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

Local protectionism exists everywhere. In the past, Hong Kong's infrastructure was either built by the British or by locals on Hong Kong Island, and outsiders had no chance to get involved.

Infrastructure projects, which stimulate domestic demand and provide a large number of jobs, will definitely be mostly for locals.

It has both advantages and disadvantages.

The first person to break this unspoken rule was Shen Bi.

They partnered with Little Life Company on subway and undersea tunnel projects. Of course, as a pioneer, Sir Michael Sandberg was brutally murdered by hostile external forces, and the case remains in the hands of the Royal Malaysian Police, with many officers still investigating...

In any case, the police did indeed deploy personnel to investigate, and HSBC and the Governor's Office were also paying attention.

As for the results...

It's not important; what matters is the process.

That's what they say in their advertisements.

Wang Yaotang's trip to Guangzhou this time was somewhat impromptu. On the one hand, there was a fire in his residence, and on the other hand, he had acquired more ports, especially the Qingyi Island port he had acquired from Li Xiangjiao.

The port on Tsing Yi Island is already quite well-developed, serving as a gateway for flammable and explosive materials such as crude oil, fuel oil, fertilizers, and chemical raw materials to enter and exit Hong Kong. It was established here to isolate the port from Kowloon and Hong Kong, preventing leaks and explosions.

The three established ports on Tsing Yi Island reminded Wang Yaotang of Li Xiangjiao's Hutchison Ports Group, who dared to...

A region's import and export trade is inseparable from its ports. In Wang Yaotang's view, this business is much more stable than collecting rent from commercial buildings. The more ports a region has, the louder its voice will be.

Wang Yaotang had visited Guangzhou many times, but his only formal interaction with the prefecture was during the machine tool donation. Most of his other official exchanges were at the city level. Ultimately, his previous status was somewhat lacking; he couldn't even have a say in the Hong Kong British government...

"Good afternoon, Mr. Wang." A middle-aged man with a white shirt, black trousers, a side parting, and large eyes greeted him with a smile.

"Secretary Zheng, good afternoon." Wang Yaotang smiled and reached out his hand as he got out of the car.

"I'd heard that Mr. Wang started from scratch at such a young age, but I never imagined he was so young. Thinking about what I was doing in my twenties, it's truly shameful," Secretary Zheng said with a sigh.

"Secretary Zheng is joking. I was just lucky to catch the wave of our country's reform and opening up. A few years ago, there would have been no chance for someone like me to get ahead."

"Mr. Wang is too modest. With more than 500 million people in Hong Kong, how many can ride the wave of the times? In the end, it comes down to one's own ability."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Secretary Zheng said, "Mr. Wang, let's go upstairs. Governor Wu is already waiting for you in his office."

"Okay, Secretary Zheng, please."

"Mr. Wang, please."

As soon as I came out of the stairwell, I saw Governor Wu standing in the corridor.

Governor Wu is not yet 50 years old, but he looks a bit old. His skin is brown, as if he has been exposed to the sun for a long time. He has thick eyebrows and sharp eyes. Although he is smiling, Wang Yaotang feels that he is somewhat serious.

"Governor Wu, hello." Wang Yaotang quickly stepped forward.

"Hello, Comrade Wang Yaotang." Governor Wu smiled and extended his hand.

The word "comrade" made Wang Yaotang unable to suppress the urge to smile.

With his hands clasped together, Governor Wu's palms were very rough, with prominent knuckles, and you could feel the thick calluses on his thumb and index finger.

"I'm sorry, I didn't make an appointment in advance, which has disrupted Governor Wu's schedule."

"No, Comrade Yaotang, you've come at the perfect time. My job is to safeguard and promote economic development. You can contact me anytime if you need anything. Come in, please."

"Governor, please." Wang Yaotang took the bag from Sha Ze's hand and walked into the office with a smile.

Secretary Zheng brewed the tea, and Wang Yaotang handed the bag to Governor Wu.

"This is?"

"A small gift."

Governor Wu frowned almost imperceptibly, but still reached out and opened it. Unexpectedly, inside were not valuable gifts, but stacks of documents.

I flipped through it and couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh."

“Official data from the Hong Kong External Trade Development Council, covering major ports from South America to Europe, including import and export data over the years,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

"Wow!" Governor Wu's eyes lit up. He stood up and looked at Wang Yaotang. This gift surprised him greatly and pleased him immensely.

What is sincerity!

That's what sincerity is!
What makes a patriotic businessman?

That's what you call a patriotic businessman!
This document contains information about most of the countries that have not yet established diplomatic relations with China. Even those countries that have established diplomatic relations are simply unavailable due to reasons such as lack of manpower, resources, and relationships.

Guangzhou has enough space to build a deep-water port, but for various reasons, it cannot directly export goods. Therefore, Hong Kong Island is so important as a transshipment port during this period.

The document was quite thick and couldn't be read in a short time. After chatting about it for a while, the conversation gradually turned to port construction, and Wang Yaotang then explained his purpose.

“The Pengcheng International Commercial Building, constructed by China First Metallurgical Construction Corporation, set a record of ‘one floor every five days on average.’ The Hong Kong government and media wouldn’t publicize it, but I’ve heard a lot about its ‘pioneering speed.’ Now I want to build Tuen Mun Port, and I’m struggling to find a construction company that can build quickly and well. That’s why I’m asking the country for help,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

These words made Governor Wu unable to suppress his smile. At this time, everyone in the country was extremely eager to gain recognition from the international community. A word of praise from outsiders was more exciting than a hundred words of praise from one's own people.

After chatting for a couple of cups of tea, Governor Wu organized his thoughts and said, "Different infrastructure projects have different technical directions. China First Metallurgical Construction Corporation (CFMCC) focuses on commercial buildings and has accumulated sufficient technology and experience in this area. As for port construction, China Communications Construction Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau has the strongest technical capabilities."

"Oh, how should I put it? I really don't know. As you know, I wasn't in the construction industry before, and I only recently got involved in the stone industry, so I don't really know much about this," Wang Yaotang asked in a deep voice.

"China Communications Construction Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau was originally the Yangcheng District Waterway Engineering Bureau. In 1955, it designed and built Zhanjiang Port, the first deep-water port in New China, and Huangpu Port, the first 10,000-ton gravity block structure wharf in South China. After that, a number of key projects such as Beihai Port and Sanya Port, as well as large wharves in Yangcheng, were all built under the leadership of the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau."

"In the following 74 years, the former Central and Southern Highway Engineering Office of the Ministry of Communications and the Fifth Highway Division of the Guizhou Transportation Bureau were merged into the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau, which further strengthened its talent, technology and experience. In 79, all the wharves in the Shekou Industrial Zone were built under the supervision of the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau, including the workboat wharf of the oil base."

"I remember you had a lot of cooperation with Wenchong Shipyard. The No. 1 and No. 2 docks there, which are 10,000-ton vessels, were built by the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau."

"Really? I hadn't asked that before. So, our Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau is the world's leading port construction company!" Wang Yaotang said, giving a thumbs up.

"Haha, I wouldn't dare say globally, but domestically, well, in South China, we are indeed the best." Governor Wu laughed reservedly, but it was clear that he was genuinely proud of the achievements of the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau.

“Governor Wu is too modest. The port is right here, it’s real and reliable. In my opinion, it’s much more dependable than hiring a construction company from Hong Kong.”

“That’s an exaggeration, that’s an exaggeration. Hong Kong’s port construction is among the best in the world. We acknowledge that the British have more experience in this area than we do.” Governor Wu couldn’t suppress the urge to smile.

“Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts.” Wang Yaotang shook his head. “They talk a big game, but nobody knows if it’s true or not. Besides, these foreigners are cunning and treacherous. They won’t really give you their best for construction. We can’t trust them. Moreover, these foreigners are incredibly slow workers. Forget five days per floor, don’t even think about fifteen days. If we really hire them, the port won’t be operational by this time the year after next. We can’t afford to waste time with them, and that’s assuming there are no major political changes…”

Upon hearing this, Governor Wu frowned and nodded, acknowledging that there was indeed such a risk at present.

After chatting for a while about the situation in Hong Kong, Wang Yaotang left the office building half an hour later, and Governor Wu escorted him downstairs.

The deal was finalized with the Fourth Harbor Engineering Company to design and build the port. Regardless of how much foreign exchange they would earn, once the port was successfully put into use, it would become a showcase for the Fourth Harbor Engineering Company and a demonstration of China's infrastructure capabilities. With each passing ship, the Fourth Harbor Engineering Company and China's construction capabilities would become famous worldwide.

It is the most effective countermeasure against the long-term smear campaign against China by foreign imperialists!
One of the reasons for China's foreign aid projects is this.

With such a large port just sitting there, even if they continue to smear it, he'll still have to spend a lot more ink on it. Besides, once there's a first one, there will be a second. Wang Yaotang's Tuen Mun Port was built quickly and at a low price, so wouldn't other people who want to do other projects be tempted?

Capitalists' money doesn't grow on trees!

Governor Wu underestimated this point; he still doesn't understand foreign countries. Plenty of money, little work, fast progress—not only capitalists, but even the US government and military bases are willing to be contracted to you…and then you can ask Congress for two or three times the budget…!
Therefore, Wang Yaotang had no worries about quality and speed and returned to Hong Kong immediately.

The newly registered 'Sihai Port Management Company' will send a formal official letter to the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau. Only after the bureau organizes a team to conduct an on-site inspection and produce a design plan can the construction period, price, and other details be determined. This is not a matter of just one or two days.

Back in Hong Kong Island, Wang Yaotang didn't rest. He asked Gu Yuanbin to look around in the construction industry. He planned to acquire a small to medium-sized construction company so that they could learn from the Fourth Harbor Engineering Bureau and later work on repairing the ports of Shek O and Lamma Island.

The construction industry is not only lucrative, but it also allows you to manipulate people, so he won't have any psychological burden when expanding overseas.

……

At the Deep Water Bay Yacht Marina, Wang Yaotang put his arm around Guan Jiahui and boarded the yacht. She wasn't exactly his first wife; she had run away to Guangzhou before, but now that she was back, there was no way to escape her.

Besides, there's also the four-eyed guy's influence.

Wang Jing followed the two onto the yacht, took it around, and excitedly praised it for a while, "This is what a luxury yacht should be like. What were those things we rented when we were filming movies before? They were just for fooling ordinary people."

"What you're saying is all nonsense. How much is this yacht worth? You can use it to make movies. Do you think we're short of your rent money?" Wang Yaotang glared at the chubby boy.

"What Yao-ye is right. You can't film the lives of the rich. Who would act it out? Even Ah-fa couldn't portray it," Fatty Wang flattered.

"Prince Rong, isn't he very rich?" Guan Jiahui asked casually after peeling a lychee and feeding it to Wang Yaotang.

"It's no good. Now, whenever Brother Da Rong appears, the audience thinks he's a triad boss. Besides, Brother Da Rong lacks that calm, composed, and invincible aura of a tycoon. Apart from the famous tycoons in Hong Kong, only Boss Yao has that kind of aura." Fatty Wang never forgot to flatter him.

He made a lot of money working for Wang Yaotang. In just over a year, he not only paid off all the high-interest loans his mother had owed, but he also had more than 200 million yuan left. So when he heard that Wang Yaotang had something to ask him, he immediately dropped everything and rushed over.

They chatted for a while, and the yacht headed straight south, rounding the Stanley Peninsula and continuing southeast towards Po Toi Island.

Po Toi Island: Located in southeastern Hong Kong, it marks the boundary of Hong Kong waters. The island has fresh water, and a lighthouse was built at its southernmost point a century ago. Ships coming from the Philippines used to use this lighthouse as a reference.

There used to be fishermen on the island, but not many, just 8 households with more than 35 men. Last year, Wang Yaotang bought all their household registrations and gave them a sum of money. Now they have all moved to Budai'ao.

Dingquan, also known as Dingwu, refers to houses built by male descendants of original inhabitants of the New Territories in Hong Kong in 1972, as stipulated by the Hong Kong British government.

It must be emphasized here that only men have the right to have a child; women do not!
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women once stated that the "Dingwu" policy, which only granted men the right to Dingwu, discriminated against women, but... nobody paid attention, and it's still the same more than 40 years later, with no one causing any trouble.

Getting back to the main point, after Ding Quan and Wang Yaotang bought the property, they built a row of dormitories here and also renovated the port. Before, when the security company had fewer people, they trained in the village on Lantau Island without any problems. Now that there are more people, it's inconvenient, so the area has been converted into a cultural classroom, and all training has been moved to Po Toi Island.

Of course, the main reason is the difference in equipment... It's inconvenient to practice shooting on Lantau Island, but no one cares on Po Toi Island.

Fire cannons are fine, as long as they don't blow up passing ships.

After the New Year, the 100-inch-tall guy brought from the north is currently undergoing rehabilitation training on Putai Island, while also getting familiar with the naval combat environment. Wang Yaotang occasionally comes by with the supply ship to check on him and familiarize himself with the area, so that they know who the boss is.

As the yacht approached the waters near Po Toi Island, Fatty Wang seemed to hear something. He frowned and turned his ear, feeling as if he could hear a "da da da" sound carried by the sea breeze.
After driving for a while, a speedboat came into view. Fatty Wang rubbed his eyes and put his glasses back on. Damn it, it really was gunfire! He could clearly see people on the blue camouflage speedboat shooting at the red buoy markers on the water!
Turning around abruptly, Wang Yaotang was still whispering sweet nothings to Guan Jiahui. Fatty Wang scratched his head and asked, "Wait, why did you ask me to come over and film this?"

Why do I always feel a chill on my body, like someone is breathing on the back of my neck...?

Upon seeing the approaching boat, the speedboat immediately ceased firing, arced across the water, and sped towards it. Even the sea breeze couldn't wipe the sweat from Fatty Wang's brow. He couldn't hold back any longer, shouting, "Master Yao, Master Yao, boat, boat, no, the people on the boat have guns!"

"What's the rush? We're all on the same side!" Sha Ze waved his hand to shut Wang Pangzi up. He had no sense of propriety. If he disturbed Wang Pangzi at this time, even if his elder brother didn't say anything, his sister-in-law would skin him alive!
"Huh?" Fatty Wang wiped his face, looked at the blue camouflage speedboat that was approaching, then looked at Wang Yaotang, took two steps closer to Sha Ze and asked in a low voice, "Brother Ze, that speedboat, it doesn't look like a civilian vehicle to me."

"Who told you it was for civilian use?" Sha Ze curled his lip. "Civilian ships don't have enclosed bridge designs. This speedboat doesn't look big, but it can easily handle sea state 4."

"Yao Ye's?"

Sha Ze glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Fatty Wang grinned, not knowing why he was so happy, but he was just happy.

After circling around the area, the speedboat returned to continue its training. The yacht slowly slowed down and headed towards the bay on Po Toi Island, where the Xingye was moored near the pier.

The yacht docked at the pier, and Aji jumped aboard, saying, "Brother Yao is here."

"Well, how's the preparation going?" Wang Yaotang invited him to sit down.

"Everything is ready."

Fatty Wang didn't dare to go any closer. He stood on the side of the boat and looked around. A row of two-story buildings on the shore formed a U-shape, which looked like a large area.

As they were looking around, a muffled thunderclap suddenly sounded on the island, startling Fatty Wang. This time, without him having to ask, Sha Ze explained, "No need to look, there's training on the island. It should be the sound of mortars."

Fatty Wang: ???

What makes you so calm when you talk about mortars?

I feel weird coming here with filming equipment. What am I supposed to be filming?
"Little Fatty, come here."

"Master Yao." Without thinking, Fatty Wang jogged over. "What's wrong, Master Yao?"

"Let me tell you about the filming." Wang Yaotang pointed to several twin-engine speedboats moored on the shore. "Pirates use these speedboats to chase and hijack cargo ships. You need to film the entire process of the pirates' chase, especially some operational details."

"Understood, understood." Fatty Wang nodded repeatedly.

"One perspective is from a pirate ship, and the other is from a cargo ship. I need to make it possible for ordinary people to learn how pirates rob cargo ships by watching the videos."

"clear."

Fatty Wang looked up, staring at Wang Yaotang in astonishment. "No, what do you mean by 'ordinary people can learn by watching videos'?"
What to study?
pirate?

As he thought about it, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. He didn't know what Wang Yaotang was going to do; he only knew that he was probably going to be silenced!
"Screw you!" Wang Yaotang kicked him. "Look at your cowardly face, would you dare to talk nonsense even if I gave you a few guts?"

"No, no," Fatty Wang shook his head like a rattle drum.

"Then get back to work!"

"Okay, okay." As Fatty Wang turned around, his legs gave way, and he stumbled and tumbled out of the way.

In situations where there is a language barrier, it is easy to explain things through a camera lens, but difficult to do, and requires professionals.

"Sigh, these pirates are disorganized, small-scale, and scattered. When will they ever be able to establish a maritime security business?"

Wang Pangzi filmed alone for several hours before returning to Hong Kong Island on a yacht with a large amount of footage. After sending the guy back to edit the footage, Wang Yaotang took Guan Jiahui straight to another luxury mansion on the Mid-Levels.

In a few days, Ah-Jack and Ah-Jie will move over. Later, we'll find an opportunity to buy a few more villas, one for each family. They all have women now and need space. The Kowloon Tong house was given to Lau Tsui-Lan. He, as her son, is one of the wealthiest men in Hong Kong. There's no way he'd let his mother still live in a public housing estate.

Previously, Wang Yaotang had considered the pride of the Wu family and wanted to see if they would change because of money. Now that things are going well, Wang Yaotang naturally wants to give them a helping hand.

As soon as they arrived at the villa, Sha Ze's walkie-talkie rang. He pressed the earpiece to listen, his expression changed, and he quickly caught up with him, calling out, "Brother Yao."

"what happened?"

"We just received a message from the command center that the bear is dead."

"Who? Bear? Wasn't he in Bangkok? How did he die?" Wang Yaotang paused, frowning as he asked.

"They said they were ambushed and shot to death. They were hit by more than a dozen bullets, and six of our men died with them."

"Let's go to the command center!" Wang Yaotang tossed his hand, turned, and quickly got into the car. (End of Chapter)