Early October.

Lin Zhichao and other Hong Kong and Macao tycoons ended their trip to the capital, and they started the 'root-seeking trip', Lin Zhichao is a native of Shunde, but he is only in Yangcheng for investigation.

Accompanying him was Wang She, who was stationed in Hong Kong, and Airship Tai, who had found his roots as early as two years ago, and they were very puzzled why Lin Zhichao didn't go to Shunde to find his roots.

"Mr. Lin, do you want to arrange for you to go to Shunde to worship your ancestors, as a sign of homesickness for many years." Wang She suggested.

This is the most important big man among overseas Chinese, and there is no one. If Lin Zhichao can be won over and his patriotic enthusiasm can be stimulated, then the country's modernization will have the strongest boost.

With a disappointed look on his face, Lin Zhichao said: "I heard that eleven years ago, someone dug up my ancestral grave. This is to pluck out my roots, and if the roots are gone, what will I do when I go back? ”

Originally, he also wanted to use his influence and industrial chain to unite several wealthy people in Shunde to jointly support Shunde into a prefecture-level city, and it is an influential prefecture-level city.

And now, is he still a Shunde citizen?

His heart is cold!

It's not that he will have any resentment towards the country because of this kind of thing, there is no doubt about the investment and donations he should invest in in the later stage, after all, they are all his compatriots, how can they not help each other!

It's just that this hurdle in his hometown makes it difficult for him to pass.

Wang She and Airship Tai were suddenly surprised, and even some anger appeared on their faces, what Shunde did to this rich man was extremely stupid.

"Lin Sheng, how did you get the news, and will there be some misunderstandings in between?"

"The news won't be wrong, I have relatives who fled to Hong Kong in the seventies, so I know a little bit. In short, if I can't worship my ancestors, I won't go back to Shunde. ”

Lin Zhichao let go of the cruel words!

It also means that his original idea of investing billions and countless resources in Shunde will fall through.

Wang She and Airship Tai can only regret it, after all, whoever this matter is changed will not be easily forgiven.

After that, Lin Zhichao stayed in Yangcheng for three days, and it was difficult to explain everything in all aspects, even if it was a provincial city, the place where he lived was a mess - there was no hot water, and all aspects were old and dirty. Of course, Lin Zhichao is not out of the way to overcome these, he also suffered back then.

On the whole, this inspection is still very fruitful, he feels that the leaders have a different mental outlook, China is like a plant about to break the ground, ushering in a piece of vitality.

Shortly after returning to Hong Kong, Lam attended a board meeting of Hutchison Whampoa.

In fact, although Lin Zhichao is only an executive director, according to the convention, the major shareholder can completely override the salaried chairman of the board of directors, that is, his actual power is higher than Wei Li.

But Lin Zhichao has not done this for more than half a year, and he has never revealed the meaning of 'substantive boss' in front of Wei Li. As the largest controlling shareholder, Lin Zhichao can fully exercise the equity he controls and serve himself as the chairman of the board.

There are actually three purposes for this:

First, Lam Chi-chiu temporarily gave the position of chairman of the board and chief executive officer to Willy, in fact, relying on Willy to carry out the restructuring plan of Hutchison Whampoa, but it has been basically completed.

Second, Lin Zhichao himself is familiar with the business of Hutchison Whampoa, and he has insisted on attending the Hutchison Whampoa meeting as much as possible in the past six months.

Third, Lim's humility caused the directors and management to let their guard down and earned their respect, especially from some shareholders. In this way, at the general meeting of shareholders on New Year's Day next year, even if Lin Zhichao does not exercise the rights of major shareholders, he can also become the chairman of the board of directors with a high probability.

After the start of the meeting.

Wei Li said with a smile: "Sir Lin, the board of directors has decided to give you the robe of an executive director in recognition of your contribution to the affairs of Hutchison Whampoa in the past six months. ”

His words were sincere, but they didn't mean anything else.

Other shareholders also nodded approvingly, in the past six months, this Sir Lin has been running and planning for Hutchison Whampoa's real estate-related affairs, and he has also contributed a lot, such as:

Hutchison Properties, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa, has invested a total of HK$800 million in the development of Aberdeen Centre (formerly known as Aberdeen Dockyard) at the end of 1977. After Sir Lam became an Executive Director, he quickly developed a more perfect plan for Aberdeen Centre.

Recently, under the leadership of Sir Lam, an 'out-of-court settlement' was reached with DCH Real Estate, ending a one-year lawsuit. The out-of-court settlement included the purchase of the remaining 55% stake in Metropole Property from Hutchison Whampoa for HK$310 million, and the sale of 25% of the stake in Hutchison Building to Hutchison Whampoa for HK$110 million, ending the multi-year cooperation between the two parties.

Lin Zhichao immediately said: "Thank you Chairman Wei Li and all colleagues for your kindness!" However, I don't have any money in any of the listed companies, which is because I think that since I am enjoying the dividends, I can use it to do my job. Therefore, I don't have to receive Hutchison Whampoa's robe gold. ”

For a while, everyone showed admiration.

It is reasonable and legal for directors to receive a robe, especially Lin Zhichao, as a major shareholder, chairman of the board of directors, and executive director, can receive a very high robe. Nowadays, Lin Zhichao does not want the robe of a listed company, which is obviously very admirable.

Seeing this, Wei Li could only say: "Sir Lin's quality is noble, and I admire him." ”

Although he suspected that Lin Zhichao was performing, he still had nothing to say, because others had said that he had not received a director's robe money, which obviously would not be fake.

Next, the meeting continued.

Lin Zhichao suggested: "Everyone, today I want to make a business suggestion!" ”

Wei Li and the others immediately said: "Sir Lin, please speak"

In the past six months, Lin Zhichao has participated in the affairs of Hutchison Whampoa in the form of suggestions, so everyone is very happy to listen. After all, if you use the identity of a major shareholder to suppress people from the beginning, everyone will think that you are not familiar with the business, and it is a good thing to be in a hurry to participate in affairs?

Lin Zhichao said: "Everyone knows that the paging business has grown rapidly in recent years, and Motorola has been dialing from cordless phones, that is, mobile phones, in 1973. Therefore, I think the future of the telecommunications business is promising, and Hutchison Whampoa should set up Hutchison Telecommunications to acquire the pager license and business first, so as to lay a solid foundation and enter a broader mobile phone business in the future."

His confident speech quickly won the approval of some high-level officials.

However, Wei Li's senior management did not want Lin Zhichao to meddle in specific business so quickly.

Therefore, Willy said: "Hutchison Whampoa has just consolidated some businesses and rushed into new businesses, fearing that the pressure on fiscal expenditure will increase. ”

Lin Zhichao said: "The telecommunications industry has great prospects, and now it only needs to be gradually deployed, and the pressure on expenditure will not be too great. What's more, in the process of enterprise asset reorganization, it is to sell non-performing assets and strengthen investment in high-quality assets. For example, the current state of Hutchison Whampoa is actually not really out of the predicament. ”

Seeing Lin Zhichao say this, Wei Li immediately blushed, his family knew his own affairs, although he was called a 'company doctor'. But Hutchison Whampoa did not perform very well as Lin Zhichao said.

But Wei Li was still unconvinced and said, "Does Sir Lin have a better suggestion?" ”

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "There are many suggestions, such as selling the loss-making seaport project, and then privatizing Watsons, Hutchison Properties, Kwan Yi Cang, Hebao and other companies with good returns." ”

Wei Li then said: "I also know these suggestions from Mr. Lin, but to complete these goals, it requires huge financial support, so I can only come step by step." ”

Lin Zhichao was noncommittal or not, and Wei Li also collected the troops with interest.

At this time, Richardson said: "Since Sir Lam suggested that there is a lot to be done in investing in the telecommunications industry, it is better to investigate it and then consider establishing Hutchison Telecommunications and adopt a cyclical and gradual approach." ”

He is the second-in-command of Hutchison Whampoa and the deputy of Wei Li, but he understands that Cheung Kong Group is secretly buying Hutchison Whampoa's shares, and it is imperative that Lin Zhichao become chairman of the board. At this time, the contradiction between Lin Zhichao and Wei Li will come out, so can he also replace Wei Li and become the CEO?

Therefore, Richardin felt that he should give Lin Zhichao some face and support in exchange for Lin Zhichao's support in the future.

Next, two more high-level Xia Boyin and Wei Peter spending, which were quickly recognized by everyone.

Wei Li did not object, but said: "Since your colleagues think this business is good, we might as well investigate it first and then make a decision." ”

He doesn't have to go against Lin Zhichao, he just doesn't want Lin Zhichao to meddle in Hutchison Whampoa affairs too easily, especially the development of new industries.

After this board meeting, Lin Zhichao deliberately had a private communication with the senior management of Hutchison Whampoa, which made Wei Li panic. He is just a part-time worker, and the high-level leaders such as Richardson, Xia Boyin, and Peter Wei entered Hutchison a few years before him, and they are the high-level leaders of the Qidezun era, so everyone is not of the same mind.

Now, as a major shareholder, Lin Zhichao easily broke into the interior, and it was unrealistic for him to keep Lin Zhichao out. More importantly, the shareholders' meeting is about to be held, and it is still unknown whether he can be re-elected as chairman of the board.

This way.

Lin Zhichao also released some information during the casual chat with the senior management, his position as a major shareholder is becoming more and more secure, and the chairman of the board of directors is also waving to him. At this time, everyone should understand who is most likely to become the chairman of the board of directors between him and Wei Li, and who can stay.

As soon as Wei Li leaves, isn't it true that everyone can go up the stairs for a day!

But it is impossible for him Lin Zhichao to leave, because how can the major shareholders leave?

For a while, Richardin and other high-level officials released a signal, and everyone knew it.

After chatting for a while, Lin Chichao smiled and left Hutchison Building, a high-quality Central building on the edge of Victoria Harbour.

This time, he proposed to establish Hutchison Telecom, which was just a temptation!

Now it seems that he has become the chairman of the board of directors is a certainty, and Wei Li, as a person without equity, is not qualified to serve as the chairman of the board of directors and the chief executive officer, which is something that the board of directors and the general meeting of shareholders cannot allow.

As for Cheung Kong Group's secret purchase of Hutchison Whampoa's equity this year, it is now close to 40%, and the price is not high, because the market value of Hutchison Whampoa is still more than 2 billion Hong Kong dollars.

As for the privatization of Watsons, Hutchison Estate, Hebao and Kwan Yicang that he proposed, it is indeed very beneficial. At present, the Hang Seng Index is only 700 points, and privatization is not expensive, but in the next few years, these companies can have a lot of cash flow gains without risking their shareholders.

However, Hutchison Whampoa's cash flow is insufficient.

Of course, it would be very easy to wait until 1982 to privatize it!

As for its loss-making seaport enterprises, Lin Zhichao plans to arrange for Hutchison Whampoa to sell Poly Construction to Cheung Kong Group next year to strengthen the strength of construction infrastructure.

Although the port enterprise is in a loss-making state, it does not mean that it will lose money in the future, and it is still a 'high-quality asset' in essence, but there are problems in a short period of time.

Cheung Kong Group.

Lin Zhichao looked at the financial information for a while and found that Cheung Kong Group's profit this year would exceed 500 million Hong Kong dollars. Among them, the profit of only two 'subway stations' is as high as 180 million.

At present, HSBC has paid 300 million Hong Kong dollars for the acquisition of 600 million Hong Kong dollars; Purchased 10% of Hutchison Whampoa's fractional shares from the market at a consideration of only HK$280 million.

By the end of 1978, Cheung Kong Group's cash flow was expected to reach HK$600 million, and its debt was HK$800 million (including outstanding payments from HSBC).

Unlike other Chinese-funded real estate companies, Cheung Kong Group's asset value is very high, mainly due to the large number of commercial real estate projects, so the return on assets is still not as high as that of Sun Hung Kai, Hang Lung, and Cheung Wo Real Estate.

This is because the development of real estate (residential) is an 'asset-light', as long as there is a piece of land, it can be started through a loan, and then through the sale of real estate to recoup, it only takes two or three years to fully recover the principal, and it is very profitable.

The initial investment in commercial real estate is huge, and the return will take more than seven or eight years, so it will drag down the 'return on assets'. Of course, there are also advantages, that is, the enterprise is stable, and after long-term accumulation, the results are very good.

"Chairman"

After a while, Huang Changhong and Lin Ruihuan, the two deputy managing directors, the old and the young, came to Lin Zhichao's office together.

The deputy managing director is actually exercising the 'general manager' right, but it is under the command of Lin Zhichao. After Wong Cheong steps down, Lin plans to appoint Mai Lisi as deputy managing director.

Because Zhou Huai'an is good at real estate project planning and development, he is a real estate talent, and the upper limit is destined to only be the deputy general manager; Hu Zhaoxu belongs to sales talents, and Zhou Fuzhao belongs to financial talents.

Only Mai Lisi is more suitable to be elected as the 'second-in-command of administration' of Cheung Kong Group, and the 'first-in-command of administration' is qualified by Lin Ruihuan. As for Lin Zhichao, he will perform more of the chairmanship of the board of directors in the future.

"Well, sit!"

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao said: "What is the current level of land prices in official land?" ”

He hasn't participated in the official land auction for a long time, after all, he has gone to some 'not a level'. Unless it is a land at the level of a land king, and Lin Zhichao is bound to win, he will personally take action.

Lin Ruihuan said: "It's already very expensive! Residential land in Hong Kong and Kowloon is close to HK$1,000 per square foot, industrial land has risen the hardest, reaching HK$2,300 per square foot, and the average price of commercial land in Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui is in the tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars."

Lin Zhichao said: "Compared with 1959, the industrial land has increased by about 230 times; Residential and commercial land has only increased by 70 or 80 times since 1959. ”

Lin Ruihuan said: "Hong Kong's local production value is getting higher and higher, and I am afraid that it can exceed 90 billion Hong Kong dollars this year, with an average of 20,000 Hong Kong dollars per capita. In the past five years, the output value has increased by more than 12% every year. The rapid development of industry and the strong demand for factories are the reasons for the growth of industrial land. ”

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "In the 80s, the industry had to be transferred to the mainland, and the cost was lower. ”

Huang Changhong and Lin Ruihuan have found an unusual taste, and the chairman went to the mainland, and it seems that he has changed his usual attitude, and now he is so optimistic.

Huang Changhong asked: "The boss is very optimistic about the mainland's sincere economic development?" ”

Lin Zhichao saw that it was Huang Changhong who asked, and he did not hide it, and roughly told what he saw and heard. He knew that Huang Changhong would choose to immigrate in the future, because he had a son who had already immigrated to Vancouver.

Of course, these are personal choices, and Lin Zhichao will not interfere.

"If that's the case, a market of one billion people can bring new opportunities to Hong Kong."

"Hmm"

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao said: "The price of land is already much higher, and we have to suspend the purchase of official land." ”

Huang Changhong and Lin Ruihuan both know that this is the usual trick of the chairman, once the land is too high, they will no longer buy land from the official land and wait for the land to fall.

Of course, this is also because Cheung Kong Group has 1.25 million ordinary reserve land in its hands, which can build 10 million square feet of floor space, which can be developed almost until the mid-80s. Moreover, there are still twenty or thirty plots of land for sale and land under construction.

Huang Changhong nodded and said, "Okay! ”

Subsequently, Lin Ruihuan told Lin Zhichao a good news: "Chairman, Kwong Sang Hong invited us to cooperate in the construction of a commercial site located in Gloucester Road, Jaffe Road and Du Lao Chi Road in Wan Chai. But they demanded that they should be sold as soon as possible, and no rent collection should be processed. ”

Lin Zhichao then said: "No problem! Invite someone to sit down and talk later, and I'll attend in person. ”

Although people look at the reputation of Cheung Kong Group and have excellent cases of cooperation with subway companies, Lin Zhichao, as the boss of Cheung Kong Group, still has to contact others in person to show his attention. The later work can be handed over to subordinates.

In the future, there will be a lot of such cooperation with Cheung Kong Group, which is a series of benefits after cooperating with the subway company.

Cheung Kong Group does not need to pay for the purchase of land, only needs a sum of money to do foundation works, and can fight by 'selling off-the-plan'. The profits of a commercial building are tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars, or even hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars.

If it is a real estate development, I don't know how many residential buildings will have to be developed to make a profit.

(End of chapter)