Hong Kong 1980: The Savage Era

Chapter 312 Chapter 313 [Hong Kong and Macao International]

As we enter February, the flavor of the Spring Festival becomes stronger and stronger.

The economic environment was not good in the past two years, and citizens were tightening their belts. Now that the stock market and local markets have recovered, they are also willing to consume.

The economy is thus flowing and everyone can make money.

Fujia Newspaper Company Office

Swish swish! !

The crisp sound of papers flipping echoed in the room, sometimes rapid, sometimes rhythmic, as if symbolizing the ups and downs of the reader's mood.

"Is there any way to increase sales?" Luo Qihong picked up the magazine on the table again. The cover read "Playboy" and "Capital".

Wu Xiaohao, the deputy general manager with a slicked-back hair and dressed in a suit, hesitated for a moment and answered, "It is basically impossible to win in terms of content. The only way is to start with the intensity of the discount."

"Maybe we can also give concessions to newspapers. Newspaper owners will work hard to recommend us for the sake of profit." Editor-in-chief Yu Jichang quickly gave his suggestions, not wanting to fall behind the newcomer Wu Xiaohao.

"Xiao Hao, what kind of discount do you want?" Luo Qihong asked with interest, tapping the table with his fingers.

He specifically invited Wu Xiaohao back to share power. It was not because Yu Jichang was not doing a good job, but because his energy was limited and he had to be checked and balanced.

As for the progress after checks and balances, this is completely in his hands and there is no need to worry.

"Hold prize draws like in the market, and also offer long-term subscription discounts and referral rewards." Wu Xiaohao's suggestions are both new and old, and it's a bit like a two-pronged approach.

"Playboy is a fringe magazine that whets the appetite of those 'sleazy men'. Capital has good content and some insightful economic analyses. For example, this analysis estimates that the return of immigrants will bring a new round of economic growth to Hong Kong." Luo Qihong pointed to the content of Capital magazine.

"Mr. Luo means that we can invite some experts with real abilities to comment?" Wu Xiaohao guessed.

"Will this increase our cost expenditure?" Yu Jichang asked.

"Increased costs are inevitable. We can't wait until sales drop to the bottom before taking action." Luo Qihong glanced at Yu Jichang.

In business, it has always been the case that visionary products win out, after all, this is not a temporary product.

"Leave this matter to me. I know some professors who have real insights into economics and I can convince them to publish articles in our magazine." Wu Xiaohao was very tactful and knew that he was a decision maker and more of an executor.

“As for entertainment magazines, I can also invite some dazzling models and movie stars to be on the cover, and put some fascinating content inside.” Yu Jichang said.

"The cover can be a little sexier, but the content doesn't need to be too borderline. Our magazine is scheduled to have serious content, not pornographic magazines like Playboy." Luo Qihong said, "You can do a survey to see what kind of entertainment content white-collar workers and high-income people like to watch. We can improve it according to market needs."

"Yes, leave this to me." Yu Jichang quickly took the work away.

If he doesn't pay more attention, his position will probably be taken away by Wu Xiaohao.

Wu Xiaohao didn't care about these and continued to report, "I heard that Zheng Jinghan, the founder of Playboy and Capital, is planning to start a new business, and he has some "teeth marks" with his original owner, Sing Tao Newspaper Group. Can we win over this new star in the media industry?"

"Will he bring the magazines he founded to the new company?" Luo Qihong said with a slight smile.

"It should be!" Wu Xiaohao said solemnly, "But if he leaves Sing Tao Newspaper Group, he will definitely lack funds. The competition in our industry is very fierce. Without silver bullets (funds) to pave the way, it is easy to be shot down by peers."

"Are you confident that you can convince him to join us?" Luo Qihong has always been very ambitious and does not want to cultivate a heavyweight opponent.

"He won't join us, but having one more friend is better than having one more enemy, and we can also profit from it." Wu Xiaohao said, "According to my calculations, we can get our money back within three years, and it can also effectively strike against Yulang International Company."

Since Wu Xiaohao works at Fujia Newspaper Company, of course he has to know who the company's main enemy is, otherwise he would be too incompetent.

"Okay, then we'll invest in his new company, but we also have to make good agreements so that he doesn't form a strong competitive relationship with us." Luo Qihong had to settle for the second best.

He is not a person who specializes in media. Only a small part of his mind is devoted to this field. He cannot compare with talented people like Zheng Jinghan who specialize in this field.

"Yes, I will try my best to complete the task." Wu Xiaohao did not say too confidently.

"I heard that Wong Yuk-lang is planning to go public. You might be able to use the listing as a condition," Luo Qihong reminded.

"Can we support Cheng King-hon and Wong Yuk-long to compete with each other? I think Wu Xian of Sing Tao Newspaper Group will also agree. Wong Yuk-long is a very arrogant person and has many conflicts with Wu Xian." Wu Xiaohao provided important information.

"This is a good suggestion." Luo Qihong laughed. Fujia Newspaper can only be regarded as a small and medium-sized media company, which is inferior to Yulang International Company. The best way to deal with it is to form an alliance, which saves effort and can quickly return the investment.

Competition in the newspaper industry has always been fierce. If you are not careful, you will fall. Those famous newspapers will not be able to hold on for long.

Today's Hong Kong is home to many Chinese people, including all kinds of eccentrics and geniuses. Luo Qihong doesn't dare to say that he can definitely win.

Dean Securities Investment Company
This place gradually became Luo Qihong's base camp, where he spent more time than at Zhaoan Real Estate Company.

Bai Jinyan walked in with a clatter of high heels, and it felt like she had heard someone before she saw them. "This is an invitation from Cao Guangbiao, the boss of Yongxin Enterprise Company." An invitation letter was handed over.

Luo Qihong took the invitation letter, opened it and said, "The rumors outside are true. Cao Guangbiao, the fur king, wants to enter the aviation industry and compete with Cathay Pacific Airways."

Bai Jinyan laughed and said, "The aviation industry is the exclusive domain of the Swire Group and the pillar industry of the four major foreign companies. Can he win? Don't let Yongxin Enterprise lose all the money."

Aviation is the Swire Group's strongest industry, with real estate less than half of it. It is an understatement to say that it dominates Hong Kong's aviation industry and that it has a monopoly.

"Cao Guangbiao should have gotten the inspiration from the Joint Declaration, but this line of work is really difficult. Swire Group has been losing money for so many years to build a giant like Cathay Pacific Airways. How could they allow Cao Guangbiao to share the cake?" Luo Qihong put down the invitation with a gloomy face.

My impression is that the Swire Group is very sensible, wavering between the mainland and the UK. After its return in the previous life, it was the only one of the four major trading companies that remained standing, and it also achieved a leapfrog development in the real estate industry.

It is difficult to take advantage of such a smart person, but Cao Guangbiao is no pushover. He invited a large number of Chinese tycoons and powerful mainland state-owned enterprises to set up an airline.

"So are you going to attend?" Bai Jinyan glanced at the invitation.

"Of course I'll go. It's also good to meet some people." Luo Qihong smiled easily.

Bai Jinyan was a little puzzled. "You know there will be losses, but you still want to go?"

"If you lose money, can't you make it up elsewhere?" Luo Qihong said meaningfully, "Some things cannot be measured by money. You can study Li Jiacheng's history of making a fortune when you have time. That guy's deeds are very representative."

Li Jiacheng lost money helping HSBC build the Chinese Bank Building, which earned him the appreciation of Shen Bi. This laid the foundation for the acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa and was an important part of the Li family becoming a world-class family.

It can be said that without Hutchison Whampoa, Li Jiacheng would have to spend an extra 20 years to expand the scale and build the structure.

Luo Qihong did not have such a good opportunity and could only rely on himself to do things step by step. Building personal connections is also part of developing a company.

Wheelock and Company seemed to belong to the same four major trading companies as Hutchison Whampoa, but was messed up by John Madden. Its overseas companies were far inferior to those under Hutchison Whampoa, and its Australian part was taken away by Zhang Yuliang. Its strength was less than 4% of what it was in the early days.

Otherwise, Luo Qihong would not need to spend so much energy on the trading company, using the trading business to open up markets around the world and wait for the right opportunity to intervene.

"Well, I'll take a look at it when I have time." Bai Jinyan was still a little disappointed, after all, he was criticized.

Cao's Villa
There are luxury cars parked in front of the door, and a large number of people are in charge of command and coordination, making it very lively.

Cao Guangbiao's son Cao Qiyong was in charge of reception at the door. When he saw Luo Qihong getting off the car, he quickly walked up and extended his right hand, "Welcome, welcome! Welcome Mr. Luo!"

"What a big scene. I thought the Cao family was having some big wedding." Luo Qihong laughed and stretched out his right hand.

"It's a big happy event, but it's everyone's happy event." Cao Qiyong was very good at speaking and didn't show any arrogance towards Luo Qihong, who was a little younger than him.

"Yes, it seems that the Shi Huaiya family will not be able to sleep tonight." Luo Qihong smiled even more.

"I think Mr. Luo is right." Cao Qiyong laughed. "Mr. Luo, please go in first. I still need to greet other guests. Excuse me!"

"Okay, I'll go in first." Luo Qihong walked past Cao Qiyong and went in.

After entering, Luo Qihong found a group of people surrounding Cao Guangbiao, including Chinese people such as Pao Yue-kong, Li Jiacheng, Huo Yingdong, Feng Bingfen, Ma Wanqi, as well as heads of mainland companies such as Hua Xia Bank, Huarun Company, and China Merchants Group.

Such a lineup is really scary. I’m afraid even the Hong Kong government is paying close attention to the matter of the Cao family villa.

Luo Qihong greeted a few people he knew on the sidelines, nodded to Cao Guangbiao, then pulled up a chair and sat over to listen to their conversation.

Among this group of people, Luo Qihong's assets are not that high, and his qualifications are not deep either. He can only be considered above average, and this is still due to the high value of his assets.

"Although there are still more than a decade to go, the British's influence in Hong Kong has been weakened a lot. First, the Wharf Group and Hutchison Whampoa were acquired by the ship charter king and Mr. Li Jiacheng, and then the China Gas Company, the Electric Company, and the Star Ferry Company were acquired by us Chinese." Cao Guangbiao was talking eloquently, as if he was inciting the Chinese present to break with the British, forgetting the fact that Hong Kong was still in the hands of the British.

Cao Guangbiao plans to set up the Hong Kong and Macao International Company. All Chinese present can be shareholders, but China Construction Bank will hold 22% of the shares, Huaxia Bank and China Merchants Group will each hold 15%, and Cao Guangbiao himself will hold 10%. The remaining 38% will be subscribed by those present.

Seeing the old man speak so passionately, Luo Qihong suddenly had the urge to take over the country. He wanted a passionate person like Cao Guangbiao to achieve his goal instead of losing the airline after his return.

But if he insisted on speaking out at this time, he would offend people, and everyone present was a big shot, so how could they easily agree with his ideas and analysis?

"Why is Mr. Luo sitting here?" Bao Yugang sat next to Luo Qihong.

Luo Qihong smiled and said, "I was late, so I just found a random seat. Bao Sheng has been here for a long time, right?"

"Not long, maybe 20 minutes earlier than Luo Sheng." The boat charter king said with a smile on his face.

"Mr. Luo, I haven't seen you for two or three years." Feng Bingfen also came over.

(End of this chapter)