Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

Plans don't change quickly.

Wang Yaotang originally only wanted to confirm the donation to the primary school and, incidentally, investigate the security company, identify and resolve any problems in order to better build the 'Umbrella (Hong Kong) Company'. However, all sorts of things came rushing at him at once, leaving him temporarily tied up in Macau.

It wasn't until Cabel couldn't resist calling that Wang Yaotang had no choice but to take a boat to the sea in the middle of the night to meet with Cabel.

"Buddy, it's 12 o'clock. Meeting in the pitch-black sea makes it seem like we're doing something bad," Wang Yaotang complained as soon as he boarded the ship.

"Great idea. You genuinely consider yourself a good person." After a joke, Cabel couldn't wait to ask, "Is the problem solved?"

"Your so-called solution?"

"Of course!"

"No." Wang Yaotang shook his head.

"What? We had an agreement, you lied to me!" Cabel immediately bristled.

"Alright, calm down." Wang Yaotang waved his hand with a smile. "As a politician, I'm not as good as you, but when it comes to committing crimes, you're not as good as me."

"What do you mean!" Cabel asked coldly. "I'm a police officer, do you think I don't understand?"

"What's wrong with the police?" Wang Yaotang curled his lip. "You know you're a policeman, right? Stop thinking about fighting and killing all the time. Murder leaves traces, even if you take the body away from the scene. That doesn't solve the problem, it only creates new problems, understand?"

"Everyone has weaknesses. Just send them away and let them go back to Hong Kong Island. Even if the higher-ups really find out about me, it doesn't matter. I'll tell them clearly that the person smuggled himself to Thailand. What can the police do about it?"

Cabel agreed with this statement, and after thinking for a moment, hinted, "Your continued existence is ultimately a threat, could you perhaps..."

Wang Yaotang let out a "heh" sound, "Let me be frank, while I'm solving your problem, I'm also going to find something on you."

Kabel's face instantly turned ugly.

“Are you angry? There’s nothing I can do. I’m just an honest person. I have your secret. I’ve got a secret out of you. This way, we can cooperate more closely. It will prevent you from having any bad thoughts. It took you 20 years to get to where you are now. I have a partner who can help me. The result is very good now. I don’t want a truck to run you over one day. Do you understand what I mean?” Wang Yaotang put his arm around Kabel’s shoulder and said quite sincerely.

Kabel shoved him away, wanting to yell at the bastard in front of him: Do you fucking think I'm stupid?
Wang Yaotang shrugged, and Cabel took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "We're friends now."

"I'm glad we reached an agreement." Wang Yaotang laughed. "Don't look so gloomy, cheer up, I'm not a bad person."

"Although I have committed murder and arson, my moral standards are much higher than yours."

"Alright, let's think long-term." Wang Yaotang put his arm around Kabel's shoulder again.

Kabel was much taller, so he had to bend down to accommodate Wang Yaotang.

"How's the security company situation going? The media and higher-ups have limited resources. Compared to your minor issue, the interests and power involved in the security company will attract most of the attention."

“I’ve submitted a report, and it will be discussed at the meeting on Monday,” Cabel said. “It won’t be that easy. This is tantamount to giving some ‘power’ to private companies, and conservatives will definitely jump out to oppose it.”

“You could visit Haojiang for a look. Haojiang Protector Security Company has been operating for six months and has helped the Public Security Bureau solve many problems,” Wang Yaotang said.

Cabel gave a dismissive "heh." "I don't think there's anything about Portugee that the British Empire should study, like how they made themselves so dark and short?"

Wang Yaotang burst into laughter. It's no wonder Europeans dislike the British; these were some of the insulting remarks made by the British media during the 1890 ultimatum sent by Britain to Portugal.

The British look down on everyone in the world equally!

“That security company is mine,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

Cabel's laughter stopped abruptly. "I knew it. These curly-haired baboons are incapable of coming up with such a good idea."

"Don't worry, there are precedents of overseas private companies building security forces during the East India Company era. If you are willing to register the company in the UK, the obstacles to this matter will be greatly reduced. Of course, it would be best if you joined British International and found British shareholders and general managers."

Seeing the unfriendly look in Wang Yaotang's eyes, Cabel shrugged. "Don't look at me like that. I'm just stating the facts. If you want to expand your business to Southeast Asia and even the world, British citizenship will bring you great convenience."

"Negotiations will begin soon. Do you think Britain can hold onto Hong Kong?" Wang Yaotang scoffed.

“Of course!” Cabel blurted out.

"Then they'll send troops from the north, so you're planning to take the Indians to the battlefield?"

Cabel's expression froze. "Hong Kong's current prosperity is thanks to Britain, not China..."

"Alright, do you think you're in Downing Street? If a conflict breaks out, you'll just be thrown to fill in the defensive lines." Wang Yaotang frowned and waved his hand. "The army doesn't even have a royal title. What's the point of risking your life for a few thousand dollars a month? Think about how to make more money so you can retire back in England."

Cabel opened his mouth, "Okay, you're right."

“There are some old fogies in the police force, but not many. I will help you persuade others, but you know, this requires enough ‘sincerity’ to be safe and not get investigated.”

"For example, Danish seafood companies?" Wang Yaotang's question made the atmosphere awkward.

"Hehe, I remember you came from the British Royal Marines. You can gather some people to set up a brokerage company. Later, I will get involved in maritime security business targeting piracy. This will allow you to legally make a lot of money."

Kabel quickly considered the situation. This guy in front of him had many people willing to fight to the death and was backed by Asia's largest transshipment port. As long as he had enough weapons, he certainly had the capital to get involved in this industry.

Compared to other wealthy Chinese in Southeast Asia who possess substantial private armed forces, which would inevitably arouse the vigilance of their respective countries, Wang Yaotang has virtually no competitors.

“I understand. Leave this to me,” Cabel said with a smile after he had figured it out.

"Are you relieved?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile.

Cabel nodded. "I have some news for you. It seems the Water House is plotting against Sheng Yi." "Huh?" Wang Yaotang's expression changed from surprise to anger. "Damn it! Considering my Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor campaign, I had already given up on taking action against them. How dare they!"

Cabel inwardly cursed Wang Yaotang for being shameless, then shrugged, "The undercover agent isn't sure about this. I'm just reminding you. Okay, that's all. I have to go back now."

Wang Yaotang waved his hand, his face dark with anger, and jumped onto the speedboat, heading straight for the Haojiang River.

……

The 500 million charity auction was not wasted. After making arrangements for the three Portuguese officials at the Grand Nightclub, Wang Yaotang obtained a series of government statistics on construction and real estate from the Bureau of Commerce and the Bureau of Public Works the next day.

Of course, Wang Yaotang could understand these materials, but he couldn't analyze them. But that didn't matter, because he didn't have anyone else who could.

The next day, the four-eyed guy arrived with two men in their fifties on a speedboat with machine guns. On the way, the four-eyed guy fired a burst of gunfire for fun, but when they entered the cabin, the distance between them disappeared and he became extremely enthusiastic.

"Mr. Lu Kang, Mr. Shi Yujiang," the bespectacled man introduced with a smile.

Zhang Yaorong made his fortune in the building materials business, but after the mid-70s, the Hong Kong building materials market was monopolized, and his room for survival became smaller and smaller. So he used his connections to switch to running a Chinese-style nightclub. These two people were the professionals he introduced.

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Wang Yaotang tossed the documents to the two men and then went to chat with the four-eyed guy on the side.

“The police are still investigating Fox’s death these days, and Cabel informed me that the police have someone watching him.”

Wang Yaotang burst out laughing, "Why did the superior demote first!"

"With police officers like these, how can Hong Kong's public security possibly improve!"

"You must rely on yourself!"

The bespectacled guy chuckled, "The newspapers have been reporting on this all day, nothing else."

"By the way, have Guan Weiping take his management team to the other side to discuss Teresa Teng's concert. Also, spread the word that the Asian superstar's influence will quickly divert media attention and give Kabel a break." Wang Yaotang didn't mention Teresa Teng's pregnancy and sent Guan Weiping away.

"Wow, this sets a precedent. The media will definitely explode, especially the Sing Tao Daily. The top executives in Taiwan will definitely send people to find her," the four-eyed guy laughed. "That's when the value of Hong Kong paparazzi will be demonstrated."

Wang Yaotang laughed.

"Mr. Wang." Lu and Shi came over after understanding the general situation. They needed to know what Wang Yaotang wanted to do so that they could make targeted arrangements.

“I’ve finished reading.” Wang Yaotang smiled and gestured for the two to sit down. “I’ve obtained the qualification to participate in the land reclamation project for Taipa Island and the airport project in Macau. Where do you think I should start?”

The two exchanged a glance, and Lu Kang spoke up: "Haojiang cannot support its real estate market due to its population problem. In addition, it has been affected by Hong Kong, and in the past two years, the overall trend has been rapidly declining. We believe that the Governor's Office is promoting this plan in order to maintain the market. Of course, the construction of the airport is only a matter of time."

“The reclamation and airport projects will inevitably take a long time, and from an industrial perspective, they are very valuable for investment. If Mr. Wang wants to participate, starting with the crushed stone industry is a better choice.”

At this moment, Shi Yujiang spoke up, "Does Wang Sheng know about Qingzhou Yingni?"

“Qingzhou Yingni?” Wang Yaotang frowned slightly. “I have a security company in Haojiang, and the training base is built on an abandoned cement factory on Qingzhou Island in the northwest. Is that related?”

"What a coincidence." Shi Yujiang slapped his thigh. "It was established by the British in 1887. Qingzhou Island provided the limestone, and the cement plant was located in Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Qingzhou Yingni means Qingzhou British Cement Plant. The abandoned site you just mentioned should be the grinding plant."

"What I mean by this is that the raw materials and coal for Hong Kong cement plants almost all come from north of the Pearl River. In addition, nearly half of the stone materials in the building materials market also come from here. There are abundant limestone mines, river sand, marble, etc. in Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Foshan. Currently, they all exist in the form of small factories. As far as I know, there are dozens of small stone quarries in Zhuhai alone."

"Overall, the production methods and scale are outdated. If integration can be carried out, it will be able to influence the price of building materials in Hong Kong and Macao to a certain extent."

Wang Yaotang raised an eyebrow. "Who calls the shots in Hong Kong's building materials market right now?"

“Cement is produced by Lee J. Sing’s Ching Chau Ying Ni, which accounts for 40% of Hong Kong’s total output, while stone is produced by Lui Che Woo’s K. Wah Group, which accounts for 30% of the total market,” Lu Kang said.

"What about the other 70%?" Wang Yaotang asked.

“Hong Kong has two government-operated and seven contracted quarries. Five of the contracted quarries are owned by Lui Che Woo. The Hong Kong government operates the Lamma Island and Shek O quarries through HK Electric, but their production capacity is relatively low, accounting for less than 10% of the market. The rest are basically imported from Zhuhai.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yaotang immediately became interested, sat up straight, and looked at the two of them. "I don't understand anything, how does it work?"

"Wang Sheng is joking," Shi Yujiang said. "The stone industry doesn't require much technical skill. To gain a foothold, you need money, connections, and..."

"What is it?" Wang Yaotang asked.

"He can fight," Shi Yujiang said, pursing his lips.

"what?"

Lu Kang picked up the conversation, "It's not surprising, Mr. Wang. Think about it, miners have always been good at fighting. Mining mainly relies on blasting. Lu Zhihe has people and guns, which is why he can hold his ground. If you want to get involved in the stone market, you will definitely have to get past this hurdle."

Wang Yaotang chuckled, "How many divisions does Lui Che-woo have?"

Lu Kang and Shi Yujiang exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with joy. They had had this idea when they saw the four-eyed guy firing a machine gun at sea on the way.

If Wang Yaotang really enters the industry and monopolizes the market, then they will be heroes and will certainly reap the rewards!

"Tell me more about the cement plant." Wang Yaotang was annoyed by the name Li Jicheng, and he would not hesitate to take the business if he could.

Four-Eyes wanted to reach out and pull Wang Yaotang back: "Brother, stop your crazy antics! We just built up some wealth, and you lost 2000 million in one trip to Macau. The cement factory is going to be the death of us."

"Li Cheng is amazing! He monopolizes the cement industry, and now he controls half of Hong Kong's real estate market!" Lu Kang praised. (End of Chapter)