Hong Kong 1980: The Savage Era

Chapter 436 438 [Container Terminal and Telecommunications]

After Hu Xian settled Huang Yulang's lawsuit, she secretly had someone report Huang Yulang for misappropriating Yulang International Group's assets. Combined with the evidence provided by Luo Qihong, the people from the Commercial Investigation Department quickly found Huang Yulang again and conducted a second investigation into Yulang International Group.

On the third day after the incident, Hu Xian demanded that Wong Yuk-long immediately repay the loan of 1.63 million yuan on the grounds that there was a risk of Wong Yuk-long repaying the debt.

However, Wong Yuk-long began to deny it, making excuses for himself with all kinds of reasons, and was unwilling to repay the debt, and even had the idea of ​​shirking responsibility.

This situation was also expected by Luo Qihong, so he suggested that Hu Xian file a lawsuit in court, asking the court to agree to use the shares of Yulang International Group held by Huang Yulang to repay the debt.

Wong Yuk-long naturally protested, but in this situation, the protest would not have much effect.

Tuesday, March 11

In the office of De'an Securities Investment Company in Admiralty Financial Plaza, Luo Qihong was reviewing the "Hong Kong Telecommunications Industry Report" submitted by the company's senior management.

Luo Qihong established a Zhaoan Group Company, injected the 65% equity held by De'an Securities Investment Company, and also established a number of subsidiaries, such as Zhaoan Telecommunications Company and Zhaoan Shipping Company.

At that time, Zhaoan Group only had Zhaoan Real Estate Company and United Enterprise Company. Most of the companies were still in the initial stage of construction and even had no employees.

This requires Luo Qihong to slowly draw elites and recruit talents from various companies, and the process is very slow.

It is worth noting that Luo Qihong established a company called Zhaoan Investment under Zhaoan Group.

The company has received a personal investment of HK$5 million from Luo Qihong, and all future profits from the investment will be distributed to the management and outstanding employees of the Luo family's companies.

Although 5 million Hong Kong dollars is not a large amount, Luo Qihong's investment ability is well-known in Hong Kong, and Luo Qihong has publicly promised that Zhaoan Investment Company's profit in the first year will not be less than 2 million Hong Kong dollars.

Such an action is naturally a first in Hong Kong, and it has attracted many talented people to work for the Zhaoan Group.

Luo Qihong looked at the report in his hand and thought carefully. The Hong Kong Telecom Company has monopolized the Hong Kong telecommunications industry for a century. The company's strength is second only to HSBC. It controls the patents of local fixed telecommunications and international telecommunications, and has as many as 1.6 employees.

Hong Kong's local telephone service will expire in 95, and the competition for new franchises will be a life-and-death battle. Although Hong Kong's local telephone service has been freed from charges, it is still profitable for telecommunications companies, just not as much as before.

Hong Kong's overseas telephone monopoly will expire in 2006. This is the bulk of the telecommunications companies' profits, and they can still enjoy a 16-year monopoly.

Luo Qihong set his sights on another area of ​​telecommunications: mobile phones (big brothers) and pagers, an area that was not within the exclusive jurisdiction of telecommunications companies.

Since 1986, the innovation of mobile communication tools has led to the rapid development of Hong Kong's non-exclusive telecommunications industry. Today, mobile phones and wireless pagers have become common communication tools.

In this non-exclusive telecommunications field, Hutchison Communications is currently the dominant player. It currently owns more than 1 paging stations, serving 23 customers, and occupies 55% of the Hong Kong paging market. It also has more than 5 mobile phone customers, accounting for 60% of the market.

Next year, the Hong Kong government will launch two mobile phone licenses, one of which has already been reserved by Hong Kong Telecom Company, and the remaining license will be the subject of fierce competition.

Luo Qihong certainly knew that there would still be mobile phone licenses, but it was extremely important to be the first to occupy market share, especially with Hutchison Telecommunications leading the way.

He must grab this piece of cake, be the first to divide it up, and then use it to enter the Southeast Asian and Australian markets and get a better industry for his family.

In Luo Qihong's view, the monopoly of mobile phones is more important than real estate. No technology?
What Luo Qihong is best at is acquisitions. He can immediately acquire companies with strength and technology, which will never lag behind.

Luo Qihong looked at Yang Jiachang, the general manager of Zhaoan Telecom Company, and asked, "How is the department establishment of the telecommunications company going?"

"It will take some time. I will definitely complete the structure before New Year's Day 90." Yang Jiachang reported, "The information of Kowloon Paging Radio Company has been collected, and I have also made some calculations."

Luo Qihong nodded and read the information carefully again.

Five minutes later, Luo Qihong said, "Ah Yan, you start helping the telecommunications company acquire the Kowloon paging radio station, and it must also be completed this year. New mobile phone licenses will be issued next year, and we must obtain the licenses at all costs and cannot be dragged down in any way."

"Acquiring the Kowloon paging radio station is not a problem. The key is that we cannot guarantee that we will get the license. Do we need to say hello to the Hong Kong government?" Bai Jinyan said.

Luo Qihong smiled and said, "We can say hello, and others can also say hello. In the end, it will be fair and just. The Hong Kong government dare not offend so many financial groups."

"The Hong Kong government needs to consider many factors, among which the bid price and the company's strength are particularly important. The Hong Kong government should not want the winning company to make a fool of itself."

"I see. Acquiring Kowloon Paging Radio Company is just our first step." Seeing Luo Qihong nod, Bai Jinyan continued, "Then I will try to acquire more than two paging radio companies before 90 to narrow the gap between us and our competitors."

Luo Qihong said, "I think there is no problem. The company has sufficient funds and can draw funds from Dean Securities Investment Company."

“Have the Japanese investments basically been sold off?”

The sell-off of investments in the Japanese market has been going on for half a year and should have been almost complete.

"We have already sold 9% of them. I still suggest leaving some funds in Japan to avoid transferring them back and forth and wasting manpower," said Bai Jinyan.

"Okay. Move 8% of the funds in the Japanese market back to Hong Kong." Luo Qihong looked at Yang Jiachang and said, "General Manager Yang, if you don't have anything else to do, you can go back and prepare."

After Yang Jiachang left, Luo Qihong said to Bai Jinyan, "The Hong Kong government will also bid for Kwai Chung Container Terminal No. 8 next year. I plan to let Zhaoan Shipping Company participate in the bidding, but the prerequisite is that it still needs to have sufficient strength."

"We do not have any experience in container terminals, and companies like this cannot be acquired in a short period of time. Those big conglomerates will not let go of cash cows like container terminals." Bai Jinyan expressed his embarrassment.

Luo Qihong pondered for a moment and said, "Look for container companies that don't have deep roots in Hong Kong. They should be willing to cooperate with us, but we must hold more than 45% of the shares, otherwise we can't cooperate."

"Okay, then I will go collect information on this matter immediately, and there should be news soon." Bai Jinyan turned around and left the office.

Hong Kong is a world free trade port, so container terminals are particularly important. No. 8 Kwai Chung Container Terminal has 4 berths, more than any other container terminal.

Those foreign financial groups will definitely covet it, so they will be willing to make concessions, otherwise it will be difficult for them to take it away. After all, the Hong Kong government still favors local financial groups.

However, the funds involved will be huge. According to Luo Qihong's calculations, it will probably require 120 billion Hong Kong dollars, but it does not need to be paid in one lump sum, so there will be more time to do it.

(End of this chapter)