Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 410 Outsourcing (Second Update)

The governor of Hong Kong, and these foreign officials, kept their distance from Li Song.

Because in the eyes of these people, Li Song is a huge problem.

A few casual words during an interview can cause Boeing's stock price to plummet.

This would allow many Americans to hold up signs and protest at the White House.

Moreover, Li Song even extended his connections to London.

They also gifted the Queen of London a private jet.

Although ostensibly a demo unit that the Queen was invited to experience by the dealer of the Starliner.

In fact, everyone knows what happened.

So when the governor and his men saw Li Song arrive, they all stepped forward to shake hands and chat with him warmly.

Even though Yum! Brands acquired the Kwai Tsing Pier, none of the governors or other officials on Hong Kong Island received any benefits from Yum! Brands.

Moreover, these people wouldn't dare to cause trouble for Baisheng Company.

It's all because of Li Song!

These people knew that if they sabotaged Yum!, they would soon be kicked out of the London Parliament.

Because these people know that what the gentlemen of the London Parliament value most about Li Song is his reputation!
Li Song single-handedly confronted Boeing, causing them considerable trouble and even creating some minor chaos within Aramco.

Regardless of whether those councilors received any benefits from Li Song.

The council members would all help Li Song, because those council members are best at stirring things up!
Moreover, Li Song also gave these gentlemen plenty of benefits.

Therefore, these people were very polite to Li Song.

"Mr. Li!"

"Mr. Li!" The Governor of Hong Kong Island and the government officials greeted Li Song warmly.

"Your Excellency the Governor!" Li Song greeted them one by one.

"I imagine His Majesty's private jet must be very beautiful."

“We can’t wait to see His Majesty’s private jet,” the governor and his men said one after another.

"I believe I will not let everyone down!" Li Song didn't have much in common with these people from the Hong Kong Island government.

It's just that we're giving each other face in front of so many reporters.

To be honest, the kind of people who can travel all the way to Hong Kong Island don't have much of a background in London.

Although Hong Kong Island is developing very well now, in the eyes of those in London, Hong Kong Island is nothing more than a colony in the Far East.

“The cost of this aircraft alone exceeds twenty million pounds,” Li Song said.

The governor and his men stared wide-eyed at these words.

He looked at Li Song with some disbelief, because the pound sterling was currently worth a very high value.

The exchange rate between the British pound and the US dollar reached 2.4.

That means the cost of this aircraft is approximately fifty million US dollars.

"This!!" The governor was also somewhat incredulous.

"All I can tell you is that the interior of this aircraft was entirely handmade."

"The logos inside the plane are all made of gold!"

"And there's a logo embroidered with gold thread!"

"In addition, it also includes Hetian jade and many traditional techniques!" Li Song briefly introduced.

“We have prepared a detailed instruction manual, but of course, this manual can only be opened by the London lady,” Li Song said, keeping everyone in suspense.

While handmade items may seem more sophisticated, they are actually cheaper to make in mainland China.

For example, the logo on the seat is embroidered with gold thread.

The logos on some of the hard-decorated wooden veneers were inlaid with gold thread.

These things cannot be machined because they are not mass-produced.

For people in mainland China, handmade items are currently the cheapest.

Just then, a reporter shouted, "They're here!!"

Everyone looked up and saw a private plane in the distance.

The Starliner is entirely blue and stands out prominently in the sunlight.

As mentioned earlier, the airport on Hong Kong Island is now located in Kai Tak.

The pilots saw the runway only 3 kilometers away.

At that moment, people on the ground could clearly see the blue private plane diving down, preparing to land.

In addition, the blue of lapis lazuli is very different from the blue of the sky.

The governor and others applauded.

Reporters quickly picked up their cameras and video cameras and began taking pictures.

This wasn't the first time Li Song had seen this all-blue plane.

The entire plane was lapis lazuli blue.

The Queen of London's name is printed on the blue fuselage.

The tail fin features the coat of arms of the London Royal Family.

It's also golden.

These are also made of gold, not gold pigment.

Li Song's reason for using a large amount of gold was to drive up the cost of the aircraft.

For the Queen of London, the higher the cost and value of the aircraft, the more prestigious she would be.

For Li Song, this was an opportunity to advertise.

We must transform the Starliner into a super luxury item!
Therefore, the interior of this aircraft uses a lot of precious metals, such as gold, silver, jade, and gemstones.

In addition, many traditional techniques such as gold inlay, Shu brocade, Yun brocade, and kesi (silk tapestry) were also used.

Even the notepads used on this plane are made of top-quality Xuan paper.

Furthermore, the rice paper also features a printed logo.

And there's also perfume.

In addition, some agarwood was used inside the aircraft.

Of course, the claim of a cost of 20 million pounds is largely inflated.

However, the cost and selling price of such customized luxury goods are not directly related.

Imagine decades from now, some luxury goods will be sold for hundreds of dollars for garbage bags that cost only a few cents to produce.

That's many times the profit.

If a garbage bag sells for 700 yuan, even if the cost is only 10 cents, the profit is still 7,000 times.

So Li Song quoted 20 million pounds for this plane; he was a conscientious businessman.

Because this aircraft definitely doesn't have a profit margin of seven thousand times.

The plane landed at the airport on Hong Kong Island.

During this period, all passenger planes on Hong Kong Island ceased taking off and landing.

There's nothing we can do; it's Her Majesty the Queen's private jet.

However, the governor and his entourage were not invited onto the plane.

The governor and his men were simply taking photos with the planes on the ground.

This is because it is the Queen's private jet, not a sample for others to visit.

Even Li Song didn't get on the plane.

There was already a pilot sent by the Queen of London on Hong Kong Island.

The pilot will travel to London with a pilot from Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Company.

Then these two pilots will also train pilots for the Queen of London.

Reporters were only allowed to take photos within a certain distance of the plane.

Getting close to this aircraft is strictly prohibited.

The plane stopped on Hong Kong Island for one hour.

On one hand, they refuel the plane; on the other hand, the pilots deal with some personal matters!
Pilots are not allowed to use anything on this private jet. Mainly because it's a brand new aircraft, and it's the Queen of London's private jet.

It's unsettling for anyone to feel uncomfortable if someone is using the toilet upstairs before the property has even been handed over.

This plane will be in Singapore, Egypt, and London!
It takes about four hours from Hong Kong Island to Lee Ka Po, about nine hours from Lee Ka Po to Egypt, and about five or six hours from Egypt to London.

On the one hand, it allows the pilots to land and rest.

Another aspect is to let people in these places see the Queen's private jet in London.

Li Song watched the plane soar into the sky, and then left the airport.

These reporters had been waiting here for a long time; Li Song hadn't given an interview for over a month.

Everyone has many questions for Li Song.

"Mr. Li!"

"Mr. Li, there are rumors that this plane cost as much as 20 million pounds?" These well-informed reporters asked loudly.

"Yes!"

"The gold lettering you see on the surface of the aircraft is all made of gold!"

"The fuselage is made of the finest lapis lazuli!"

"In addition, the aircraft's interior decoration uses gold inlay techniques and incorporates gemstones, amber, diamonds, and jade."

"Furthermore, it employs various traditional crafts unique to our East."

"Kesi (silk tapestry), embroidery, Yun brocade, Shu brocade."

"The entire interior of the aircraft is handcrafted!"

“And it uses thousand-year-old oak,” Li Song replied.

Some of the reporters had no idea what Li Song was talking about.

Some reporters from Hong Kong Island did know a bit about it and decided to go back and quickly look up information to popularize these things.

However, for these journalists, 20 million pounds is definitely an eye-catching figure.

Soon another reporter asked, "Mr. Li, the US House of Representatives recently rejected a new safety standard for aircraft?"

"What is your opinion on this matter?"

The reporters all perked up their ears, because this was the question everyone wanted to ask!
“I am not very familiar with this safety standard, but I hope the House of Representatives can pass the new safety standard.”

"Because the higher the safety standards, the safer the passengers are," Li Song's answer left the reporters somewhat puzzled.

"It would be best to establish safety standards before our commercial airliners are finalized."

"This will allow us to optimize aircraft design!"

"In addition, I have some good news to share: the CA201 passenger aircraft will be finalized and put into mass production no later than October 1st!"

"Moreover, we have already received more than one hundred letters of intent."

“As long as our aircraft can be finalized and pass the acceptance of the relevant departments, we can get these intended orders.” Li Song said this to provoke Boeing.

Li Song knew about Amei's aircraft safety standards this time.

This standard is utter nonsense!

The most important part of this standard is that all aircraft manufacturers, including all component suppliers, that fly in Aramco airspace must obtain safety certification from Aramco's relevant agencies!
These passenger planes will not be allowed to fly in Aramco's airspace without obtaining safety certification from the relevant authorities.

To put it bluntly, this is a policy to protect Aramco's domestic businesses.

It is impossible for Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant and its parts suppliers to obtain Aramco's safety certification.

To obtain safety certification, all factories must be opened up for inspection.

Li Song is no longer dwelling on this issue. After all, Boeing has been tinkering for so long, and in the end, it will most likely all be for naught.

One aspect is what Fat Bear will do next.

On the other hand, there is also Airbus in Europe, which is very dissatisfied with this proposal.

It's impossible for European Airbus suppliers to open their factories for Aramco to inspect.

Decades from now, that possibility may still exist, because decades later, Europe will be kneeling before America.

Europe today is not the Europe of decades to come.

Paris has always adhered to an independent defense strategy, building its own aircraft and carriers.

Paris withdrew from NATO in 1966.

I joined again in 2009.

Even if Amy eventually passes and implements this bill.

Li Song wasn't afraid, because he had his sights set on the domestic market.

Li Song has even more tricks up his sleeve!
"Wow!"

"Is it true?!" The reporters present were all shocked when they first heard the news.

This is an order for one hundred aircraft!

This means that the global commercial airliner market has gained another powerful competitor.

This means that Boeing and Airbus will lose orders for 100 aircraft or more!
These reporters then thought of another problem: once this news is released, the stock prices of Boeing and Airbus will definitely fall.

"Mr. Li!"

"Mr. Li!"

"Several aircraft manufacturing companies of Aramco have officially filed a lawsuit in court, jointly accusing Parkson of dumping and monopolistic practices!"

"What is Mr. Li's opinion on this issue?" the reporters asked again.

"This is absolutely slander!"

"It's slander."

"Our company has hired lawyers and is actively responding to the lawsuit."

"We will use legal means to defend our company's legitimate rights!" Li Song replied in a serious and earnest manner.

"Mr. Li, isn't selling the Panda plane at a loss considered dumping?" a reporter asked.

"Please note that Yum! Brands has a contract with a crowdfunding club!"

“We do not have direct contracts with Amer users.”

"I also want to tell everyone that we will make a profit once the production of 50,000 aircraft is completed."

"Just like at the beginning of this year, gold reached more than $500 per ounce, but now it's only more than $400 per ounce!"

"The economic crisis has led to a drop in the prices of various bulk materials."

"In addition, we have a huge order for 50,000 aircraft, which can reduce the cost of each aircraft!"

"The reason I was willing to sell the Panda plane for $10,000 at the time."

"It's a gamble!"

"It's obvious I made the right bet."

"There are losses and gains in business!"

"If some companies lose money in business, they will be accused of dumping!"

"This is absolutely unreasonable!"

"Furthermore, if these small aircraft manufacturing companies are willing, we are willing to do contract manufacturing for them," Li Song said, before adding something else.

“Of course, the Panda plane that costs $10,000 a unit will never appear again!” Li Song added.

When the reporters present heard Li Song's answer, some of them wondered to themselves that Amer International's small aircraft manufacturing companies were having a tough time right now!
Because the Panda aircraft's low price impacted the market, it not only stole business but also drove down the price of aircraft.

Under normal circumstances, these small aircraft manufacturing companies would be prepared to go bankrupt.

However, these small aircraft manufacturing companies would choose to outsource production to companies like Parkson or BMW!

These companies can then gradually recover.

As for whether these companies will hate Li Song, since this whole affair was caused by something that was originally just a minor incident!

Of course it's impossible, because capitalists only care about making money.

"Could it be that Li Song had already planned this all along?" Some reporters suddenly had this thought!
The reporters couldn't help but marvel at Li Song's shrewd methods; even if the 50,000 small planes resulted in a loss, he would definitely make it back during the subsequent contract manufacturing process.

These reporters then wondered if Li Song might use the same methods against Boeing.
Li Song's automotive business is also currently employing a low-price strategy.

Could it be this kind of playing style?
These journalists found that Li Song's approach was difficult to counter; apart from government policies to restrict it, simple trade was simply not a way to break this tactic.

(End of this chapter)