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

With the Pengcheng Post and Telecommunications Bureau matter considered settled, Wang Yaotang stopped paying attention. Telecommunications is a basic infrastructure project with huge investments and a slow return on investment. Given its sensitivity, it was impossible to determine whether his foreign investment would be allowed to participate.

However, Wang Yaotang does remember that China Unicom and China Mobile were later listed overseas, so they had foreign capital shareholders, and he really couldn't say how they would develop in detail.

However, in the early stages of reform and opening up, the pace was certainly not so fast. He wanted to learn from Mr. Huo's investment methods in the "Zhongshan Hot Spring Hotel". In 79, Mr. Huo responded to the national call and joined forces with Hong Kong and Macao tycoons such as Ma Wanqi to form the Sino-Australian Investment and Construction Company. They signed a compensation investment agreement with the GD Provincial Tourism Bureau. The agreement clearly stated that the company would only recover the principal investment, without interest or participation in profit distribution, and the hotel would be fully managed by the Chinese side.

This is essentially equivalent to an individual lending money to Pengcheng Post and Telecommunications. Of course, the government won't simply benefit; there will definitely be some advantages.

Wang Yaotang's idea was to use the "loan" as a favor to establish a "paging station" in Shenzhen, and in the future, he could use it as a springboard to get involved in the telecommunications business. Of course, a joint venture was also an option.

Furthermore, Wang Yaotang did not want Pengcheng to use Japanese products. The two sides were too close, and communication was very convenient. Even the high-ranking members of the Japanese organization spoke Chinese. The two sides did not need him as a communication bridge. So how could he intervene and expand his personal influence?

Whether it's Bell's technology or Ericsson's, he can act as an intermediary. Besides, the domestic policy is to exchange market access for technology, which means that factories will definitely be built for production, even if all the parts are imported and only assembled domestically. But as long as a joint venture is formed, it will give him the opportunity to invest in it.

The electronics industry is the future.

These things need to be pushed forward step by step. Today's goal is to shatter Shenzhen's illusions about the Japanese.

After settling this matter, Wang Yaotang visited the municipal government leaders in the afternoon to make some connections, inspected the garment factory, and also took a stroll through Shekou, a smuggling hub.

The smuggling business is still going on, but it's been handed over to the West Branch of the Tuen Mun Triad. When I went there, Chao Zai and his friends happened to be there, so we set up a hot pot restaurant there for dinner.

"How's business those days?"

"Not bad. After setting up the branch, we opened a food stall and a nightclub as cover. Now our sales have doubled compared to before." Chaozai said with a smile, "Now we're not just selling rapeseed oil, but also peanut oil, tea seed oil, and sesame oil. As for meat, in addition to pork, we also sell chicken, duck, and goose. We also sell some grains, mainly rice, and recently we've added some leafy greens."

"Haha, your business is quite big! You even sell leafy greens? Is that profitable?" Wang Yaotang asked curiously.

"Make money? Of course we make money! We make more than cooking oil!" Chaozi put down his chopsticks and said excitedly, "Brother Yao, you don't know. The vegetables supplied are subject to strict inspection standards. Anything that is even slightly wilted or has a few wormholes is rejected. Customs can only accept the freshest and tenderest vegetables, but how can the region only have those good vegetables?"

"Brother Yao, you've never been to the market to buy vegetables, so you don't know. Vegetables in Hong Kong are too expensive. Leafy greens are never less than HK$2 per pound. From June to September, vegetable prices sometimes soar to more than HK$5, which is more expensive than meat at its peak. But vegetables that can't go through the supply channels are very cheap. They are transported here and sold cheaply and sell very well. The profit is as high as seven or eight times."

“I still remember when I was a child, my family couldn’t afford vegetables at all. I would go to the market with my siblings to pick up rotten vegetable leaves to eat. Ordinary people like us don’t care if there are a few wormholes. As long as we can afford to eat, that’s enough. But the Hong Kong British government didn’t allow it.”

Speaking of this trendy guy, he angrily picked up his glass and took a swig. "Damn it, I never thought about why vegetables were so expensive before. I just thought that Hong Kong had too many people and no place to grow vegetables, so it was only natural that they were expensive. Back then, I hated the mainlanders who came from the mainland the most. It was because there were too many of them that there weren't enough vegetables and meat to eat, so they were so expensive. Oh right, I remember reading in the newspapers that the north controlled the food distribution channels and deliberately sold them to Hong Kong at high prices in order to make money."

"Now, Brother Yao, you've put us in charge of a company and hired professional managers. But Yang Junjie told me it's not like that at all. It's the Hong Kong British government that deliberately drove up vegetable and meat prices. Apparently, there are people in the government who specifically calculate ordinary people's incomes, making sure we earn less than..."

"Lower than that..."

"The subsistence level!" Hachito added.

"Yes, the subsistence line is to ensure that the poor don't have enough to eat, so that they can work hard. If they are well-fed, they won't have the mind to work hard from dawn till dusk every day; they will all go out to enjoy themselves."

“Yang Junjie said that we estate kids are just leeks, and it would be best if we died around the age of 50 to reduce the pension pressure on the Hong Kong British government. As for the workers, there will be people from the mainland who swim in the sea to fill the gap. These people are poorer and more willing to work.”

"Damn it, I really want to take a gun and shoot those guys at the Governor's House!" Chao Zai cursed.

Wang Yaotang chuckled softly. This is what they call the more knowledgeable you are, the more reactionary you become. Before, when you knew nothing, you directed your resentment towards the north. Now, well, you're taking it all out on the Hong Kong British government.

Of course, the main difference is that the textbooks are different, and the things we learn are also different.

History is like a little girl who can be dressed up however you like. During its more than 200 years of colonial rule, Hong Kong developed a mature and effective educational system. In Hong Kong, for example, history and language textbooks may seem no different from those in the north, but their core is completely different.

For example, regarding the Hong Kong issue, in the Treaty of Nanjing, the Treaty of Beijing, and the Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory, Hong Kong textbooks portray the situation as one of the barbaric and greedy Qing government mistreating British merchants, selling inferior goods as superior ones, and seizing goods. They depict it as Little Britain bringing freedom, civilization, human rights, and development to Hong Kong, freeing its people from the brutal rule of the Qing government, and enabling them to open their eyes to the world. They argue that Little Britain's rule over Hong Kong was reasonable, legal, in line with the times, recognized by the international community, and a form of liberation…

There are many other interpretations of similar history, such as the Opium War and unspeakable events.

It's like a Thanksgiving scalp festival.

No one understands cultural distortion better than the troublemaker!
After joining Chaozai, Badong, and a few others in criticizing the Hong Kong British government, Wang Yaotang changed the subject, "The north reminded us before that it would be better to be more formalized. What have you been doing lately? How are you going to launder this money after setting up a company?"

"Hehe, this is quite interesting. We registered a foreign trade company in Somalia and then bought a 1000-ton bulk carrier. The accounts are directly transferred to the Bank of China. All the purchases are formalized. Anyway, it's all formalized here in the north, and no one can go to Somalia to check the accounts. We are doing business openly and honestly now."

Chao Zai explained with a smile, "The cargo leaves the port normally and usually stops at the Hong Kong waters boundary, on the East Bay side, and then is transported here by a large aircraft. Now the large aircraft has also been modified. It no longer has 6 engines, but 2 is enough. It's only 5 kilometers, and it can be driven over in 10 minutes, which saves fuel."

Aren't you afraid of being arrested by the marine police?

Ba Dong laughed and said, "Yang Junjie, that shrewd guy, came up with the idea of ​​opening a tea restaurant, food stall, and sauna at the Marine Police Tai Lam Chung base, specifically to cater to the Marine Police and Customs Anti-Drug personnel. The prices are very cheap, even cheaper than cooking at home. We often go there, and occasionally we even give them a free meal. Everyone knows what's going on."

"If they investigate us, we'll immediately shut down. In that case, it'll be these low-level employees who suffer losses. They work for the Hong Kong British government to earn money to support their families. They know in their hearts how much money we've saved them. But this is compliant and legal. We're willing to sell cheaply, and nobody can stop us!"

"Those officials can't just go out and investigate themselves, can they? They still have to rely on their subordinates to do the work. One second they give an order, and the next second we get the notification."

"I'm impressed, you guys are really going for the mass market!" Wang Yaotang chuckled.

“Yes, the marine police also brought in people from other bases to investigate, but before they even got close, someone from Tai Lam tipped them off.” Chao Zai said with a smile, “Every time someone tipped them off, they got a month's free meals. The chicken, duck, fish, meat, eggs and vegetables were all from the north. One person could eat and drink as much as they wanted without spending much money.”

"Anyone who dares to mess with us is putting the Tai Lam Marine Police and Customs Anti-Smuggling Team out of business. What do you call this? This is called win-win cooperation!"

"Well done!" Wang Yaotang gave a thumbs up. "You guys really know how to handle shipping." The group laughed with satisfaction.

As for the money earned, Sheng Yi controlled more than a dozen wet markets, distributed in various districts of Hong Kong Island, and registered more than 50 grain, oil and vegetable shops. When the goods were shipped out, the money was laundered directly. The tax authorities could not monitor every day how many kilograms of vegetables, oil and meat were sold. As long as the tax was declared, it was easy to launder the money by spreading it out. Other branches could also get a share of the profits.

Wang Yaotang hadn't paid attention to the specific financial statements, but the amount he received through each layer of distribution wouldn't be small. With a food and beverage market of 5 million people, he could easily make over 100 million yuan a year just by taking a small cut.

Wang Yaotang was quite polite to those who helped him make money. Of course, Chaozai and Badong also received a lot, including all the brothers in the gang. Now they all wear suits and ties, and their income is higher than that of ordinary white-collar workers.

Many people in the guild are planning to buy household registration rights from villagers in Tuen Mun and settle down here. The two- or three-story self-built houses are no better than the pigeon coops in Kowloon!
Meanwhile, Chaozai, Badong, and the others who were in charge of the gang bought houses in the village in Shekou, took concubines, and lived a very comfortable life.

Of course, this kind of thing is very common; both marriages are legal...

I spent a day in Shenzhen, met with the people from the gang, let them know who's in charge, and most importantly, held a meeting to warn them.

“Now that you bunch of bastards have all cleaned up your act and come ashore, you need to watch your words and actions from now on. Don’t bring your Hong Kong ways here. Don’t think you’re superior just because you’re from Hong Kong. If anyone tarnishes Sheng Yi’s reputation, smears my face, or makes it difficult for me to explain to the officials here, I’ll kill them!”

"Now that you have money and women, you better behave yourself. Absolutely no gambling or drugs allowed. That's Sheng Yi's ironclad rule. If you break the rules, don't blame your boss for being ruthless. Remember, you must obey the law!"

When Wang Yaotang said this, he didn't feel anything was off...

Even though I smuggle goods, I am still a good person!

After spending a day in Shenzhen, Wang Yaotang boarded a yacht and went to Zhuhai. He needed to address the issues that Jiao Peilin had complained about, such as the tight power supply and fuel shortage.

At the dock, Director Hou of the Zhuhai Investment Promotion Bureau and his men were waiting. When the white yacht appeared, they didn't think much of it. Wang Yaotang is a tycoon in Hong Kong, so it's normal for him to ride a yacht. They've seen it in movies.

However, when the yacht finally docked, its milky white hull, its smooth and elegant shape, and its gleaming gold railings stood out starkly against the backdrop of the old, dilapidated gray-black dock and the surrounding run-down passenger ships.

To stand out from the crowd is a waste of talent...

After disembarking from the ship, Wang Yaotang shook hands with Director Hou and exchanged a few pleasantries, inviting the group to come aboard for a tour. It wasn't that Wang Yaotang wanted to hear their exclamations and flattery, although that would certainly be quite enjoyable; the main purpose was to demonstrate his strength.

No matter how famous someone is, without a tangible image, their reputation seems somewhat superficial. Since ancient times, people have always respected the clothes before they respected the person, so it's no wonder that business people like to buy luxury cars.

After touring the yacht, Director Hou remarked with great emotion, "I only knew before that the lives of the wealthy were exquisite, luxurious, and enjoyable, but now I know what they are really like."

Wang Yaotang smiled reservedly.

I was only a few days ahead of you, you know.

Hearing about it, seeing it, and using it are three completely different feelings.

After settling in, the group headed towards the municipal government. The First and Second Elders would attend the lunch banquet. Wang Yaotang is one of the wealthiest Chinese in Hong Kong and Macau, so local officials naturally had to entertain him.

During the meal, they chatted about the current development of Zhuhai. The two asked Wang Yaotang for his opinion and inquired about any difficulties encountered in the investment.

This newly rich man must have something to say when he comes to visit.

Wang Yaotang smiled and mentioned the fuel issue. The Grand Elder promised to help coordinate as much as possible, and the conversation ended there.

The fuel shortage isn't just a problem for Wang Yaotang; it affects the entire Zhuhai, the whole of Guangdong, and even the entire coastal region. The 'fuel tax' has been forced into existence. This is a systemic problem; coordination is utterly useless.

Later, every time a cargo ship came to haul stones, it would bring fuel oil to supply the factory for its own use. Strictly speaking, this was smuggling. But mentioning it now is like filing a record. Who knows, the two leaders might have to ask Wang Yaotang to coordinate fuel oil later.

Leaving that topic aside, Wang Yaotang brought up the power supply issue again. "The power problem is difficult to solve in the short term. I don't think waiting is the solution. There are too many things the country needs to pay attention to. The purpose of reform and opening up is to unleash market potential, stimulate the initiative of businesses, and explore a new path. I was thinking, could we build a power plant in Zhuhai, or cooperate with Zhuhai to build one?"

“I can not only provide financial support, but also contribute to shipping to solve the problem of transporting coal from north to south. In addition, I can also purchase more advanced coal-fired generators from abroad through my own channels and introduce more advanced management technology. Once the power plant is built, it will greatly alleviate the power supply problem in Zhuhai.”

"In addition, with the further development of Haojiang, the demand for electricity will also increase. Haojiang has too little land and its main industries are online gambling and tourism, so it is not suitable for building power plants. If a power supply line could be run from Zhuhai, it would greatly alleviate Haojiang's electricity problem. Of course, this is also a new idea for export-oriented foreign exchange earnings."

These words were quite unexpected for the two leaders. At present, we are still in the early stage of reform and opening up, and the Southern Tour has not yet begun. At present, the largest investors in the Special Economic Zone are Hong Kong businessmen, but most of them are engaged in garment processing and other low-tech industries. There are only two electronics factories. Who would have thought that Wang Yaotang would suddenly raise the investment projects so high!
The threshold for power plants is not high, but the threshold for improving power generation efficiency to the international level is very high. Moreover, the investment is huge and the returns are slow. From the perspective of investment returns, it is a very bad project. It is usually only undertaken at the national level. The two of them really couldn't think of any reason for Wang Yaotang to invest in electricity.

Of course, from Zhuhai's perspective, it's all beneficial and without any harm; they would be more than happy to welcome it.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the two leaders, Wang Yaotang knew that it was a success. The approval process for the joint investment in the power plant was not difficult, unlike the telecommunications industry. He remembered that the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant was a joint venture.

If we've already developed nuclear power, then building a thermal power plant will be no problem at all.

He certainly knew that power plant investments were large and returns were low, but the long-tail effect of this industry was very long-lasting and had a huge influence in the local area. Currently, the businesses he owned, such as audio-visual chain stores and nightclubs, were indeed profitable. At the current rate of asset appreciation, he could soon catch up with the top ten richest people. However, the gap in social influence was too great.

People like Li Xiangjiao can cause Hong Kong to tremble with a single stomp of their foot. As for record stores and nightclubs, if the authorities really decide to crack down on them, it's fine. Like Chelsea, it's just a matter of paying some price in terms of public opinion.

We must have a core industry that makes people hesitant to act against it!
After investing in the Zhuhai power plant, Wang Yaotang also planned to compete with Li Xiangjiao for Hong Kong Electric. Once he won the bid, whoever sat in the position of Governor of Hong Kong would have to treat him with respect.

Daring to bare its teeth at me? I'll cut off its power! (End of Chapter)