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

That evening, Wang Yaotang specially arranged for the TV station to be switched to Channel 1.

At that time, it was still impossible to receive a complete set of signals overseas. It would take until 92 for the international channel to cover the entire globe via satellite. But now, Hong Kong Island, just across the water, can receive a complete set of signals.

As the first international port designed and built by my country overseas, it is the best testament to my country's infrastructure capabilities reaching world-class levels.

At this time, everyone in my hometown hoped to gain international recognition, and this achievement would definitely make the news.

Shortly after 5 p.m., following a series of international news reports, the Tuen Mun Port Celebration took place, with over five minutes allotted for coverage. Wang Yaotang, as an investor in the port, was highlighted and officially recognized as a patriotic Hong Kong businessman.

It suddenly became clear!

Wang Yaotang was very excited and drank a lot of wine with his brothers. That night, he was so energetic that he slept for a whole morning the next day and his legs were a little weak when he got up.

(I personally tested this and it definitely makes your legs weak. It has nothing to do with whether you have good physical strength or not. After doing it for a while, my legs were indeed weak and I couldn't use them much the next day...)
Making it into the news was just the first wave. At that time, the local media were still very rigorous and dared not report recklessly. Only after the news was classified did a large number of local media outlets request interviews. Wang Yaotang asked Wei Tao to agree to all of them and arrange the time.

At this time, only well-known media outlets are qualified to go to Hong Kong for interviews, so there aren't that many. Therefore, there's no need to worry about wasting too much time. Wang Yaotang also needs to make a name for himself in China, which is more important than making a name for himself abroad.

With the port officially put into operation, Wang Yaotang was busy for a while. Sihai Port Management Company expanded its manpower by more than double, with more than 200 employees. While managing the entry and exit of Hong Kong's largest bulk raw materials such as stone, coal, iron ore, steel, and cement, it also managed the Tsing Yi oil depot terminal that it had obtained from Li Xiangjiao.

In the Victory Building, the blackout curtains were drawn in the top-floor office.

Wang Yaotang leaned back in a custom-made executive chair, smoking a cigar and staring blankly at the projector.

CRT projectors were developed in the 50s and were mainly used in cinemas. In the 80s, in order to allow airplane passengers to enjoy movies during their flights, CRT projectors belonging to VideoGrade were installed on aircraft, marking the official commercial application of CRT projectors.

Wang Yaotang first experienced it in the home theater on his new yacht. After that, he had someone specifically try to see if he could connect a computer directly to a CRT projector. He preferred PowerPoint presentations to dry reports and videotapes.

At that time, computers such as IBM compatibles and Apple Macintosh mainly used analog RGB signals for video output via a DB-15 pin VGA interface. This was essentially compatible with the 'RGB component signals' supported by CRT projectors. He didn't know exactly what his subordinates had found and tinkered with to make it work, but it was being used now. Although the brightness and resolution were a bit low, it was large enough that everyone could see it clearly, even in a large conference room. Various tables, graphs, and pictures were indeed pleasing to the eye.

"The Tsing Yi oil depot terminal is one of the largest oil depots in Asia and a core node in Hong Kong's energy supply chain. Our terminal has deep-water berths that can accommodate cargo ships of up to 100,000 tons, receiving crude oil and refined oil products from around the world, which are then transported via pipeline to the storage tank areas of various oil giants." Thales, the Greek general manager of Four Seas Port Management Company, smiled and pressed a button, changing the image on the projector. "Currently, the Tsing Yi oil depot terminal handles approximately 20 million tons of petroleum products annually, exceeding 30,000 tons per day. Based on past growth patterns, this figure will reach 25 million tons by next year."

“The vast majority of the large cargo ships that come and go in Hong Kong every day refuel here. Those 100,000-ton-class giant ships refuel with several thousand tons of fuel at a time.”

“Hong Kong uses not only marine diesel, but also gasoline and aviation fuel. With the development of the Yangtze River Delta, my hometown has also started to import some refined oil or crude oil from outside. For a long time, it has to be transshipped in Hong Kong. In the future, the throughput of the Tsing Yi oil depot terminal will become larger and larger.”

Choosing the Greek Thales as the general manager of the port company was a last resort, as there were simply no suitable Chinese candidates.

In Hong Kong, the senior management teams of major ports are all white. They may have connections in their hometowns, but what level of management do they have over an international terminal?
At least at the Refining Spirit and Returning to Emptiness level, if you do well you can Refine Emptiness and Merge with the Dao, and you're about to ascend. Who would give up their official position to come and join Wang Yaotang?

So after digging around, I chose this one.

Of course, it doesn't matter who we use. It's not like all Chinese people are necessarily loyal, and there's nothing wrong with foreigners either. If we have to get rid of them, they won't cause a big commotion back home.

"How are the profits going right now?" Wang Yaotang suddenly asked.

Thales paused slightly, then worked on the computer for a moment before reporting back: "The Tsing Yi Island pier is currently operating well. The daily berthing fee for a 10-ton pier is 3. Of course, refueling doesn't take that long; it's all calculated by the hour. The overall daily turnover of the pier is around 15, and the future growth rate is expected to be around 15%."

The port's revenue includes not only berth fees, but also equipment usage fees and site rental fees. The oil depot itself was built by companies like ExxonMobil, Standard Oil, and BP.

Of course, after deducting various costs, the profitability is just so-so. Otherwise, Li Xiangjiao would not have given up so easily. What Wang Yaotang valued was not just the amount of profit, but also the say in the oil business.

Looking at the daily throughput curve can reflect the development of various industries in Hong Kong and its surrounding areas. The data alone can provide a clear understanding of the economic situation.

This is called "the ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring".

"What about Tuen Mun?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile.

“Uh… the situation in Tuen Mun might be a little worse.” Thales pursed his lips. “Currently, our main business is stone and steel, and the coal throughput isn’t very large. We’ll have to wait until the second phase of the Castle Peak Power Plant and the Lamma Island Thermal Power Plant are completed. And the construction industry has recently entered a downturn, so…”

"Okay, I understand. It's alright, the construction industry will soon return to its peak development period," Wang Yaotang said with a brief reminder.

Having attended so many symposiums, no one knows better than him how many projects will be launched in the future. All materials will have to be transferred through Tuen Mun Port. The sand, gravel, cement, and steel cannot be sent directly to reclamation projects and undersea tunnels because there are not enough deep-water berths. Therefore, they can only be sent to Tuen Mun for storage and then transferred by medium-sized barges.

Just by looking at the daily volume and turnover reports, you can tell which industries are about to take off, and you can make a fortune in the stock market by using this information.

This is the dock; the real profits are made off-site.

Information asymmetry means that ordinary stock investors will always be the ones getting fleeced...

After hearing the report, Wang Yaotang was in a great mood. Sihai Port is now considered one of the leading port management companies in Hong Kong.

With the port issues resolved, China Resources has also completed the establishment of a new foreign trade import and export company, with its headquarters still in Hong Kong and a branch in Singapore.

In terms of efficiency, my hometown truly reigns supreme in the world. Unlike Western countries, where even the smallest matters require discussions by clueless, parasitic officials, there's no possibility of factional infighting and backstabbing within large international corporations. With a single administrative order, a team can be formed and talent gathered in a short time.

As for the issue of experience, one can learn by doing.

With Wang Yaotang, an outsider, overseeing things, some administrative malpractices can be avoided. It's not perfect, but it's the best we can do.

Invited to the company's founding celebration, Wang Yaotang whispered to Luo Wenhua on stage, "With the new company established, in order to help everyone get familiar with the overseas environment and new colleagues as soon as possible, I propose to organize a study tour and networking event. Let's set the location in Pattaya, Siam. I will personally sponsor the expenses. What do you think, Mr. Luo?"

"This...of course, that would be great." Luo Wenhua smiled broadly. These days, going abroad for business trips is a highly sought-after opportunity, and having it can be used to gain favors. "The company should pay for it; how can we let you pay for it personally?"

“Then let’s use the Hong Kong mining company’s accounts.” Wang Yaotang raised his hand and placed it on Luo Wenhua’s hand. “It’s all money from the stock market, it definitely needs to be spent. It’s all about how it’s spent; we can’t just give all that hard-earned money to the shareholders…”

"We can't let them develop the bad habit of getting something for nothing!" Wang Yaotang said, raising his eyebrows.

Luo Wenhua's lips twitched. What the hell is this, getting something for nothing!

Having lived in Hong Kong for so many years, he certainly has a good understanding of the stock market. People like you are the kind of people who make Hong Kong stock market investors so lucky.

I will never let my family touch stocks again, not even a little bit. These capitalists are beasts.

"Then thank you for the mining company's sponsorship." Luo Wenhua laughed heartily.

"No problem." Wang Yaotang waved his hand generously. "The mayor of Pattaya and the police chief are both my men. I developed the entire tourist city, so it's my territory. Don't be shy at all, have fun!"

Luo Wenhua couldn't help but secretly rub his teeth. What do you mean by "the mayor is your man"?

Such an awesome person is not allowed in my hometown!
Oh, it's a Southeast Asian country. Then there's no problem. It's only natural for Chinese men to show their prowess overseas!

"I've also taken over Phuket on the Malay Peninsula. It's currently being reorganized. When you get tired of Pattaya, you can go to Phuket. I, Wang Yaotang, will cover all of China Resources' overseas business trips for the next few decades." Luo Wenhua smiled and gave a thumbs up. Of course, he couldn't let Wang Yaotang spend the money; China Resources didn't lack that kind of money. But these words sounded impressive enough to make people happy.

When the news of the inspection and networking event was announced, a burst of enthusiastic applause immediately erupted at the scene. The applause was even more enthusiastic when it was announced that family members could bring their children, as if it was about to blow the house up.

Three days after the celebration ended, Wang Yaotang chartered a plane to take everyone to Bangkok. After two days of sightseeing, they went to Pattaya. The company provided currency exchange services for them to spend money, and the exchange rate was based on the official rate, which was a real perk.

The amount of money wasn't much, but the effect was remarkable. After receiving Wang Yaotang's money, people naturally worked harder and immediately began a full-scale procurement after connecting with the Dachang Mining Bureau.

This isn't like in later times when you can simply search for materials online; the current situation is that even the ministry doesn't know exactly what each company can produce...

There are just too many. How many people are there in the department? How could they possibly remember them all? Even looking up information wouldn't work, as the information updates very slowly.

That's when you need a company that specializes in distribution channels, like China Resources!
Leveraging China Resources' control over domestic procurement channels, a large number of basic building materials and equipment were ordered in just one week.

Don't think it's simple. In reality, you not only need to consider whether the factory can produce, but also the amount of production capacity, quality control, whether it can be delivered as quickly as possible, whether it is closer to the port, and so on.

Good channels ensure you get the goods quickly, with stable quality and fast delivery. In contrast, bad channels, even if you find a manufacturer, will drag things out and cause a host of problems, resulting in incalculable losses.

There are also shipping issues to consider, such as how to allocate railcars and cargo ships to ensure faster delivery. These are all complex matters, and at this point, China Resources is indispensable.

China Resources was one of the earliest "red central banks" established after its founding. It played a pivotal role in the field of foreign trade and economic cooperation, serving as both the "central hub" of the planned economy's foreign trade system and the "experimental field" for market-oriented transformation in the early stages of reform and opening up. Its monopolistic general agency status, established in 1952, meant it was the sole designated general agent in Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia until it was reorganized into a group company in 1983.

The three core powers are: the power to formulate export plans, the power to control the source of goods, and the power to settle foreign exchange.

It is the arrow that breaks through the Western blockade and the lifeline of the strategic material supply chain!
They were the pioneers of reform and opening up, and the testing ground for reform!
Otherwise, why would Wang Yaotang have been so eager to seek cooperation, and even after being rejected, still try to get the four-eyed boy a Singaporean residency permit to cooperate with China Resources?

This is a true Buddha!

Things were almost settled here. Wang Yaotang and the people from the new company went to Myanmar together. The supplies needed to be transported to Yangon Port, then by rail to Taunggyi, and then by truck to Kengtung. The company needed to understand the situation at Yangon Port so that they could determine which cargo ship to use for the final delivery.

Including the warehousing situation at Yangon Port, railway transport capacity, and transport capacity from Taunggyi to Kengtung, it's impossible for all the goods to just pile up in Yangon waiting, that would be such a waste.

Of course, the condition of the train itself must also be understood. In foreign countries, it is not uncommon for trains to break down or have accidents along the way, especially the last section of the road, which is the biggest bottleneck in the entire logistics process. We need to consider whether to find ways to increase transport capacity, etc.

These are all details; if any one of them goes wrong, the entire logistics process will be stalled, so we have to be very careful.

"So, Yangon Port is also yours?" Luo Wenhua was genuinely shocked.

"Only a portion," Wang Yaotang waved his hand. "They forced me to buy it."

Luo Wenhua took a step back and looked at him with some disdain. "Your act is too stiff!"
“Look, look at your expression. I’m just telling the truth.” Wang Yaotang was speechless. “Do you think I’m lying to you? Yangon Port’s annual throughput is so small, and it’s operated by a military government like that. How could the port possibly be run well? This money is just going down the drain. I guarantee that the money has already been divided up by them.”

Luo Wenhua took a sip, "Ah...this."

Wang Yaotang shrugged. "Whether it's a good business or not, whether it's valuable or not, ultimately depends on the people involved. It's all about putting people first."

“You’re right about that. Everything should be people-oriented.” Luo Wenhua nodded in agreement.

"However, Myanmar is a populous country with abundant resources, so the value of its ports may well improve, and I think the political environment will improve sooner or later."

"Improve?" Wang Yaotang scoffed. "How can we improve?"

Who will make improvements?

"Things like serving the country and its people aren't something you can just think about without asking others if they're allowed to. When Little Britain was ousted, it deliberately left behind this mess of ethnic issues. Now, Myanmar's upward mobility channels are completely blocked. The country's foundation is rotten, and the channels for change are blocked. How can it be improved?"

“Naiwen was once a passionate young man who was determined to help Myanmar overcome its illness and start anew. But after more than a decade of being stuck in this quagmire, he himself became tainted and can no longer change.”

"It looks like the end of a kingdom. If it weren't for the current international environment that doesn't allow for secession and rebellion, Myanmar would have died out after only two generations."

"It's hopeless, he's doomed, and the future is just a struggle."

"I really hate the condescending attitude of Westerners, but I agree with racial theory. These are barbarians from beyond the borders. Millions of years of human history have proven their inferiority. What you're saying is just wishful thinking. I'm being realistic. They will never succeed and will only be eliminated."

Luo Wenhua chuckled, his organizational stance preventing him from agreeing, even though he thought so in his heart.

This time, the Myanmar side received a general again. As a military government, they were quite happy that Wang Yaotang was really going to develop a large-scale mining operation. With such a huge investment, even if it was just for transporting goods from the docks and railways, they could still make a fortune.

After such a long time, the temperature-resistant methods have long since subdued all forces, and even the group in the eastern district has bowed down.

Jingdong won't be able to get it back in the short term. Even if they control the highway, they can just transport it from Yunnan or Siam, which won't have much of an impact. On the contrary, they will be resented for ruining everyone's source of income.

If we cooperate well with these people in the eastern district, we can make a fortune. Why not?

As for whether this strengthened the position of Luo Xinghan, the traitor who had killed many of his comrades...

Since they're already dead, not saying anything means they agree.

The only troublesome part is that the equipment must be imported from abroad. However, purchasing from the Singapore branch makes it a bit easier and the return transfer is also closer.

Vice President General Mohayu laughed and shook hands with Wang Yaotang. "Mr. Wang, welcome back to Yangon. Why didn't you bring your superyacht this time? I'd love to take a ride on your yacht out to sea."

“General Mohayu can have fun anytime he wants.” Wang Yaotang turned to Wei Tao. “Have someone bring the yacht over immediately.”

"No need, no need, just kidding." General Mohayu's mouth stretched from ear to ear with joy. The most luxurious yacht in Southeast Asia, worth 4 million Hong Kong dollars, is so prestigious.

"The general made the joke, but as a friend, I have to take it seriously."

"Good, good, good." General Mohayu was so pleased he was practically snotting from his nose.

"Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Luo Wenhua, the General Manager of China Resources." Wang Yaotang introduced him with a smile, then leaned over and whispered about the status of China Resources, afraid that these bloated bumpkins would really mistake Luo Wenhua for an ordinary person.

"Mr. Luo, it's a pleasure to meet you!" General Mohayu gave Wang Yaotang a strange look and said, "You're not representing the Chinese."

After going through the formalities and being photographed and interviewed by reporters, Luo Wenhua was truly surprised that Wang Yaotang had such a high profile in Southeast Asian countries. The level of hospitality he received was as high as that of a half-step peak!
It seems that some collaborations could definitely go a little deeper!

Both of them had clearly misunderstood, but there was no way to clarify it, so Wang Yaotang could only silently accept it. (End of Chapter)