The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

From September to November, Lin flew to Singapore four times to negotiate with the Singapore Development Board for the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore; he finally received formal approval in early December.

However, one thing that is surprising is that the Singapore Development Authority wants to hold 40% of the equity in this project, and it will use the land as a stake. At the same time, it is stipulated that the total investment of Shangri-La Hotel cannot be less than 68 million Hong Kong dollars (after conversion).

Originally, Lin Zhichao's budget was about 120 million, but that included land, etc. Now that the Singapore Development Board is willing to invest in 15 acres of land, it naturally does not require that much investment.

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

After the first phase of the project is completed, the hotel will immediately start operating. About 70% of the area of ​​the subsequent hotel has not yet been developed. While operating, development will continue. At this time, there is no need for Shangri-La Hotels Group to spend money. It must either take out a loan or go public to raise funds. , can be achieved.

A formal contract is being signed in a government conference room in Singapore between Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (Hong Kong) and the Singapore Development Board.

"Happy cooperation, Chairman Zhang!"

"Happy cooperation, Mr. Lin!"

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

As for Singapore's request for 40% equity, it is very reasonable. After all, they hope that Shangri-La Hotel (Singapore) will become a government hospitality hotel. If they don't take shares, why should they support it so much.

What's more, it is difficult to obtain a full 15 acres of land. Land is usually obtained from official land auctions, but even if such a large land is obtained, it may be residential land. Without deep government relations, it is impossible to obtain land at all. It is impossible to change it to commercial land for you.

Moreover, Lin Zhichao is also willing to give up 40% of his shares to deepen the cooperative relationship with Singaporean officials. Maybe one of his sons will immigrate to Singapore.

The Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore is not located on Orchard Road, but it is within walking distance of Orchard Road, which is equivalent to not far from the western section of Orchard Road.

"Mr. Lin, I visited Hong Kong last time and visited many of your properties. I found that the shape of Miramar Hotel Building introduced the Chinese Moon Gate, which is very beautiful and unique; the steel beam and steel structure style of Global Building is a modern building. The pinnacle. Therefore, we hope that you will consider the local characteristics of Singapore when designing the Shangri-La Hotel. This is a requirement of our government." Zhang Renhe said solemnly.

As the Chairman of the Singapore Development Board, he is an important subordinate of Lawyer Li and is responsible for attracting investment; and Lin Zhichao is a very important investor of Lawyer Li, so this project is progressing very quickly. In less than four months, it was completed. Site selection and negotiations have been completed.

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "Don't worry about that! The overall feature of Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore is that it is a five-star luxury hotel in a tropical rainforest. The lush botanical garden makes people enter the hotel as if they are in a tropical rainforest. The first phase of the project is a modern high tower Wings and mezzanines, etc. The second phase of the project is the garden wing full of tropical style, and the third phase of the project is the noble canyon wing. In the later period, we can also expand the surrounding land, develop serviced apartments, and rent villa-style apartments. .”

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

Zhang Renhe couldn't help but be stunned by Lin Zhichao's plan and how quickly he came up with a design that sounded good.

"Mr. Lin is indeed very majestic in his work. No wonder this year you defeated investors from Europe, the United States and Japan to obtain the land of the Hong Kong Naval Dockyard."

"Thank you for the award. We are now in a cooperative relationship. Of course I will come up with a good plan and submit it to the partner for review. If everyone is happy, it means a happy cooperation."

"Yep"

In fact, Lin Zhichao has already thought that after the first phase of hotel development with 68 million yuan is completed, it will probably open at the end of 1968; that is, the modern-style tower wing, mezzanine, etc. can be officially opened.

In fact, the modern-style tower wing of the first phase of the project is already a building about 20 stories high. With the addition of mezzanine and other buildings, it is 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.

That evening, Lawyer Li held another government dinner to celebrate the cooperation. In less than four months, he has met with Lin Zhichao three times, which can be regarded as a very considerate relationship with many years of friendship.

During the meeting, Lawyer Li said: "Mr. Lin, last time you proposed the development of a shopping street on Orchard Road, our government department discussed it and approved it very much. So we are studying the plan. After setting the tone, I hope you will invest in the first one." shopping center."

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "This is my honor! My relationship with Orchard Road originated in the 1950s, and I was the first businessman to open a department store there, so I am very willing to invest. The shopping mall has great prospects. Combining shopping malls with office buildings and hotels to form commercial complexes is conducive to economic development."

He talked a lot about the design of the shopping mall, which looked very professional at first glance and impressed Singaporean officials. They thought Lin Zhichao was just a shipping king, but they didn’t know that Lin Zhichao was also the ‘god of real estate’.

Over the years, whenever Lin Zhichao visited Europe and the United States, he would also inspect local commercial centers. Combined with the experience of later generations, he soon had his own design concept.

Lawyer Li said: "I feel that Mr. Lin is more like a planner than a businessman!"

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "Lawyer Li, thank you. Love what you do, learn what you do. This is the principle I have always practiced. I know that land resources in Singapore are scarce, and any planning error will lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, I only represent It’s a family thing!”

Lawyer Li immediately said: "For Mr. Lin to say this, he really knows our Singapore very well. He is worthy of being a businessman who came to invest as early as the late 1940s."

When talking about Lin Zhichao's fate with Singapore, everyone was also very curious. After telling the story, everyone felt that Lin Zhichao had been betting on both Singapore and Hong Kong.

However, there is nothing outstanding in Singapore at this time. It has just been kicked out of Malaya. With Lin Zhichao coming to invest, it is almost welcomed by everyone.

The next day.

In an office building in Singapore, Lin Zhichao held a meeting with his staff.

After the Miramar Hotel opened, Lin Zhichao began to prepare for his own hotel management company, but it was not until this year that it was officially established - Shangri-La Hotel Management Company, which is affiliated to Shangri-La Hotels Group.

Large hotel groups all separate ownership and management rights.

Although he already has his own hotel management company, Lin Zhichao still plans to cooperate with a Western hotel group to manage the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore. He will pay 4% of the gross profit every year as management fees, but he only plans to sign a ten-year contract.

Of course, there is a lesson here, that is, when looking for a management brand, the contract must be signed after the hotel construction is completed, otherwise the manager will ask you for management fees even if the hotel is not in business.

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. By then, the Shangri-La Hotel (Burj Al Arab) in Hong Kong can be managed by itself.

The president of Shangri-La Hotel is still Lin Zhichao, while the vice president is served by Americans Jason and Liang Guangchang of Cheung Kong Holdings; in fact, it is Jason, the vice president, who holds the real power.

He used to be the general manager of Miramar Hotel. Now he is the vice president of Shangri-La Hotel and the general manager of Miramar Hotel. This is not a demotion, but a promotion. This should be because Lin Zhichao has 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 Holdings and concurrently serves as the vice president of Shangri-La Hotel. He mainly plays an important role in the initial preparation period.

Anyway, Cheung Kong Holdings has not yet been listed on the market, so senior executives can do more if they can. After all, there haven’t been many real estate projects in recent years, so it’s completely late.

You must know that when Yangtze River Industrial Group develops into a large comprehensive group in the future, everyone will have to be busy with more and more things.

"Let the cooperating designers try to come up with the first draft of the design plan by the end of this month, and then communicate with the Singaporean officials for approval. We must seize the time and strive to open the first phase by the end of 1968."

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

Of course, the overall style was given by Lin Zhichao, so the designer focused more on details and layout. I started designing in September, and it is no problem to come up with the first draft in one month.

Jason nodded and said, "No problem! I just met him, and he said that the progress is great, and the first draft can be handed over as soon as possible."

Lin Zhichao said with satisfaction: "Well, Vice President Liang also wants to find a good construction company here, and cooperate with Poly Construction for construction, so I can feel more at ease."

Finding a local construction company naturally saves you trouble, but it's impossible to leave everything to them, so you can only count it as a partner; after all, Poly Construction's level is already world-class, and it has done many large projects.

Liang Guangchang immediately said: "Okay, I will finish it as soon as possible."

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

After chatting about the details for a while, the team soon started formal preparations and work.

In fact, Lin Zhichao started planning to build the Miramar Hotel in 1957 and ran it for so many years; he himself has been regarded as a hotel expert. Of course, this is due to his strong learning ability and the fact that he will learn the characteristics of others when staying in hotels around the world for official business. .

If he manages the Shangri-La Hotel full-time, or takes half of his energy to manage it, there is no need for two vice presidents.

Of course this is impossible!

At this time, Lin Zhichao's business actually consisted of five group companies-Global Shipping, Cheung Kong Holdings, Yangtze Industries, Uniqlo Clothing Company, and Shangri-La Hotels.

Although the latter two have just started, they also require his own energy and time.

After the meeting, Jason needs to be stationed in Singapore. There is a deputy at the Miramar Hotel, and he only needs to manage it occasionally, focusing on Singapore.

And Liang Guangchang is running at both ends of Hong Kong and Singapore, especially in the past few years, in addition to the Shangri-La Hotel, there are also shopping malls to be developed.

Fortunately, over the years, Cheung Kong has always had sufficient talent reserves, with more and more senior employees (senior management), so expansion will not cause a talent shortage.

After returning to Hong Kong, Lin Zhichao was in a very good mood. After Sing Tao and Hong Kong's "Shangri-La Hotel" settled the site, his major worry was over.

The profit margin of the hotel industry is not 6~8%. Hotel profits in Hong Kong and Singapore can reach more than 10%. Of course, this is under normal circumstances. If there are certain political crises, 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 on investing. Thinking that the Lin family can live in their own hotel in every city they visit in the future, this is the greatest happiness.

Miramar Hotel.

Today is the day when Lin Xiner and Lin Benfeng got engaged, and the relatives of both parties gathered together.

Lin Benfeng's parents are also a middle-class family in Hong Kong. His father Lin Shanhe is a government official, and his mother Wang Juan is a middle school teacher, but they are not businessmen. They were actually very worried that their son would be oppressed in the future if he married Sir Lin's sister. However, Lin Benfeng took a fancy to Lin Xiner's beauty, independent and open mind, and the temperament of a modern woman.

To put it bluntly, Lin Benfeng was willing to be a "dog licking" and a "female character" in front of Lin Xiner. Of course, Lin Zhichao still knows his sister's character. She looks strong, but she has a kind and gentle side, and she doesn't have a pampered character.

"Uncle Lin, Aunt Wang, please sit down!"

"Sir Lin, you're welcome. Sister Wenying, please sit down!"

Lin Shanhe responded humbly. He understood that the Lin Zhichao family was very powerful. It was now clear that after his son married Lin Xiner, he would live in their mid-level bungalow and live separately from the old couple. As for when to hold the grandson, the son dare not say at all.

Therefore, it looks like a high climb, but it is actually a marriage with the wrong family. But the son likes others, and the old couple dare not persuade him.

There were several tables at today's engagement ceremony. The relatives on Lin Zhichao's side were all big businessmen, such as his second uncle Lin Yunchu's family and Li Gaofu's family. The relatives on Lin Shanhe's side looked like ordinary families.

Of course, Lin Zhichao is still very easy-going, Lin Xiner also understands the general situation, and has the feeling of taking care of everyone.

Immediately, Lin Shanhe's relatives all sighed that their family was very lucky. Lin Benfeng's study was very useful back then. Not only could he squeeze into HSBC Bank, but he could also marry Sir Lin's sister.

"Benfeng, after you get married, you have to work hard and make progress. The most important thing is to study and work hard. If HSBC doesn't promote you in the future, come to my company to do it."

Lin Benfeng said quickly: "Yes, brother!"

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "As for how you arrange your marriage, I will not interfere. In short, matters between husband and wife should be discussed and mutual respect is very important."

"Yes, bro." Lin Xiner and Lin Benfeng replied at the same time.

Both of them have the surname Lin, and the child's surname will still be Lin. Neither family is from Chaoshan, so it doesn't matter.

Lin Shanhe also said: "Sir Lin's words are very reasonable. Mutual respect is very important. You are all people who have received Western education, so 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, the momentum is still there; coupled with the son's attitude towards his future wife, Lin Shanhe has already felt his son's future family status.

In fact, Lin Shanhe may not know that Lin Zhichao is very strong. But if Lin Benfeng felt sorry for Lin Xiner, the two of them would come to an end, and it was impossible for Lin Xiner to be hurt.

It can be said that what he chooses today will be done in the future. If it can't be done, Lin Xiner is free, and the children will be Lin Xiner's by then.

To be honest, Lin Xiner herself had the intention of resisting marriage, and it was Lin Zhichao who was responsible for these things. If his sister was wronged because of this, he would really teach the man a lesson.

Lin Xin'er is Hong Kong's three-star eldest princess. Of course, Lin Benfeng is not a security guard, but a young and motivated person. It was Lin Benfeng who took the initiative to get to know each other and pursued Lin Xin'er for a year before they officially fell in love.

On the whole, the engagement ceremony that day was very successful, and the relatives of both parties met each other. Of course, relatives are relatively close, so there is no big deal.

The official wedding will be in the spring of next year. Sir Lin's marriage to his younger sister is naturally a gathering of celebrities and wealthy businessmen.

After the banquet that day, Lin Xiner ran to Lin Zhichao, "Brother, I want to go home!"

Lin Zhichao saw the reluctance in Lin Xiner's eyes, and immediately softened his heart and said, "Well, it's not unreasonable to live outside before getting married, so let's go home!"

The next day, in the office of Cheung Kong Industries.

Lin Zhichao was sitting in the spacious office, feeling as good as ever. Although in November and December there was another run on the Far East Bank and Yu Yu Bank, Hong Kong real estate and the stock market fell again, but it did not affect him at all.

He knew where history was going, so it didn't matter if he didn't make money at the time. I won't be like others, feeling very sad overall and thinking about where to go.

This year, Cheung Kong Holdings' profits still exceeded HK$30 million, thanks to the relatively stable Miramar Hotel and retail businesses.

As a result, Cheung Kong's cash flow is more than 110 million, but Singapore needs to invest 70 million, so the cash flow is not too much.

In the next year or so, Yangtze River Industries' profits will definitely drop sharply. There is no way around this.

The characteristic of real estate in Hong Kong is that prices will fall when they should, and even rents are the same. They are affected by the market and are not affected by other factors.

Lin Zhichao did some calculations and estimated that when the market bottomed out in 1967, Changjiang Industrial's cash flow would be around 70 million.

That’s almost enough! If that's not enough, funds from Yangtze River Industries can be misappropriated.

It is said that by then, land in Central will cost 250 Hong Kong dollars per square foot, and land in Wan Chai will cost more than 50 Hong Kong dollars per square foot. Some sites will even be given to you for free because the government forces him to pay the remainder of the land price. A high-end residence in Causeway Bay used to cost 200,000, but will only cost 50,000 by then.

These properties are directly advertised for sale, and the owners rush to emigrate abroad, which is very cheap. But the more this happens, the fewer people dare to buy the bottom.

Of course, this market situation will last for about half a year. After the storm subsides, it may rebound a little.

"boss"

Liang Guangchang walked in.

His status in the company has increased in recent years, all due to the surge in commercial projects of Cheung Kong Holdings.

"Well, sit down!"

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

Lin Zhichao is not surprised, the market in Hong Kong just follows the market.

"I understand, the market conditions are the same, there is nothing to worry about."

When Liang Guangchang saw this, he immediately admired his boss's good attitude.

The International Building is the sixth Central commercial building of the Lin family and the fifth Central commercial building of Cheung Kong Holdings. It will open in January next year.

Of course, the three buildings located on Des Voeux Road Central - Universal, Midea and International - do not have shopping malls, and only the first floor is used as a shop.