The Birth of the Hong Kong Island Family.

Time flies, and it's July in a blink of an eye.

Lin Zhichao walked towards the conference room of 'Cheung Kong Industry', passing through the office hall, the staff all paid attention, their eyes were admiration, respect, or smile.

Cheung Kong is the most promising real estate company, and the company benefits are top-notch in the industry. It can be said that almost every employee has a strong sense of belonging, and most of them can retire without any problems.

Lin Zhichao didn't pause or pay tribute. After all, he was familiar with everyone, so there was no need to do anything extra; he went straight to the door of the meeting room, and the office clerk was waiting at the door. Seeing Lin Zhichao walking into the meeting room, he closed the door from the outside.

The new female employee whispered to her colleagues, "The boss is so handsome!"

The male colleague next door hurriedly made a 'shh' gesture, and warned some pretty, ignorant new employees and 'apprentices': "Be quiet! If you let Assistant Tang find out, be careful to wear small shoes for you."

The female staff immediately said indifferently: "Master! Assistant Tang is a good person, so he won't be narrow-minded!"

The male colleague was speechless for a moment. Sure enough, a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers, and he can speak freely. The key is that he can't refute.If you refute it, don't you say that the "boss wife" is stingy, and it will offend people even more.

Moreover, as a veteran employee, I also found that Cheung Kong has a large proportion of female employees (20%), which is something that other companies do not have.

Everyone understands that this is the enlightenment of the boss.

The reason why Lin Zhichao recruited female employees according to the ratio of 20% was because Tang Caiyun and Lin Xiner worked in the company, and then took advantage of the trend to train some female employees.Of course, this kind of company where men and women work together is also very effective, at least the atmosphere is better.

Of course, although the company did not explicitly order 'internal love affairs', it is obviously not allowed; if it is found out, one person must be transferred from the post and assigned to a subordinate company.

Lin Zhichao walked into the conference room, and more than a dozen high-level executives had already arrived, including Tang Caiyun, who also attended the meeting.

"When will the Paterson Street project start?"

Hearing Lin Zhichao's inquiry, Huang Changhong immediately reported: "Construction started in early September."

Lin Zhichao nodded. This project consists of "nine buildings" in total, and each building is a commercial and residential project with a large floor area, which can provide 2120 residential units and a large number of commercial floors.

Among them, seven buildings are 17 floors high and two buildings are 22 floors high; the reason why the seven buildings are only 17 floors is because of the low construction cost, and the floor area has not been reduced because the body is larger.The two tall buildings are located at the intersection, and the two buildings are located on both sides of Jiande George Street.There are department stores on one side and shopping centers on the other, driving the retail business in this area in one fell swoop.

"How is the Daimaru department store in Xingdao?"

Lin Shaodong, the person in charge of retail commercial real estate, reported: "Daimaru Department Store has sent people there, and our project department is coordinating. Daimaru Department Store said that it is preparing to open on 'Christmas'!"

The progress is neither fast nor slow, and the grasp is just right. It just so happens that this year, Sing Tao Autonomy has spanned from the 50s to the 60s.

The 'Miracle Hotel' project is expected to open in 1961, and it will take four years for the entire project from project approval to opening.

In the conference room, everyone was discussing the progress and operation of its projects. Since Cheung Kong's commercial real estate projects are relatively large, the content is naturally more complicated.

"The Miramar Hotel is looking for a well-known chain hotel in the United States to cooperate with, to increase our popularity in Hong Kong, including promotion and management. This is what you have to do. After one month, I hope to see your Probably choose a plan!"

With a management fee of less than 5% of the turnover, you can get a room reservation system, a promotion system for a large hotel chain, and send people to Hong Kong for management.

These are very cost-effective for a hotel novice.Although Cheung Kong has been recruiting hotel professionals, there are no systematic success stories after all.

"Ok"

The senior executives responded quickly when they heard the boss's domineering speech.

The boss asked everyone to do this, and everyone must arrange it as soon as possible; the important thing is that they know that the boss can't rub the sand in his eyes, and he has high requirements for things.Think of things in the long run, and think more than everyone else.

For example, regarding the management of the Miramar Hotel, everyone may think that they should operate it for a period of time first, and then introduce outside management according to the situation; but the boss directly wants to introduce outside management right now, so that it will be more secure when opening.

After the meeting, Lin Zhichao returned to his office, and he suddenly discovered that Cheung Kong Industrial has become extremely large.That is, with the current assets, when it was listed in 1972, it could exceed the sum of the "Five Tigers of Real Estate".

Of course, Lin Zhichao will not be so high-profile, and the assets that will be listed in the future (1972) are only a small part.However, there will be multiple companies listed, such as: Cheung Kong Industrial Group (real estate + doll noodles), Miramar Hotel (five-star hotel + shopping mall), Uniqlo clothing company (crocodile shirt + traveler luggage).

North Point, 661 King's Road.

Tang Zhongyuan's "Oriental Building" officially opened today, he invited many people to attend, and Lin Zhichao naturally came to the ribbon-cutting ceremony to save face for his father-in-law,

Oriental Building has twelve floors, each floor has a floor area of ​​1.7 square feet, and a floor area of ​​nearly 20 square feet. It is an industrial building.

Because it was a good time for Hong Kong's industrial development, the lease was completed quickly; Tang Zhongyuan also moved part of the garment production business into three floors.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lin Zhichao was in the middle, Tang Zhongyuan and Song Qiaoling were on both sides, holding ribbons.

Lin Zhichao was holding the scissors, but he was cutting the ribbon, and Tang Zhongyuan and his wife were just assistants.The reason is very simple. Generally, the ribbon-cutting ceremony is to invite the most important guests to cut the ribbon, or the protagonist to cut the ribbon. Of course, Lin Zhichao can be regarded as Tang Zhongyuan's "noble man". On this point, Tang Zhongyuan and his wife will not deny it, and neither will people in the Hong Kong business circle. .

Behind the ribbon-cutters, there were hundreds of guests looking ahead.Everyone came to congratulate, most of them were businessmen from Shanghai School, and many of them were tenants.

As Lin Zhichao's scissors closed, the ribbon split into two. Everyone applauded and congratulated. People who came to participate included textile tycoons such as Tang Bingyuan, An Zijie, and Tang Xiangqian, as well as descendants of the Rong family.

At the subsequent reception, Tang Bingyuan said with a smile: "Oriental Group intends to develop across textiles, garments, and real estate in an all-round way. Zhongyuan is very courageous!"

Everyone flattered a few words!In fact, everyone understands that Tang Zhongyuan's greatest advantage is that he married his two daughters to Lin Zhichao.If you say how capable you are, everyone will naturally disagree.Because textile is also the most test of human ability, product upgrading is fierce, and competition is fierce. Whoever can become the top three in this industry may be regarded as the most skilled.

And Tang Zhongyuan has such good conditions, the scale has dropped from the top three to the current top five; although the Oriental Group is because it focuses on the 'garment industry', it is still regarded as a weakness of Tang Zhongyuan.

Of course, Oriental Group is still the leader in the textile and garment industry, because Oriental Garment is the largest garment factory in Hong Kong.

Tang Zhongyuan said modestly: "Where, where, Dongfang Group is not going to enter real estate, but just intends to invest in two factory buildings, which can be used for self-use or rented out."

There is also a building in Chai Wan, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

At the reception, Tang Bingyuan, Tang Zhongyuan, and Tang Xiangqian, the three textile masters of the Tang family, immediately overshadowed the brothers of the Rong family.

The Rong family was the first to open textile factories in Hong Kong, but due to poor management, several factories were merged into other companies.

However, the three lines of the Tang family have developed well in Hong Kong. Tang Bingyuan's Nanhai Textile is the largest textile factory in Hong Kong, Tang Zhongyuan's textile factory is the fifth, and the garment factory is the first. Tang Xiangqian is also showing his prominence in the textile factory.

After the opening ceremony, Lin Zhichao, Tang Zhongyuan, Tang Xianqian and his son came to a restaurant in North Point for dinner.

Tang Xianqian is Lin Zhichao's oldest brother-in-law, and there is another brother-in-law named Tang Youqian. Both brothers are studying abroad, but Tang Xianqian just graduated from university this year and received a bachelor's degree from a prestigious British university. He came back to help Tang Zhongyuan.

"In a few days, I plan to take Xianqian to Nigeria to open the first textile factory."

Lin Zhichao looked at Tang Xianqian and said with a smile, "Xianqian plans to work in Africa for a long time?"

Tang Xianqian smiled, and said, "Dad asked me to study there for a while, and return to Hong Kong when I'm on the right track!"

Tang Zhongyuan added: "If the business in Nigeria is fully developed, I am afraid that the scale will be huge. And the garment industry in Hong Kong is also developing at a high speed. I am very busy now. If Xianqian has a few costs from your brother-in-law, I'm much more relaxed."

Lin Zhichao said modestly: "Father-in-law is worrying too much. Xianqian graduated from a business card university and works calmly. He is definitely better than me back then."

Tang Xianqian immediately said: "Brother-in-law, you really think highly of me. I dare not compare myself to you!"

Lin Zhichao immediately smiled and said, "Haha, you must dare to think, how can you not dare to think about doing business! If you can do it in such a big market in Nigeria, my brother-in-law will also look at you with admiration."

Tang Xianqian was immediately full of energy, and said: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, I will definitely go over there and do it seriously!"

A word of encouragement is more effective than Tang Zhongyuan's father's words. This is the power of role models.

Tang Zhongyuan was naturally happy for his son to listen to Lin Zhichao and learn Lin Zhichao's business skills.

He has two sons, the youngest son will graduate from college in three years, and the eldest son is graduating this year is just in time.The Eastern Group's business in Hong Kong is so big, it's impossible for him to stay in Nigeria for too long, so he can only bring a few able-bodied people with him, plus his eldest son, and he will run on both sides in the future.

If Nigeria's textile and garment industry can be taken over in the future, then his family will be equivalent to having two "business centers" - textile and garment in Hong Kong and textile and garment in Nigeria.

As for the real estate business, Tang Zhongyuan still didn't take it seriously.

Worldwide shipping.

"Boss, China Star Shipping's fleet has increased to seven ships with a gross tonnage of 5.8 tons. At present, the main business is to lease to local shipping companies, that is, shipping companies with mainland backgrounds." Feng Yongfa reported.

Lin Zhichao looked at the information in his hand, the data was very gratifying, and asked: "The original owners of the two Liberty ships belonged to the Greek ship owner?"

Feng Yongfa nodded and said, "It seems so! Now that European and American shipping is entering the cold winter, Greek shipowners are having a hard time, so they have sold off a lot of Liberty ships. At the beginning of last year, one ship was as high as 30 pounds (84 U.S. dollars), and now only It cost £7 (US$20), so I just happened to see it, so I bought it together.”

Freewheel was built in the 40s, and it operated without problems until the end of the 70s, and even operated in the Mainland until the 80s.

Lin Zhichao continued: "Is there any risk in leasing to a shipping company with a background in the Mainland?"

Feng Yongfa said: "It is a British flag, and it is rented by a Hong Kong company, so there is no risk. Moreover, the mainland needs 1000 million tons of ocean transportation capacity every year, and 600 million tons of coastal transportation capacity. They don't have many merchant ships, so It is jokingly called "the largest tenant of international shipping" by the international shipping industry, and the annual rent that needs to be paid is 8000 million U.S. dollars."

Lin Zhichao frowned and said, "How much foreign exchange will be lost!"

He is also a Chinese, so there is no reason not to feel sorry for the country.

Feng Yongfa said: "I can't change my mind. Under the planned economy, many people think that buying a boat with a loan is an unacceptable thing."

"Hey" Lin Zhichao sighed, and then said: "I hope someone can change this situation. You know, it only takes 18 months to pay back the cost of buying a ship with a loan in the past few years. After two years of operation, you can still make money." .”

The price of second-hand ships is too low, but there is no shortage of business in the mainland, and even the shipping situation in Asia is better than that in Europe and the United States.

Feng Yongfa is a little strange, his boss is most afraid of trouble, but he is worried about the country and the people, but naturally he will not ask these questions!
In fact, what Lin Zhichao didn't know was that Cheng Wenzhu, an overseas Chinese, was planning to go to the capital in October, and proposed to "buy a boat with a loan" again, and finally got approval.

The following days will be the "high-speed period" of Huaxia Ocean's development. In the 70s and 20s, Huaxia used Hong Kong, a "treasure place" in the world's second-hand ship market, to purchase a large number of second-hand ships. In the past [-] years, it has purchased about tens of millions. Tons of used and new boats.

Of course, for a big country, the deadweight of tens of millions of tons is nothing, but when it was developed in the 80s, it would not still rely heavily on chartering ocean-going trade.

At this time in China, the industrial foundation is weak, and it takes 5000-3 years to build a 5-ton steamship, costing more than 100 million pounds; and Huaxia can only buy a small number of merchant ships from countries in the same camp, so the development of shipping is very special. slow.

But fortunately, there is a bridge in Hong Kong. Using various methods such as overseas Chinese businessmen, hanging flags of convenience, and buying second-hand ships in a low-key manner, we can finally break through the obstacles.

Otherwise, in the 80s, if there is no certain tonnage, when the national shipping company buys a second-hand ship, it will immediately cause a sensation in the market and the price of the ship will skyrocket.

Just like the state entrusted Guo Huonian to purchase 30 tons of sugar in the previous life, if the international market knows that China is going to buy 30 tons of white sugar, then for a market of only 1000 million tons (yearly), the price of white sugar will at least double.Therefore, he had no choice but to entrust his former competitor Guo Huonian to buy in the international market. Guo Huonian lived up to expectations—while going to the international sugar industry conference, he arranged for his confidants to buy white sugar in the Brazilian market, avoiding the sight of the national sugar giant; At the same time, after purchasing 30 tons of sugar for the country, Guo Huonian bought some sugar futures in the London market, and then released the news. After completing the tasks assigned by the country, he can make a lot of money.

A week later.

Lin Zhichao came to Japan and built six 10-ton oil tankers in one go, and ordered two 1.2-ton "Kabaoqi" passenger and cargo ships.

The 1.2-ton "Carbosch" passenger and cargo ship can be loaded with cargo and people, and can reach the west coast of the United States 3 to 4 days earlier than normal ships.In this era, there are quite a few people going to the United States by boat. Firstly, the price is cheap, and secondly, some people are afraid of flying. Therefore, the shipping time of about 20 days is acceptable to many people.

At the same time, Lin Zhichao also renewed contracts for dozens of second-hand ships with three large Japanese shipping companies.These ships could have been eliminated by the mid-60s, so this time Lin Zhichao was very easy to talk to, and the price was very attractive.

In Sanko Shipping, Toshio Kawamoto talked about one thing: "Mr. Lin, there is a shipowner in Hong Kong named Bao Yugang, who came to our company to sell ships some time ago, and the conditions he gave are a little better than yours! "

When Lin Zhichao heard the words, he immediately knew that Bao Yugang was also selecting second-hand ships in major ports around the world to expand his fleet.

Shipowners like Bao Yugang and Zhao Congyan can use the opportunity of two or three years to expand their fleet to around 20 ships.

But Lin Zhichao is not in a hurry. At present, Global Shipping, Japanese shipyards, and Japanese shipping companies have reached a tacit agreement, so it is impossible to be replaced by Bao Yugang. At most, it is just a small business.

"President Kawamoto said that, he has already chosen us, after all, chartering a boat can't just be based on the price!"

The reputation of global shipping and the quality of seafarers are not comparable to Bao Yugang at present; moreover, Lin Zhichao has a 'tacit understanding' in building so many ships in Japan.

Sure enough, Toshio Kawamoto did not continue to bargain, but said: "Indeed, we trust Global Shipping and still regard you as our main partner."

Lin Zhichao expressed his thanks!

After successfully signing the contracts of the three companies, Lin Zhichao is still in a good mood.Although the annual profit of second-hand cargo ships with a deadweight of 70 tons has dropped sharply to US$1000-1200 million, it is still very profitable.

Because if these boats were sold, they would not even be worth $20 apiece.

Therefore, although the market has fallen, Hong Kong shipowners are still very profitable. The price of buying ships has plummeted, and the wages of seafarers are still not high. The advantage is too great.

In fact, this is an opportunity for Hong Kong shipowners!
The shipping in Greece and Japan has completely failed, and it is time for Hong Kong shipowners to officially enter the international stage.

This is the third generation of shipping stars! (end of this chapter)