung Kong has two factory buildings in Kwun Tong, which will be the main production plants for clothing and food.If it is to be leased, the workshops of garment factories are leased to garment factories, and the workshops of food factories are also sold to similar food and beverage factories.

"Okay, I understand the boss' plan!"

As an old man of the Yangtze River Industry Group, Wang Liang is almost Lin Zhichao's agent. When the boss is away, he is the "acting general manager" in charge of the overall situation.

He is very clear about many of Lin Zhichao's ideas. For example, wigs and plastic flowers are industries without long-term prospects. In a few years, production capacity will be gradually reduced, and agency factories will mainly produce; zippers and toys are long-term industries, and the strength of the group will be concentrated. Go for long-term development; there are also "Zhongtian Shipbreaking Plant" and "Zhongtian Iron and Steel" established this year, which are emerging industries and need to be paid attention to.

Of course, there are many sub-companies of Changjiang Industry, and these sub-companies serve more subsidiaries.

After communicating with Wang Liang for a while, Lin Zhichao got up from the office and went to inspect the factory.

"boss"

Tao Derong, the general manager of Changjiang Plastics, happened to be at the factory, and accompanied Lin Zhichao on the inspection for the first time, mainly to report on work by the way.

Lin Zhichao nodded and said with satisfaction: "The development of plastic flowers is very good this year, and it is a bumper year!"

Although there is still one month to go, it will be a complete year, but the financial report has already seen the clues.

Tao Derong immediately said: "The production capacity is expected to increase by 30%, but the profit is estimated to only increase by 15%! The main reason is that the competition is fierce now, and everyone is making the price lower and lower."

There is no way around this. The industries in Hong Kong are all low value-added. For example, the "textile giant" Nanlian Group in the previous life had more than 4 workers, but its profit was only about 3000 million Hong Kong dollars, which is already scary.

Tang Zhongyuan's current factory has about 7000 people, and its annual profit is only about 1000 million Hong Kong dollars. This is still a high value-added garment industry, at least much higher than textiles.

In Hong Kong's industrial sector, the profit is only about 10%.

Although the profits of Japanese companies such as Sony and Panasonic are only about 8-10%, but the wages of the Japanese are rising fast anyway, and it is already very good to have such profits.

In Hong Kong, the profits are still so low despite the low wages of workers, which shows that what we are doing is a "low-end industry".Like a slightly high-end industry, it is not the turn of Hong Kong.

For example, the OEM of Barbie dolls in the previous life was taken over by the Japanese factory.

Fortunately, in this life, Lin Zhichao has invested a lot in the production process of Barbie dolls, so the quality is no worse than that of plastic toys produced in Japan.

"The threshold is too low. Soon there will be 1000 or 2000 plastic flower factories in Hong Kong. There are too many family factories!"

Hearing Lin Zhichao's words, Tao Derong was convinced, and he immediately suggested: "Boss, I suggest that we consider implementing three shifts next year, so that we can reduce investment in some equipment and increase production capacity. As for workers, we can Go to those places in Tiujingling to recruit some 'temporary workers', if there is work, they will work, and if there is no work, they will be fired."

Lin Zhichao quickly agreed to this plan!

Three shifts are inevitable, increasing production capacity and reducing equipment investment.

As for the recruitment of 'temporary workers', there is no pressure. In this day and age, dismissing workers is a matter of one word, and there is no need to pay compensation.After all, the factory itself is an assembly line operation, so it is normal.

This year (1958), the profit of Plastic Flower may exceed 2300 million Hong Kong dollars, which is already very good.It is estimated that 1959~1963 will be the peak period of profitability.

(End of this chapter)