From September to November, Lim flew to Singapore four times to negotiate for Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and the Singapore Development Authority. Finally, in early December, the official approval was obtained.

However, there is one more surprising thing, that is, the Singapore Development Authority will take a 40% stake in the project, and it will be a stake in the land. At the same time, it is stipulated that the total investment of Shangri-La hotels shall not be less than HK$68 million (after conversion).

Originally, Lin Zhichao's budget was about 120 million, but that included land, etc., and now the Singapore Development Authority is willing to invest in 15 acres of land, so naturally there is no need for so much investment.

Of course, 15 acres of land is huge, 610,000 square feet, about half the size of a naval dockyard. Therefore, the investment of 68 million is only enough for the cost of the first phase of the project.

After the end of the first phase of the project, the hotel also began to open immediately, and about 70% of the follow-up hotel area has not yet been developed; At this time, there is no need for 'Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' to pay money, either loans or listing to raise funds.

The government meeting room in Singapore, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Hong Kong, and the Singapore Development Authority, are signing formal contracts.

"Happy cooperation, Chairman Zhang!"

"Happy cooperation, Mr. Lin!"

The two sides soon signed a memorandum of cooperation and shook hands to celebrate. Because of the relationship with Mr. Li, everything went relatively smoothly.

As for the Singapore side's request for 40% equity, it is also very reasonable, after all, they want Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore) to become a government hospitality hotel, if they don't take shares, why should they support it so much.

What's more, a full 15 acres of land is difficult to obtain; Generally, the land is acquired from the official land auction, but even if such a large land is obtained, it may be residential land; Without deep government relations, it is simply impossible to convert you into commercial land.

And Lin Zhichao is also willing to give up 40% of the equity to deepen the cooperative relationship with the Singapore government, maybe one of his sons will immigrate to Singapore.

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore is not located on Orchard Road, but it is within walking distance of Orchard Road, which is equivalent to a short distance to the west.

"Mr. Lin, the last time I visited Hong Kong, I visited many of your properties, and found that the shape of the Miramar Hotel Building was introduced into the Huaxia Moon Cave Gate, which is very beautiful and unique. The steel beam steel structure style of the Global Building is the pinnacle of modern architecture. Therefore, we hope that you will take into account the local character of Singapore when designing Shangri-La hotels, which is a requirement of our government. Zhang Renhe said solemnly.

As the Chairman of the Singapore Development Authority, he is a key subordinate to Mr. Lee and is responsible for attracting investment. Lin Zhichao is a very important investor of Mr. Li, so the project is progressing very quickly, and the site selection and negotiation have been completed in less than four months.

Lin Zhichao smiled: "This is assured! The overall feature of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore is that it is a five-star luxury hotel surrounded by tropical rainforests, with lush botanical gardens that make you feel like you are in a tropical rainforest. The first phase of the project is a modern tower wing and mezzanine, the second phase is a tropical garden wing, and the third phase is a canyon wing that highlights the dignity. Later, we can also expand the surrounding land, and we can develop serviced apartments, as well as lease sub-villa style apartments. ”

The implication is that in addition to the 15 acres of land, the surrounding land can also be included in the development in the future.

Zhang Renhe couldn't help but be stunned by Lin Zhichao's plan and the design plan that sounded good so quickly.

"Mr. Lin is really very majestic, no wonder this year you defeated investors from Europe, the United States and Japan to obtain the land of the Hong Kong Navy Dock."

"You have won the award, we are now a cooperative relationship, of course I will come up with a good plan and hand it over to the partner for review, everyone is happy, it is a happy cooperation."

"Yes, yes"

In fact, Lin Zhichao has already thought that the 68 million fund will be the end of the first phase of the hotel development, probably at the end of 1968; That is, the modern style of the tower wing, mezzanine, etc., can be officially opened.

In fact, the modern style of the tower wing of the first phase of the project is already a building about 20 stories high, plus mezzanine and other buildings, it is already comparable to a 'Mandarin Hotel Hong Kong'.

After the completion of the second and third phases, it will definitely be regarded as one of the top three luxury hotels in Asia.

Of course, the entire construction period may also take 15 years, while the first phase will take three years. The design team has been found and is designing according to Lin Zhichao's ideas.

In the evening, Mr. Li hosted a government dinner to celebrate the cooperation. In less than four months, he has met Lin Zhichao three times, and he can be regarded as a friend who has been very concerned for many years.

During the dinner, Mr. Li said, "Mr. Lin, the last time you proposed the development of a shopping street on Orchard Road, our government department discussed it and agreed very much. So I'm working on the plan, and if the tone is set, I hope you will invest in your first shopping mall. ”

Lin Zhichao nodded and said, "This is my honor!" My relationship with Orchard Road originated in the 50s, when I was the first businessman to open a department store there, so I was very willing to invest. The prospect of shopping malls is ambitious, and the combination of shopping malls and office buildings and hotels will form commercial complexes, which will contribute to economic development."

He talked about the design of the mall, which was very professional at first glance, and made Singaporean officials admire. They thought that Lin Zhichao was just the king of ships, but they didn't know that Lin Zhichao was still the 'god of real estate'.

Over the years, whenever Lin Zhichao went to Europe and the United States, he would also inspect the local commercial centers, and combined with the experience of later generations, he soon had his own set of design concepts.

"I feel like Mr. Lin is more of a planner than a businessman. ”

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "Lawyer Li has won the award, do a line of love, a line of learning, this is the truth I have always practiced." I know that land is scarce in Singapore, and any planning mistake can have catastrophic consequences. So, I'm just saying it for one family! ”

Mr. Lee immediately said, "Mr. Lim knows us so well that he knows us well in Singapore, and he is worthy of being a businessman who came to invest in Singapore as early as the late 40s. ”

Talking about the fate of Lin Zhichao and Singapore, everyone is also very curious, after saying it, everyone feels that Lin Zhichao has been betting on Singapore and Hong Kong.

However, at this time, there is nothing good in Singapore, and it has just been kicked out of Malaya, and Lin Zhichao has come to invest, which is almost welcome.

Following.

In an office building in Singapore, Mr. Lin and his men held a meeting.

After the opening of Miramar Hotel, Lin Zhichao began to prepare his own hotel management company, but it was not until this year that it was officially established - Shangri-La Hotel Management Company, which is part of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

Large hotel groups are separated from ownership and management.

Although he already has his own hotel management company, Lim still plans to manage Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, in cooperation with a Western hotel group, paying 4% of the gross profit as a management fee every year, but only intends to sign a 10-year contract.

Of course, there is a science in this, that is, when looking for a management brand, you must sign the contract after the completion of the hotel building, otherwise the management party will ask you for a management fee even if the hotel is not open.

After a few more years of study, the management level of Shangri-La Hotel Management Company will be on the same level as that of large Western hotels. At that time, the Shangri-La Hotel (Burj Al Arab) in Hong Kong will be able to manage it itself.

The president of Shangri-La Hotel is still Lin Zhichao, and the vice presidents are American Jason and Liang Guangchang of Cheung Kong Industrial; In fact, it is Jason, the vice president, who holds the real power.

He used to be the general manager of Miramar Hotel, and now he is the vice president of Shangri-La Hotel and the general manager of Miramar Hotel, which is not a demotion, but a promotion; Lin Zhichao has already emphasized that Shangri-La Hotel will develop into a chain brand and hotel group.

Liang Guangchang is the head of commercial real estate of Cheung Kong and the vice president of Shangri-La Hotel, mainly in the early preparation period, mainly playing an important role.

Anyway, Cheung Kong has not yet been listed, and the top management can work harder. After all, there have not been many real estate projects in recent years, and it is completely in time.

You must know that in the future, when Cheung Kong Asset Group develops into a comprehensive large-scale group, everyone will have to be busy with more and more things.

"Let the co-designers try to come up with the first draft of the design plan at the end of this month, and then communicate and approve it with the Singapore official. It is necessary to seize the time and strive for the first phase of business at the end of 1968. ”

The co-designer is Japanese, and he met by chance when Lin Zhichao was designing a luxury hotel in Singapore, and he got in touch.

Of course, the overall style is still given by Lin Zhichao, so the designer is more about the details and layout. I started working on the design in September, and I had no problem coming up with the first draft in a month.

Jason nodded and said, "No problem! I just met him and he said that he was making a lot of progress and that he could hand in the first draft as soon as possible. ”

Lin Zhichao said with satisfaction: "Well, Vice President Liang also wants to find a good construction company here, and it is to cooperate with Poly Construction for construction, so I can rest assured." ”

Finding a local construction company naturally saves trouble, but it is impossible to hand it all over to them, so it is only a partner; After all, the level of Poly Construction is already world-class, and it has done many big projects.

Liang Guangchang immediately said: "Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible." ”

The reason why he was selected as vice president is because he prepared the Miramar Hotel back then, and he is familiar with this aspect of work.

After chatting about the details of the work for a while, the team soon began to formally prepare and work.

In fact, Lin Zhichao began to build the Miramar Hotel in 1957 and has been operating for so many years; He is already a hotel professional himself, of course, thanks to his strong learning ability, and the fact that he will learn from others when staying in hotels on official business around the world.

If he manages Shangri-La hotels full-time, or dedicates half of his energy to management, he doesn't need to have two vice presidents.

Of course this is impossible!

At this time, Lin Zhichao's career was actually five group enterprises - Global Shipping, Cheung Kong Industrial, Cheung Kong Industry, Uniqlo Garment Enterprise, and Shangri-La Hotel.

Although the latter two are just getting started, they also require him to inject energy and time alone.

After the meeting, Jason needs to be based in Singapore, and there is a deputy at the Miramar Hotel, and he only needs to manage it occasionally, with the focus on Singapore.

Liang Guangchang is running at both ends of Hong Kong and Singapore, especially in recent years, in addition to Shangri-La hotels, there are shopping malls to develop.

Fortunately, over the years, Cheung Kong has always had an ample talent pool and an increasing number of senior staff (top management), so the expansion will not cause a talent shortage.

After returning to Hong Kong, Lin Zhichao was in a very good mood, and after Sing Tao and Hong Kong's 'Shangri-La Hotel' got the site, he had a big heart problem.

The hotel industry is not in the profit of 6~8%, the profit of hotels in Hong Kong and Singapore can reach more than 10%, of course, under normal circumstances; In the event of a certain political crisis, the profit margins of Hong Kong hotels will decrease.

Stable profit margins, coupled with the glory of the hotel industry, make Lin Zhichao very keen to invest. Thinking that the Lin family can stay in their own hotel in every city in the future, this is the greatest happiness.

Miramar Hotel.

Today is the day of Lin Xin'er and Lin Benfeng's engagement, and relatives from both sides gathered.

Lin Benfeng's parents are also from middle-class families in Hong Kong, his father Lin Shanhe is a government official, and his mother Wang Juan is a middle school teacher, but neither of them is a businessman. They are actually very worried that their son will be oppressed in the future if he marries Sir Lin's sister, but Lin Benfeng takes a fancy to Lin Xin'er's beauty and independent and open-mindedness, and she has the temperament of a modern woman.

To put it bluntly, Lin Benfeng is willing to be a 'licking dog' and a 'female corner' in front of Lin Xin'er. Of course, Lin Zhichao still knows his sister's character, which seems to be strong, but has a kind and gentle side, and has no pampered character.

"Uncle Lin, Aunt Wang, please take a seat!"

"Sir Lin is polite, Sister Wen Ying, please take a seat!"

Lin Shanhe responded humbly, he understood that Lin Zhichao's family was very strong, and now it was clear that after his son and Lin Xin'er got married, they would live in their mid-mountain house and live separately from their old couple. As for when to hold his grandson, the son didn't dare to say it at all.

Therefore, it seems to be Gao Pan, but it is actually a marriage with the wrong door. But the son likes others, and the old couple doesn't dare to persuade them.

There are several tables of people at today's engagement ceremony, and Lin Zhichao's relatives are all big businessmen, such as the second uncle Lin Yunchu's family and Li Gaofu's family; And the relatives on the other side of the Lin Shan River look like ordinary families.

Of course, Lin Zhichao is still very easy-going, and Lin Xiner also knows the general situation and takes care of everyone's feelings.

Suddenly, Lin Shanhe's relatives sighed that their family had made a fortune, and Lin Benfeng's study was still very useful, not only to squeeze into HSBC, but also to marry Sir Lin's sister.

"Benfeng, after getting married, you have to do a good job, you have to be motivated, the most important thing is to study and be diligent, if HSBC doesn't promote you in the future, you will come to my company to do it."

Lin Benfeng hurriedly said: "Yes, brother! ”

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "As for how you arrange it after you get married, I don't interfere, in short, the affairs between husband and wife, discuss it, and mutual respect is very important." ”

"Well, brother," Lin Xin'er and Lin Benfeng replied at the same time.

Both of them are surnamed Lin, and the future children are still surnamed Lin, and neither of them is from Chaoshan, so they don't pay attention to this.

Lin Shanhe also said: "Sir Lin is very reasonable, mutual respect is very important, you are all people who have received Western education, you should all think so." ”

There is no way, the woman's family is strong, even if Sir Lin didn't say anything just now, but the momentum is still there; Coupled with his son's attitude towards his future daughter-in-law, Lin Shanhe already feels his son's future family status.

In fact, Lin Shanhe may not know that Lin Zhichao is very strong. But if Lin Benfeng has anything to be sorry for Lin Xin'er, both of them will come to an end, and Lin Xin'er will not be harmed.

It can be said that whatever he chooses today, he will do later. can't do it, Lin Xin'er is a free body, and the children will be Lin Xin'er's at that time.

To be honest, Lin Xin'er herself has the intention of resisting marriage, and it is Lin Zhichao who is talking about these things. If his sister is wronged because of this, he will really teach the man a lesson.

Lin Xin'er is the eldest three-star princess in Hong Kong, of course, Lin Benfeng is not a security guard, he is a young and motivated person; The acquaintance between the two has always been Lin Benfeng's initiative, chasing Lin Xin'er for a year before officially falling in love.

The engagement ceremony was a great success on the whole, with relatives of both sides meeting each other. Of course, the relatives are relatively close, so it is not a big deal.

The official marriage is next spring, and Sir Lin marries his sister, so naturally there are many celebrities and wealthy businessmen.

After the day ended, Lin Xin'er ran to Lin Zhichao: "Brother, I want to go home to live!" ”

Lin Zhichao saw the reluctance in Lin Xin'er's eyes, and suddenly softened his heart and said: "Well, it's not like living outside before getting married, so let's go home and live!" ”

The next day, in Cheung Kong's office.

Lin Zhichao sat in the spacious office, in a good mood as always. Although in November and December, there was a run on the Far Eastern Bank and a run on the surplus bank, and Hong Kong's real estate and stock market fell again, but it did not affect him in the slightest.

He knew where history was going, so even if he didn't make money at the time, it didn't matter. I won't be like others, the whole is very sad and thinking about where the road is.

This year, Cheung Kong's profit still exceeded 30 million Hong Kong dollars, thanks to the relatively stable Miramar hotel and retail business.

In this way, Cheung Kong's cash flow is more than 110 million, but Singapore needs to invest 70 million, so the cash flow is not much.

In the next year, Cheung Kong's profits will definitely drop sharply, which is a matter of no way.

The property in Hong Kong is characterized by the fact that the price will be reduced when it is reduced, and even the rent is the same, which is affected by the market and not by other factors.

Lin Zhichao calculated that it was estimated that when the bottom was bought in 1967, Cheung Kong's cash flow would be about 70 million.

That's pretty much enough! If it is not enough, it can also be misappropriated from the funds of Changjiang Industry.

It is said that the land in Central will be 250 Hong Kong dollars per square foot and more than 50 Hong Kong dollars per square foot in Wan Chai. There are even some land sites that don't need money to give you, because the government forces him to pay the rest of the land price. A high-end residential building in Causeway Bay used to cost 200,000 yuan, but it will only cost 50,000 yuan at that time.

These properties are directly reported for sale, and the owners are in a hurry to move abroad, which is very cheap. But the more this is the case, the fewer people who dare to copy the bottom.

Of course, this kind of market will last for about half a year, and after the turmoil subsides, it may pick up a little.

"Boss"

Liang Guangchang walked in.

His position with the company has risen in recent years, thanks to the surge in Cheung Kong's commercial projects.

"Well, sit down!"

After Liang Guangchang sat down, he said: "Boss, the leasing situation of the International Building is not very ideal, the current occupancy rate is 85%, and the rent has dropped to 1.25 Hong Kong dollars per square foot."

Lin Zhichao is not surprised, Hong Kong's market is with the market.

"I know, the market is all the same, there's nothing to worry about."

Seeing this, Liang Guangchang immediately admired his boss's good mentality.

The International Building is the sixth Central commercial building of the Lam Chi Chiu family and the fifth Central commercial building of Cheung Kong Asset, which will open in January next year.

Of course, the three towers located on Des Voeux Road – Universal, Midea and International – do not have shopping malls, and only one floor is used as a pavement.

(End of chapter)