Hong Kong Island Old Events
Chapter 412 Is there a holiday?
"Mingzi, why aren't there any rickshaws?" The shop owner called his boy. The boy just ran to the end of the street, but still couldn't find the car. He was sweating profusely and bowed repeatedly: "Boss, I just asked someone to find out. The rickshaw union is opposed to the ferry price increase. Not a single car comes to Wan Chai Pier."
"Take a taxi."
The boss frowned, a rare luxury. The clerk quickly agreed, called a taxi, and respectfully asked the boss to get in.
"It's a waste of money to attack your mother." The boss was a little unhappy. But since all the rickshaws come to North Point, the transportation market in North Point will naturally be squeezed. Taxis cannot do business in North Point, but they all gather in Wan Chai.
The current starting price of a taxi on Hong Kong Island is 3 cents, which is more expensive than a third-class ferry ticket. Ordinary small factory owners and shop owners are reluctant to take taxis, let alone ordinary citizens. Taxi prices will not be reduced because of ferry companies.
Many salarymen who come to Wan Chai by ferry and take rickshaws to work at their companies find that the rickshaws that used to wait at the pier are nowhere to be seen. In order to rush for time, I had to bite the bullet and take a taxi, which made my heart hurt to death.
"We won't be in North Point tomorrow."
Many customers sat in taxis and swore secretly that the taxi driver's business was much better.
For most people who are qualified to find a job on Hong Kong Island, time is important, but it is not that expensive. They would rather get up half an hour early and doze off in a rickshaw than take a taxi for 3 cents a trip. fee.
You should know that the Kowloon City to North Point Line and the Tsim Sha Tsui East to Wan Chai Line have a large number of natural passenger flows every day. Regarding the increase in ferry fares, they adhere to a happy-go-lucky mentality and just read the newspapers. Anyway, they don't have to buy high-class tickets.
In terms of public opinion, they resolutely resist price increases, but they are busy working for life all day long and will not protest like the lower class citizens. Not to mention that I would not switch to the Yau Ma Tei Ferry because the Star Ferry Company has increased its fares.
The premise is not to affect their work life.
This time the Rickshaw Association's five-cent stampede across Hong Kong has directly affected their interests. Citizens will make choices with their feet. Whoever has the lowest transportation cost will choose to take the ferry. At noon, several afternoon newspapers on Hong Kong Island published the news about the Rickshaw Association's "Five Immortals Tramping the Whole Hong Kong". Public opinion became rampant and began to ferment. Citizens supported the Rickshaw Association one after another. The rickshaw drivers were busy working on the streets, stealing the show.
Transport Advisory Committee member Ms. Ip Sien once again submitted a letter of objection to the Hong Kong government, and also presented letters of opposition signed by 20,000 citizens.
"Big boss, people from the Star Ferry Company called and wanted to see you." At two thirty in the afternoon, Lardboy knocked on the door of the chief's office and said: "They have booked a cafe at the Peninsula Hotel. I hope We can talk in person.”
"What to talk about?"
"Let the Rickshaw Association stop working." He Dingxian smiled.
Lardboy looked proud: "I must want to sue for peace."
"Save your energy." He Dingxian shook his head and said, "I'm very busy and don't have time."
"Understood, boss." Lardboy agreed. He had expected it. He washed his eyes last night and felt much better.
This time, the big boss is fighting a business war for the police force, and he does not want to acquire the Star Ferry. Therefore, the Star Ferry Company has no chance to make peace. The board of directors of the Star Ferry received the news this morning and immediately realized that something was wrong. First, public opinion would impact the reputation of the Star Ferry. Second, the actions of the Rickshaw Association immediately caused the stock price of the Star Ferry to plummet.
If the Star Ferry only has a bad reputation, it doesn't matter. It has a dedicated route and the guests can't run away. This is also the reason why the Star Ferry took the lead in raising prices. But it is not just a matter of reputation that causes the rickshaw association to increase transportation costs for customers.
The chairman of the Star Ferry, Michael Yi, is a handsome man in his early forties with senior management experience. He was a former Wharf manager and a director of the Wharf. He is a senior executive assigned to the Star Ferry Company by the Wharf Group. Tube.
The eighty-year history of the Star Ferry has also made the capital costs behind it very complicated. Among its shareholders are foreign banks such as Jardine Matheson, HSBC and Swire, as well as Chinese compradors and parliamentarians. For example, the Chinese parliamentarian Jian Leqiang has 100% of the Star Ferry. Three shares.
Wharf became the largest shareholder of the Star Ferry because it held 31% of the shares, making Yimigao eligible to sit on the position of chairman. The directors in front of him were all representatives of foreign banks and compradors. This kind of cash cow-like company is actually very simple to operate. Therefore, major foreign banks rarely interfere in Yimigao's decision-making. They did not expect that the matter would become so big because of a passed price increase application.
At this time, the secretary pushed open the door and shook his head gently at the door: "Boss, Sir He declined the meeting request."
"Can Congressman Jian come forward to help communicate?" Yi Mi Gao frowned, looked at one of the attending directors and said: "Councilor Jian has a good relationship with the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce and can easily meet Mr. He. As long as the two parties can talk to each other, You can negotiate."
"Although there is competition between the Yau Ma Tei Ferry and the Star Ferry, they should help each other when the ferry industry is facing a crisis."
"It's good for both sides."
Councilor Jian's representative already had the answer, shook his head and said: "No, Councilor Jane is only responsible for helping pass the bill. Now, the bill to apply for a price increase has been passed due to Councilor Jane's efforts. What happens after that is none of Councilor Jane's business." .”
"Congressman Jian is very busy during this period and has no time to wipe your butt."
Yimigao felt itching with hatred in his heart. He only felt that the Chinese were all cunning and cunning. In business, the Chinese could never be trusted. Only in nightclubs could they be trusted to a certain extent.
A director asked: "Sir Yi, didn't you say that we have already communicated with the boss of Oriental Group, will the two companies raise prices together? What is going on now! If this matter is not handled well, we will initiate The board of directors will remove you from your position!”
"I have made an appointment with Mr. Qiu to meet and talk again. You will definitely see the stock price recover before tomorrow morning." Yi Migao glanced at the directors of HSBC and said coldly: "The company will take the most powerful measures to deal with it!"
In fact, there is no need for the board of directors to remove him at all. If this matter is not handled well, the Wharf Group will fire him. Because, when public opinion is at its most critical, removing executives and apologizing to the people is the simplest and most effective way.
Yimigao inadvertently reached a critical moment and had no intention of making excuses with the directors anymore. He picked up the documents on the table and stood up to leave. In fact, Daban Qiu of Oriental Bank did not agree to see him at all. He just used it casually to deal with the directors. However, as a professional manager, he could not sit still and lose his job.
Qiu Degen would never have imagined that the chairman of a British-owned company would personally drive to block him at the door of the office and lead people to stand in the corridor for more than an hour, becoming a scenery in Oriental Bank. He had to ask his assistant to invite the person into the office, make him a cup of hot tea, and apologize with a wry smile: "I'm sorry, Mr. Yi, I have some urgent documents to deal with and I don't have time."
"None of this is important, Mr. Qiu." Yimigao didn't bother to dwell on the previous matter with him, but went straight to the point: "The Cross-Central Tunnel project has been approved and will start construction next year. There is not much time left for the ferry industry. "
"Furthermore, the application for a price increase has been approved. Not only did Yau Ma Tei Ferry not follow the increase, it also launched a movement for the Rickshaw Association. As far as I know, tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars are invested every day. Your company is not making any money, but you still have to rebate money. Is it true? Just for fame?"
His eyes revealed disdain: "If you want to take advantage of the opportunity to lower the share price of Star Ferry and acquire the Star Ferry Company, that would be wishful thinking. Your company is simply not powerful enough to enter into an acquisition war with Wharf, not to mention that behind the scenes of Star Ferry There are many shareholders of foreign companies."
"Mr. Yi, I misunderstood."
Qiu Tak is even more miserable, because the behavior of the Yau Ma Tei Ferry is indeed against commercial common sense, but from another perspective, it makes sense from a political point of view. It was impossible for him to tell the boss's political goals, so he could only explain feebly: "Yau Ma Tei Ferry has neither the idea of acquiring the Star Ferry nor the intention of grabbing customers, and the 5 cents stampede on the entire Hong Kong is not even It was initiated by our company.”
"That was an event jointly launched by the Rickshaw Association and citizens. Public opinion was fierce. We didn't dare to increase the price even if we wanted to."
"Can you take me to see Mr. He?"
Yimigao only had this request, because he knew that without seeing Mr. He, all the talk would be in vain, and no one dared to make a decision in private.
Qiu Degeng shook his head: "No."
"Business matters are the same as mine."
Yi Mi Gao stared at him for a while and suddenly asked: "Qiu Sheng, I have nothing to do with you, right?"
"Sir Yi, you are joking."
Qiu De even smiled and said: "I haven't even met you a few times, so why are we talking about celebrating the holidays?"
Yi Mi Gao nodded clearly: "Yes, I have no holiday with you. Although the Star Ferry and Yau Ma Tei Company used to compete with each other, it is no longer a holiday, and there is still no holiday. Who is having a holiday with whom? Woolen cloth?"
"Can you tell me?"
Qiu Degeng remained calm and shook his head: "Sir Yi, you are overthinking it. If you want me to say it, it is better to lower the price back to the original price as soon as possible to calm the public opinion."
"Understood, Qiu Daban." Yi Mi Gao is indeed a veteran in the business world. After meeting Qiu Degeng, he immediately judged that there was an inside story in this incident, and it was an inside story that he did not know. The key to solving the problem is to find out where the problem lies. where.
If he couldn't find it, he could only try one by one.
Yimi Gao walked out of the gate of Dongfang Group and sat in front of the car. His expression suddenly changed and he said fiercely: "Since we don't want to make money together, then let's finish playing together and we won't make any money anymore. Let's see who can hold on!"
As a professional manager, it is impossible for him to veto his own price increase policy. Otherwise, even if he calms down public opinion, he will have no credit. Because the fare increase is a unanimous decision of the board of directors and Wharf. Price increases must be placed in front of public opinion. If you cannot distinguish priorities, you will appear to be mindless in doing things.
He has one more card.
It's the last one. I thought I didn't need to fight it, but it seems I have to fight it now.
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