The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

After returning to Hong Kong, Lin Zhichao immediately arranged the transportation task, organized ships, dispatched personnel, and monitored the progress of the fleet.

Four oil tankers have already headed towards the Middle East. Deputy General Manager Feng Yongfa flew to the Middle East to visit the front line in person. He sat at the headquarters and used radio waves to supervise the transportation team throughout the process. The time of the entire transportation task is accurate to the hour, and it is all within the plan. What is important is execution.

Because Global Shipping has a radio wave information network covering the world, Lin Zhichao came to the radio room of the headquarters as if he had entered an information hub headquarters where he could give guidance.

He must be a qualified conductor, familiar with every waterway in the world and the water depth of each waterway, as if a shipping map is imprinted in his brain. At the same time, he often updates the map in his mind in real time, which is much more reliable than some maps of later generations.

"Boss, all four oil tankers have sailed out of Jeddah port and are heading towards the Suez Canal. Vice President Feng has gone to Egypt's Suez Canal to check the situation at the port." In the telegraph room of the headquarters, the information officer informed Lin Zhichao of real-time information.

"Okay, tell everyone to implement the plan."

"yes"

Lin Zhichao breathed a sigh of relief first. After passing through the Suez Canal, there is the Mediterranean; one side of the Mediterranean is Europe and the other side is Africa; and then passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, there is the North Atlantic. By then, both Europe and the Americas will be It's a flat river.

This route has two 'throats'. The Strait of Gibraltar is only 14KM and is the busiest strait in the world. It is one of the four largest straits in the world along with the Strait of Malacca.

Of course, the most important thing is the Suez Canal. Gibraltar is a strait after all, and no country will be bold enough to block it. Once Suez is blocked, whether you are taking the European route or the American route, you have to pass through the Cape of Good Hope.

The sea at the Cape of Good Hope is very windy and rough, and it is generally dangerous for small ships to pass by, so only large ships are allowed.

At present, the world's major shipyards and major shipping companies are not so eager to bulken ships; it was precisely because of the closure of the Suez Canal in 1956 that the world's major shipyards invested in large oil tankers.

In the late 1950s, Japan had exceeded 100,000 tons.

In the late 1960s, Japan had exceeded 200,000 tons, and oil tankers exceeding 200,000 tons were also called VLCC (VERY LARGE CRUDE CARRIER) - that is, oil tankers with a load capacity between 200,000 and 320,000 tons were super oil tanker.

The other side.

The senior executives of HSBC are discussing the suggestions put forward by Lin Zhichao, and Sandus is already a senior executive of HSBC, because the project department is a very important department.

"HSBC has broken the 'black book' of not providing shipping loans. Shipping is still a risky industry, and direct investment is too risky!" A senior executive objected strongly.

"You can't say that! Lin Zhichao started in the investment industry with 10 million Hong Kong dollars. In more than four years, Global Shipping has been worth about 200 million Hong Kong dollars (low valuation); such a high-yield industry can now be considered with the cooperation of professionals! "There are senior executives who are jealous of the rate of return of shipping, and now that they are led by the first person in Hong Kong shipping, they are naturally excited.

For a while, everyone had a heated discussion. Generally speaking, the opinions were equally divided between those who opposed and those who agreed.

Chairman Douglas said to Sandus at this time: "Manager Sandus, can you tell me some of your reasons? We want to hear it!"

Sandus nodded. He only proposed this plan at the beginning and did not dare to immediately support it because he was also afraid that he would become a sinner of HSBC.

Now that Douglas, the head coach of HSBC, asked him to speak, he would express his thoughts. In fact, he slightly modified Lin Zhichao's words and presented them to the ears of his colleagues.

For a time, everyone began to tend to cooperate because global shipping has been so profitable in recent years.

At this time, Douglas, as the chief executive, was naturally very assertive. He said: "First of all, Global Shipping has just been involved in the transportation of oil tankers. Sandus, you said that they are seeking cooperation with American oil companies. This result is very important; secondly, The six largest oil tankers in the world were acquired at the outset. For us, the risks were too high. Although the profits were huge, some risks should be reduced. For example, if the partnership company built four large oil tankers first, or we only held 30% of the shares; Finally, Sundarshi will try out some more of Lin Zhichao’s ideas, and we will consider them again.”

Sandus nodded immediately and said, "No problem!"

At this time, a high-level supporter said: "It is best to cooperate with four ships accounting for 40% of the shares. If we make money in the future, we can make more profits."

The opposition did not respond vigorously.

In fact, the appreciation of assets from 10 million to 200 million Hong Kong dollars is very enviable by the senior management of HSBC; this is a living successful experience, and it is more effective than many statements.

In fact, the cooperation proposed by Lin Zhichao does not affect his own interests. Assuming that HSBC agrees to cooperate, he will use the excess funds to continue to purchase large oil tankers in the name of global shipping.

Because during the closure of Suez in 1956, the global shortage of oil tankers was at least nearly 10 million tons, otherwise the price would not have skyrocketed several times in the previous life.

And Lin Zhichao is not like Bao Yugang in his previous life, he will always be short of money to do shipping, he has grasped the cycle, basically he will not be short of a lot of money. Therefore, the company that brought HSBC to make a fortune will not have a load capacity of more than 5 million tons in the future, while Global Shipping may have a load capacity of more than 15 million tons.

In the afternoon, Lin Zhichao took a car to the newly filled Central Pier, ready to arrive at Kowloon Star Pier by ferry.

Last year, the reclamation project in Causeway Bay was completed, namely the Victoria Park site, which filled the gap in Causeway Bay (the typhoon shelter was filled in); and this year, the reclamation project in Central was also completed, namely the Central Pier and City Hall site.

Reclamation has always been an important way for Hong Kong's development. Reclamation can generate a lot of economic benefits and fiscal revenue. Therefore, before environmental awareness was not strong in the 1980s, Hong Kong had always been reclamating.

Later generations of Victoria Harbor became narrower and narrower, and were even jokingly called "Victoria River" and "Victoria Canal".

Lin Chi-chao does not like to take a car via car ferry. Instead, he likes to take a car to the Central Ferry Terminal, transfer to the ferry, and then take a car to pick him up at the Star Ferry Pier.

In this way, he can enjoy the scenery of Victoria Harbor and both sides. He himself also likes taking his family for a stroll along the central coast of Victoria Harbor after dinner at night, admiring the view of Victoria Harbour.

The current Central District is far from the high-rise buildings of later generations. Even if you look down from a high altitude, you will find that Central District still has a lot of greenery. Many plots of land do not even have buildings. On the 'satellite map', at least half of the land is empty. .

When he came to the Yangtze River Industrial Park, Lin Zhichao walked into the plastic factory located on the first floor. He knew that the rubber flower of Plastic Changjiang Plastic Factory had been successfully developed.

"Boss, the samples are all ready!" Tao Derong greeted him happily.

Lin Zhichao nodded, and then walked into the showroom. Sure enough, beautiful, lifelike plastic flowers appeared in front of his eyes, including a bunch of grapes, a bouquet of tulips, a cluster of orchids, etc. After less than a year of research and development, Yangtze Plastic Factory finally produced It worked.

"Keep it strictly confidential! At the same time, come up with plans to purchase equipment, train workers and technicians, etc. You have to know that this technology is not very high. If someone imitates it, it can be used up in half a year at most. Hurry up. It even only takes three months. Therefore, we must quickly and accurately occupy the market. Even if our initial investment is larger and the preparation time is longer, it will not be a problem!"

In his previous life, although Li Jiacheng was the first choice to import plastic flowers, the restricted factory was too small and the funds were insufficient, so his income was limited; it is said that Li Jiacheng's entire plastic flower career only earned tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars.

However, plastic flowers in Hong Kong is a big industry, and it can generate tens of billions of foreign exchange for Hong Kong. As a "person who fills the gap in the market", he earns not even one-tenth of the income, which is undoubtedly a failure.

And Lin Zhichao requires at least 200 million Hong Kong dollars in the plastic flower industry to be worthy of the R\u0026D founder.

Tao Derong said: "After the plastic flower is put into production, if you want to enter the European and American markets, the common way is to go through a foreign firm in Hong Kong. They have branches in Europe and the United States and have stable customers. The two parties have established long-term trust."

Lin Zhichao immediately said: "This method is not transparent! We don't know where the products are sold to? Who is the agent? How much is the CIF price, wholesale price, and retail price? How is the market? What is the feedback from consumers?"

Tao Derong immediately said: "Then we can only form a team by ourselves and go to Europe and the United States for sales. However, this product is not like a wig, the sales are relatively concentrated, but scattered throughout the western world. So while we are slowly opening up the market, Hong Kong Followers will appear soon."

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "So, we need to have strong productivity, a huge sales network, superb technology and growing technology from the very beginning. We can make samples into exquisite magazines and send them to large wholesalers in Europe and America. Businessmen, if they find business opportunities, they will come to Hong Kong to investigate."

Tao Derong heard that this is the rhythm of a big fight, and quickly said: "Boss, since this is the case, we must immediately expand the management team, purchase a large number of equipment, and recruit many plastic technicians in Hong Kong."

Lin Zhichao said: "Okay, I will let the group assist you to complete it, and everything must be kept strictly confidential. I hope that within three months, everything will be ready. Also, the original plastic industry should stop production. It is not profitable to produce daily necessities. , sell all second-hand and old equipment. The factory that produces plastic flowers needs to fully decorate this floor of the factory."

Tao Derong said without hesitation: "Okay!"

This is equivalent to cutting off an industry with an annual profit of 600,000 to 700,000 yuan. Of course, this is a big cake for other companies, but for Changjiang Plastic Factory, it is a drag.

Finally, Lin Zhichao suddenly asked out of curiosity: "I remember there were parents and plastic factories in Hong Kong. How has it developed in recent years?"

Tao Derong didn't think it was strange. He knew that the boss had a good memory and had known about this factory before. Coincidentally, he also knew something about this factory.

"Boss, you are asking the right question! A recent incident happened in this Changhe Plastic Factory, because it produced a large number of poor-quality products, and people returned them one after another. At the same time, material suppliers stopped supplying goods and banks stopped lending. And to collect the loan, I’m afraid it will be difficult for their boss to survive this time.”

Lin Zhichao said to himself - the timing is just right. If Li Jiacheng has a big crisis at this time, it will take at least a year to recover. By then, there will already be many plastic flower factories in Hong Kong, and he will not even be able to squeeze into the first echelon. .

Without this crucial opportunity, no matter how talented the Li family is, he can become a tens of billionaires by the end of his life. Even he cannot catch up with Zheng Yutong, Li Shauji and others.

The reason is very simple. Everyone was buying the bottom in 1967. If you have less funds, it means you get a smaller share of the pie.

Good thing!

After all, Lin Zhichao really admires Li Jiacheng's ability and vision!

"This is a perfect negative teaching material. Quality and technology are the first lifeblood of industry. You have to remember it!"

Tao Derong immediately straightened his body and said, "Remember!"

Cheung Wo Plastic Factory.

Li Jiacheng is obviously facing a great tribulation in his life. This time his tribulation is not an irresistible natural or man-made disaster, but caused by his mistakes.

It turns out that in order to produce more products (small profits but quick turnover), he has been asking employees to work overtime, and even has an average of 16 to 18 hours a day per employee to maximize residual value. Not only that, Cheung Wo Plastic Factory lacks professional plastics talents, and he, a professional plastics talent, often needs to go out to run business and negotiate business.

Therefore, Cheung Wo Plastic Factory produced a large number of inferior products. The warehouse was filled with finished toys of poor quality and delayed delivery. Some customers came to ask for compensation, and new customers turned around and left when they saw the products.

People often say: "If you are not afraid of losing business, you are afraid of losing business." This is the situation of CK Hutchison Plastic Factory today.

"Li Sheng, according to the time of the contract, you should pay for our raw materials. The total is 15,000 Hong Kong dollars!" A raw material merchant immediately asked for the debt, but he heard the news.

Li Jiacheng said quickly: "Sheng Wang, can you please wait for a while? I know you are because of that incident, but I can tell you responsibly that I can definitely afford your raw material costs."

"That won't work. It's time for the contract. Li Sheng, you have to be honest when doing business!"

Li Jiacheng was immediately forced into a corner. He could only bring the raw materials to the warehouse, pointed at the large piles of products, and said ruthlessly: "I really can't afford the money, so you might as well take me away."

"You think so well? What do we want from you? What we want is money!"

"If you don't pay us, we will stop supplying you immediately. We will also publicize the scandal of your failure to pay for goods among your peers. You will not be able to do business in the future."

Li Jiacheng suddenly blushed and was forced by the raw material merchant to be unable to cope and could only beg for mercy.

After all, the raw material merchants who were coming one after another were finally asked to leave.

The wall fell and everyone pushed back. The bank learned that CK Hutchison Plastic Factory was in crisis and sent staff to collect the loan. Li Jiacheng, who was exhausted and in pain, had to apologize and beg the bank to relax the deadline. Banks control the life and death of enterprises, and CK Hutchison Plastics Factory is on the verge of liquidation.

Only half of the product varieties of Cheung Wo Plastic Factory have not yet experienced quality problems. The factory is under-operated and has to lay off employees. Some family members of laid-off employees came to the door crying, and some stayed in the office without leaving. The workshop and factory headquarters did not have a moment of peace.

The remaining employees are panicked and worried about the future of CK Hutchison Plastics Factory.