In the private room of the teahouse, Lin Zhichao learned that the big fly of 'Dongfuhe' was sunk to the bottom of the sea, and he didn't take it to heart.

He is now a Justice of the Peace, and before the 80s, there was a high probability that no one would dare to mess with him and his family. Even if the club wants to kidnap the rich, it will not look for a person like Lin Zhichao who has a great social reputation, because then the consequences will be very serious.

At the beginning of the establishment of Hong Kong's Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, their founders may not have had this kind of mind, and through this kind of social donation and public welfare, they gained social fame and further won the canonization of the Hong Kong government and the British court.

Of course, no matter what the purpose of everyone, at least real money has been donated, and many people have really benefited.

Moreover, Hong Kong's charity teams are legally registered, and their financial supervision is independent and very transparent, and there are no certain problems.

"By the way, do you know a colleague named Airship Tai, who is also someone who does the same thing as you?" Lin Zhichao suddenly asked curiously.

Li Gaofu nodded and said: "Yes, this airship is very powerful, there are almost a hundred people under it, and there are several reconnaissance boats, which are generally transported to the opposite side. In terms of overall size, they are about the same level as our Fuhe Xing, and they may be a little bigger. ”

At this time, Li Gaofu and Huang Tinggui also began to transport to the opposite side, because they earned more. In fact, Airship Tai has many partners, while Li Gaofu and Huang Tinggui are more for their partners, and of course there is also a smuggling boat that is partnered with Ge Mulian.

Lin Zhichao asked curiously: "There are a lot of teams like yours, right?" ”

Li Gaofu saw that Lin Zhichao cared about these things for the first time, so he told the story:

"It's true that there are a lot of them, but large and small teams, in fact, everyone is not actively seeking smuggling, but a company to find us and 'support' us. Behind this company are the people on the other side, and they support dozens of smuggling teams, large and small. ”

"Why do you support so much?"

"It's very simple, there are many teams that have been destroyed in this business. If it is touched by a warship, basically only the ship is destroyed and people die; If caught by the Hong Kong Marine Police and the Industry and Commerce Department, he can be sentenced to three years and fined 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. As a result, not every team will succeed, and many small gangs have disappeared before they have made money. ”

Lin Zhichao understands, in the final analysis, it is to see who has the strongest ability to resist risks and whose luck is good.

For example, the airship Tai later said that he encountered two major risks: Da Tianji held a gun at him and snatched all the goods, this time; This is the second time that the Hong Kong government police boat rammed and sank his 'Black Cat', killing two men and arresting all the others.

These two risks can be exchanged for other small teams, and either one can completely destroy the small team.

In addition, teams like Airship Tai and Li Gaofu have reconnaissance boats, as well as various intricate shore relationships, and their own safety is much greater.

chatted for a while, although it was thrilling and profitable, Lin Zhichao was not the slightest moot, just pure curiosity.

Even the original idea - to pull a wife group to support Li Gaofu, Lin Zhichao also extinguished it, so as to cause unnecessary trouble; In any case, he survived the remaining two years, and it was a bright light, so why get involved in these things!

The participation of the Hong Kong Governor's wife Ge Mulian was initiated by her, and neither of them had any handle in the world, and Lin Zhichao also handed over the money to Li Gaofu without any evidence; Li Gaofu also took a wad of cash each time, and then he handed it to Ge Mulian.

Wang Liang, general manager of Yangtze River Zipper, and Bao Chunlai, deputy general manager, came to Lin Zhichao's office together.

After the two sat down, Bao Chunlai reported: "Boss, the United States supports Japan's economy, so Japan can obtain cheap raw materials from the United States, including aluminum alloy and copper. Affected by this reason, the recent development momentum of Japanese YKK zippers is very good, and even many American zipper businessmen have turned to them, I am afraid that there is a US government instructions. ”

After hearing this, Lin Zhichao sighed: "The Americans are not necessarily trying to contain Hong Kong; After all, as a major smuggling destination, Americans have a very bad impression of Hong Kong. ”

Things that seem to be unrelated actually have a lot to do with each other. When the Americans learned that Hong Kong's zipper industry was actually surpassing Japan's zipper industry, they would naturally make it worse.

It is impossible for the U.S. Department of Commerce to directly ban the zippers produced by Sing Tao, after all, this is too offensive to the ally Britain, and I support you like this, and you still want to engage in my colony. And London's reasons are also very good, if you paralyze the economy of my colony, then it is easy to build a force, which no one wants to see. Therefore, the United States is currently at least able to guarantee the necessities of Hong Kong people's daily lives.

Since last year's Korean Peninsula Campaign, the Americans have supported Japan in dumping goods all over the world, and light industries such as textiles and garments have borne the brunt. Therefore, in the 50s, Japan developed rapidly with light industry, that is, Hong Kong's predecessors.

It was not until the mid-fifties, when Japan's light industrial products accounted for too much of the world's share, that Europe and the United States began to restrict Japanese products, and Hong Kong took advantage of the opportunity to develop.

The Japanese are also very smart, and since the mid-fifties, they have also turned to heavy industry, shipbuilding, car manufacturing, electrical appliances, etc., and have once again achieved amazing success in the world.

Wang Liang said: "Fortunately, the global zipper market is expanding, and our annual profit will still exceed 6 million Hong Kong dollars this year." ”

Lin Zhichao said: "Having said that, the zipper industry is not advancing or retreating, Japan has a complete industrial base, they can produce their own equipment, aluminum alloy, copper, textiles, etc., I am afraid that it will surpass us in two or three years." The raw materials of our Yangtze River zipper are all imported from overseas, and the same is true for the equipment, which is difficult to compete in the later stage. ”

At this moment, Lin Zhichao also recognized a reality, crossing is not omnipotent. What if you occupy the market first, in the end, it is the industrial industry chain that is played.

Wang Liang and Bao Chunlai looked at each other, they saw the boss's lack of confidence for the first time, and of course they also recognized a reality.

"We still have a good chance!"

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao regained confidence and said: "In the short term, the Yangtze River zipper will not be opened far by the YKK zipper. Over time, Japan's labor costs will surely rise rapidly, and our cheap labor will play a great advantage in less than three years. ”

Wang Liang nodded hurriedly and said, "Not bad! Not only that, we have also invested heavily in technology research and development, and zipper technology and quality will gradually improve. At the same time, we can also seek to smelt aluminum alloys and copper in the later stage. ”

These are the boss's previous ideas, and they feel that the future will definitely be realized.

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao ignored this stubble, although YKK has developed by leaps and bounds, but the Yangtze River zipper can also maintain stable development and will not collapse. The main reason is that it is the initial stage, and the competition is the price and sales network, and the Yangtze River zipper is not lagging behind.

Japanese zippers have priority in the American market, while Hong Kong zippers also have the market of the British Commonwealth, and in the Southeast Asian market, everyone has tacitly agreed that there is no price war, because the strength is equal. Of course, in the end, it can evolve into the coexistence of Yangtze River zipper and YKK zipper, and both become the world's zipper giants.

Lin Zhichao has decided that after withdrawing 5 million Hong Kong dollars from the Yangtze River zipper this year, he will not use the funds of the entire Yangtze River Industry from next year, and intends to continue to invest.

Even in 1953, they had to borrow money to invest.

After Wang Liang and Bao Chunlai left, Lin Zhichao pondered.

Before 1953, it was better not to act rashly, after all, due to the impact of the embargo, it was impossible to develop. Therefore, the Yangtze River zipper and the Yangtze River plastic should still develop steadily, and do not rush to invest.

At the beginning of 1953, Cheung Kong Industry could make large-scale preparations, because Lin Zhichao remembered that in the second half of that year, the United States allowed Hong Kong products to enter the United States and reduced the ban on Hong Kong exports by 35%, and relaxed for a while.

In fact, as soon as the war ended, Britain and Japan stopped 'paying attention' to the U.S. trade measures against the hinterland, and openly traded with the hinterland.

In addition, Lin Zhichao plans to incorporate 'Uniqlo Garment Company' into 'Cheung Kong Industrial', and Cheung Kong will be a one-stop group of 'clothing, food, housing and transportation' in the future.

Cheung Kong Industry will build an industry that Hong Kong can develop, and it must be involved.

Lin Zhichao visited He Dong at He Dong's office.

At the age of 89, He Dong is still working diligently, and he still makes decisions on major matters of the company. In his words to reporters: "I have been very busy from morning to night. I don't know when I'll be able to retire, my life can't be separated from work. As long as I have the ability to see and think, I will continue to work. ”

In fact, He Dong does not have a business successor, which is the main reason why he is still working. He had a total of three sons, the eldest son died early, the second son was disabled by the Japanese bombing, and the third son was still a high-ranking official on Taiwan Island.

Therefore, it is a reality that there is no successor, otherwise with He Dong's wealth and status, if his children have business acumen, it is estimated that only Lin Zhichao can catch up with the wealth of He Dong's family, and no one in later generations can compare with him.

Lin Zhichao's current wealth is around 50 million Hong Kong dollars, and the He Dong family is at least hundreds of millions of wealth, these old families, their wealth is distributed all over the world, not only in Hong Kong.

"Sir Ho is good"

"Lin Sheng is here, please take a seat!"

He Dong did not put on a score, and officially accompanied Lin Zhichao to sit down on the sofa, he knew that if Lin Zhichao came to his office, it would most likely be official business, so official business should be done.

The assistant made tea for the two of them and left the office.

"You have nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace, could it be that there are some business cooperation projects?" He Dong took the initiative to ask.

Lin Zhichao put down the teacup and said briskly: "This time, I came to see Sir He Dong's two properties, so I want to ask you what you mean." ”

He Dong said unexpectedly: "Oh? Just say, I'll see if I can sell it! ”

He has not yet reached the point where he must sell the property, not to mention that the price of the property cannot be sold now. But since Lin Zhichao took the initiative to ask, as long as it is not a property with good rent collection and the price is reasonable, it can also be sold.

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "The first property is about 16,000 square meters of commercial land on Des Voeux Road, my global shipping has grown up at present, but there is no decent headquarters, so I want to build a building." ”

This land is very valuable, and the commercial land in Central has not fallen much. In 1947, a 14,000-square-foot commercial plot of land in the Central District was finally acquired by the Bank of China for HK$251.44 per square foot, totaling more than HK$3.5 million.

Des Voeux Road is also a traditional banking district, and the location is also very good, so this land will not be less than 4 million Hong Kong dollars. (PS: In the previous life, in 1959, it was won by Hang Seng Bank at a price of 5.5 million Hong Kong dollars)

When He Dong heard this, he immediately said: "This piece of land has been empty, and the price is reasonable, so you can consider selling it." I'm getting older and I don't want to build anymore. And you have said that you hope to build a building for global shipping, which can certainly fulfill you! ”

He bought the land with the intention of speculating, including when he bid with the Bank of China in 1947, which was also the idea.

Lin Zhichao said happily: "Sir Xie He, let the lawyer negotiate the price with his subordinates later?" ”

This kind of thing, of course, doesn't need two friends with a good relationship to talk, so as not to hurt the peace.

He Dong nodded, and then asked, "What about the other place?" ”

Lin Zhichao then said: "Located at 16-20 Kimberley Road and 40-46 Cana Junction Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, I want to buy these properties for a friend, he has some money in his hand, so I want to buy them for long-term rent collection and later redevelopment." ”

When He Dong heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief, because the properties in this place were all dilapidated, and they were all kinds of tenants, which was not a good property in his hands.

"This can also be sold!"

"In that case, then I'll go back and prepare to have the staff and lawyers contact your company."

He Dong nodded, and then said with a rare joke: "After selling the property this time, you don't want to look at my property anymore, my family background is so little, where can I withstand the prying eyes of you, the king of ships, I still want to keep it for future generations to collect rent!" ”

It is true that your descendants will only collect rent, and none of them will have business acumen! The son is not business-minded, and the grandson is the second ancestor, who only knows how to sell property. Fortunately, the wealth you left behind is so large that they can't spend it all.

Lin Zhichao thought as above.

In fact, He Dong's descendants also have a business acumen, that is, He Zuozhi, the illegitimate son of him and the nurse. But before He Dong died, He Zuozhi was only allowed to inherit a wealth of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars. But although He Zuozhi failed in the media, he was also very successful in other careers, and later became a tycoon.

"Don't worry! In fact, this time I am missing a beautiful piece of land in Central, and the Tsim Sha Tsui residence is just asking you, if you don't sell it, it doesn't matter. ”

"Haha, I know. But since you mentioned it, let's talk about it together! ”

"Okay"

After saying goodbye to He Dong, Lin Zhichao thought about it on the road.

To buy the land of Des Voeux Road, you can make up 3 million Hong Kong dollars from the Yangtze River zipper, and the insufficient part will be drawn from global shipping. The commercial real estate in Hong Kong is naturally listed under the banner of Cheung Kong Real Estate and will not be listed in the future.

Global Shipping will not be listed, because it is not necessary, but it can take out some ships and form a company to go public, or a backdoor listing. In short, the future of global shipping has joint venture shipping companies (and HSBC), separate shipping companies (wholly-owned, with a large proportion of ships), and listed shipping companies (a small number of ships).

Changjiang Industries, on the other hand, is not listed, and may have listed industrial stocks, but only for a part of its business.

Cheung Kong (a business with real estate development as its core) will be listed, but Cheung Kong Real Estate (commercial real estate, i.e. rent-collecting properties) will not be listed.

Back at Global Shipping, Lin reviewed the company's financial statements.

The rent in October is all received, and if it is according to the normal situation, the profit this month can reach 100~1.1 million US dollars. If calculated based on the net debt of $5.2 million, the profit of this month will be repaid, which is equivalent to a net debt of only $4.1 million, and the debt can be fully repaid by the end of February next year (excluding $300,000 in interest).

Of course, these are theoretical calculations, and in practice it is impossible to repay the debt early. The first wave of HSBC loans will be repaid in June next year, the second wave of shipping companies will be repaid at the end of the year, and the third wave of HSBC loans will be repaid in September next year.

From this year to next year, Lin Zhichao will draw at least US$1 million (HK$5.6 million) from Global Shipping to buy the property. This amount of money does not affect the development of global shipping.

Based on the current monthly profit of $1 million (approximately), from March to the end of next year, it will be a profit of $10 million. With this part of the funds alone, it is possible to purchase about 150,000 tons of second-hand ships.

This is roughly the same as Lin Zhichao's plan for global shipping next year.

Considering the capacity of the Japanese market and the estimated risk, it was quite reasonable to increase the deadweight capacity by 150,000 tons in 1952. After all, if the development is too rapid, Lin Zhichao is also worried about the change that will fall short.

Of course, it is possible to borrow part of the funds in March next year and complete the purchase of part of the ships ahead of schedule. In this way, the ship that was purchased first could naturally create a lot of profit that year.

And these profits can be used to invest in other industries, so that the distribution is reasonable.

"Knock Knock"

"Come in"

Feng Yongfa, deputy general manager, walked into Lin Zhichao's office, and his working condition was very good, and it was clear at a glance.

Lin Zhichao was satisfied with the work status of the employees, and said: "I am going to recruit 80 senior seafarers for a half-year training, remember, all of them are Chinese." ”

Feng Yongfa nodded and said, "I understand, I must be selective." ”

What is the meaning of careful selection, the community background must not be, of course, if the other party does not speak out, it is also possible to get in. However, after the training of the Global Maritime Academy and the corporate culture of Global Shipping, in fact, everyone will no longer do things for the club in the end.

After the seafarers of Global Shipping come ashore, they occasionally hold some team-building activities, which the company organizes and provides large meals. In short, under the management of the modern enterprise model, the sense of belonging of seafarers to the company has been greatly increased, and it is important that there is no crushing of seafarers in global shipping.

(End of chapter)