Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

Even with Golden Harvest abolishing the minimum guarantee fee system, its number of cinemas is still far less than that of Taishan United Cinemas.

Once this news gets out, I'm afraid no film company will dare to hire any artists under Golden Harvest.

However, Golden Harvest did not value the training of its artists, not even the three Hui brothers, let alone other artists.

In fact, Golden Harvest did not even have a dedicated department or organization responsible for cultivating and discovering the commercial potential of its artists.

Xiao Shan is trying to get Golden Harvest used to hiring artists from Taishan Film Studio, while neglecting the development of its own lower-level artists.

Only when the time is right, and then suddenly withdrawing, will cause them excruciating headaches.

With such an open and honest scheme, Boss Zou has no chance of falling for it!

Boss Zou will definitely see through Xiao Shan's tricks and then start cultivating his own artists.

This was a perfectly legitimate and open conspiracy, and Boss Zou had no choice but to fall into this trap.

If Golden Harvest didn't want every movie to feature the same familiar faces, it had to support a large workforce.

But with the sheer number of films Golden Harvest produces, how could they possibly support so many people?

Therefore, Golden Harvest needs to produce a large number of films, and its investment will increase accordingly.

However, there were no more screens, and it eventually followed the old path of Shaw Brothers cinemas.

Xiao Shan ignored Luo Jiwang and Jiang Zhiqiang's inner thoughts and continued, "Jiahe has defected to the other side with seven cinemas, right? Pick two of them and have them renovate. If they dare to resist, kick them out of the United Cinemas chain!"

These cinemas were already unable to withstand the losses, which is why they switched from Golden Harvest to Taishan.

Xiaoshan forced them to renovate, essentially pressuring them to invest.

Furthermore, films cannot be shown during the renovation period, and employee expenses still need to be covered.

They had only recently defected, and even if they were dissatisfied with the policy, they dared not turn back to Jiahe.

Xiaoshan's intention is to make them suffer, to force them to invest continuously without profit, and to gradually face reality. The goal is to sell its cinemas to Taishan Film Industry, truly integrating them into the Taishan United Cinema Circuit!

After finalizing the plan for Golden Harvest, Xiao Shan turned around and began to make changes to his own operations: "During this period, film critics have matured, and viewers who agree to screen and profit from films have been professionalized. We have implemented a system of buying out films and box office performance betting, as well as a tiered betting system."

"The 'betting agreement' system means that the cinema chain and the production company bet on the box office performance!"

"If the production company guarantees a minimum box office of 50, and we, as the theater chain, agree, then both parties will sign a performance-based agreement."

“票房成绩超过50万，则制片方拥有50万票房之上的7成收益，院线方仅有50万票房之上的3成收益。”

"If the box office revenue is less than 500,000, the production company will have to make up the difference and then distribute the remaining 500,000 to the theaters."

"A tiered box office agreement is a gamble that presents a tiered revenue sharing scheme for box office revenue. Different films require both parties to negotiate and determine the revenue sharing ratio and screening ratio for each stage."

"This system also applies to all the studios under Taishan Film."

Luo Jiwang and Jiang Zhiqiang were taken aback. Wasn't this just a disguised minimum guarantee fee system?

However, compared to the rigid minimum guarantee system, this box office betting is undoubtedly more flexible.

Different films, different screening schedules, different production methods, and different average box office figures will result in different box office betting amounts.

The announcement of this system is a huge boon to the Hong Kong film industry.

However, this was a wake-up call for Golden Harvest!

Xiaoshan is simply using its sheer size to bully Jiahe, something Jiahe can't possibly learn.

By attacking Golden Harvest from both the film and theater sides, and then suppressing it through the artist system, Lo Kei Wong and Kong Chi-kwong had already foreseen the moment of Golden Harvest's downfall.

After Golden Harvest's defeat, Xiao Shan will likely turn on himself, removing the "United" from his subsidiary, United Cinemas, to truly take complete control of the Hong Kong cinema chain and dominate the entire Hong Kong film industry from top to bottom.

"Okay, boss, I will study the box office betting system carefully!" Jiang Zhiqiang said to Xiao Shan with a serious expression.

"There's one more thing to keep in mind!" Xiao Shan said slowly. "Everyone isn't stupid, especially when it comes to films that you've worked so hard to make. The overseas distribution ratio must be accurate. Don't falsify anything or withhold box office revenue, and definitely don't withhold overseas distribution revenue."

“We are not Golden Harvest, and I don’t care about those petty profits. Only by being authentic will production companies entrust us with the release of their films, and it will also better highlight the difference between Taishan and Golden Harvest.”

"Taishan United Cinemas has achieved its current success because many production companies have chosen to trust us and choose to screen their films in our cinemas, which has sustained us. A cinema chain cannot only screen its own films."

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Only when the Hong Kong film industry flourishes can we develop better!"

Luo Jiwang and Jiang Zhiqiang nodded in unison and said, "Okay, boss!"

After Luo Jiwang and Jiang Zhiqiang left, Luo Huiling came in and reported, "Boss, the Governor's Mansion called and invited you to a banquet there in three days!"

"Okay, I understand!" Xiao Shan nodded.

Although he didn't know what the Governor's Office wanted to do, Xiao Shan had no reason not to go since they had extended an invitation.

After all, the Governor's House is still the most powerful place in Hong Kong!

Three days later, in the evening, Xiao Shan took a car to the Governor's Mansion for a banquet.

There were already quite a few people waiting in the banquet hall, and Xiao Shan noticed that all the invited guests were Chinese.

They were all talking in hushed tones, trying to guess what MacLehose was up to.

Since Xiao Shan didn't know many people, he simply found a corner to sit down and quietly waited for the banquet to begin.

Meanwhile, Xiao Shan listened silently to the conversations of everyone in the banquet hall.

With Xiao Shan's current power, if he wanted to listen, no conversation in the banquet hall could escape his ears.

Chapter 633, Capital Also Has Different Levels! (Please Subscribe!)

633

According to information Xiao Shan had heard, the Governor's Office had summoned these Chinese capitalists primarily to discuss the issue of investing in John Bull's home country.

This process likely involves the views of Chinese capital towards mainland China.

This is John Bull using the Governor's Office to put pressure on Chinese capital in Hong Kong, preventing Hong Kong's money from flowing to the mainland for reform and opening up.

Moreover, John Bull also needs funds to return home to save the company.

However, the Chinese investors are also fools.

Leaving aside whether someone with the face of a second-class citizen could do business at John Bull, the salaries John Bull paid to its employees were beyond the reach of most investment firms.

Not to mention their tendency to go on strike at the drop of a hat.

In addition, John Bull's taxes were exceptionally heavy.

Everyone has their own standards; for employees of the same skill level, the mainland is much cheaper than John Bull.

Even though there are no problems in mainland China right now, Chinese capital is hesitant to invest there for the time being.

But Hong Kong's labor costs are cheaper than those of John Bull, so why bother building a factory in John Bull and making things difficult?

Not only is the investment several times that of Hong Kong, but a significant portion of the profits are also taken up by labor costs, and there's also the worry of trouble from the British government and employees.

Of course, not all projects are unsuitable.

However, the Chinese investors are well aware that they are, after all, second-class citizens, and there are some projects that they cannot participate in simply because they want to.

Just like the so-called "American dream" ultimately belongs to the American people, when it comes to core assets and secrets involving the national level, it comes down to skin color and bloodline.

Moreover, Xiao Shan also understood that the so-called investment in John Bull was a complete joke.

John Bull's core assets and territories cannot be given to the Chinese.

Just like future chat and communication software, Facebook and WeChat have similar performance, but one can only affect mainland China and countries and regions that China can influence, while the other can only affect the United States and countries and regions that the United States can influence.

It doesn't matter who invented the chat software, nor does it matter how it develops in the international market.

The important point is that since it involves the privacy and confidentiality of each country's citizens, this industry is destined to be run only by people from that country.

The sudden rise of TikTok was unexpected by everyone, but the United States is deeply mired in difficulties and cannot extricate itself.

Ultimately, the reason is simply that the company does not belong to the United States, and any policy that the United States introduces is enough to bring it down.

If you were to invest in Taishan Rubik's Cube and Taishan Block, John Bull would undoubtedly give you a warm welcome and might even offer some preferential policies.

They would also melt down the iron nails on the door bolt to make a medal for Xiaoshan.

The problem is that while the Taishan Rubik's Cube is fine, once Taishan Games ventures into a more advanced field, John Bull will do everything he can to make it John Bull's property.

So investing in John Bull is fine, but you can't invest in too small a place; you won't be interested in anything too small.

It also can't grow too big, or it will attract envy.

Second-class citizens should always be extremely careful when doing business in other countries.

Just as Xiao Shan was making his calculations, he suddenly heard a voice: "Please move to the meeting hall, the Governor requests your presence!"

Upon entering the conference hall, everyone has their own chair, but the seating arrangement is always different.

Xiao Shan noticed that the chair with his name on it was a higher seat than some of the established Chinese tycoons, and he couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with the Governor's Office's arrangement.

The Governor's Office is trying to flatter itself to death!

As MacLehose entered the conference hall, everyone stood up to greet him, and Xiao Shan was no exception.

As he passed by, MacLehose glanced meaningfully at Xiao Shan, his eyes clearly conveying a warning and coercion.

MacLehose had ample access to information about Hong Kong's Chinese-owned businesses, and he was naturally able to see through Xiao Shan, who appeared to be a centrist on the surface but was actually a mainland supporter in reality.

However, since Taishan Daily deliberately avoided reporting on news about the mainland, and Xiao Shan did not come forward to express his position, MacLehose could not take action against him in the same way he had against the Huo family.

After taking his seat, MacLehose began by saying, "Thank you all for attending this gathering. Recently, I've been discussing some issues concerning Hong Kong with the mainland. Today, I mainly want to hear your views on the future development of Hong Kong."

What utter nonsense about the future!

For a long time, British-owned conglomerates have controlled Hong Kong's economy. When have they ever cared about the opinions of Chinese-owned businesses on Hong Kong's development?

While seemingly asking for opinions, it actually conveyed its stance, wanting everyone present to express their determination.

The question is whether to support the mainland's recapture of Hong Kong or to support John Bull's continued occupation of Hong Kong.

For the Chinese businessmen present, if given a choice, who would want to be a second-class citizen?

Everyone was looking forward to 97, waiting for the mainland to take back Hong Kong, and waiting for British-funded conglomerates to withdraw on a large scale so they could prepare to take over.

By then, after they take over the British-funded consortium, even if mainland China enters the market, the profits will have already been divided up, and the entire pie will be shared by everyone present.

Supporting John Bull?

What a joke!

Chapters 634 and 64: Xiao Shan's Uncompromising Approach! (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone!)

"Mr. Zhao, what are your thoughts on Hong Kong?" Seeing that all the Chinese businessmen were pretending to be confused, MacLehose had no choice but to start calling on people.

The first one to be called out was Zhao Yunhe, the strongest among the Chinese-funded employees.

Zhao Yunhe, clearly having prepared his remarks beforehand, smiled and said, "As a businessman, of course I hope Hong Kong can achieve stable and sustainable development. Only with Hong Kong's economic prosperity can we achieve better development! Let Hong Kong become the leader of the Far East and even the world..."

This guy is rambling on and on, completely missing the point.

With a dark expression, Mai Lihao did not interrupt Zhao Yunhe's nonsense.

After Zhao Yunhe finished speaking, Mai Lihao turned to ask, "What are Bao Sheng's thoughts?"

"Ah..." A long sigh evoked a hint of melancholy as the shipping magnate slowly said, "I came to Hong Kong in 49, and I can't believe almost 30 years have passed! It was this land of Hong Kong that nurtured me, and we should all be grateful to this land of Hong Kong."

“My thinking is a bit outdated now. I’m already planning to let Zheng inherit my businesses. The future belongs to the younger generation…”

Bao Chuanwang started rambling on, relying on his age and seniority, and his rambling became increasingly irrelevant, even more so than Zhao Yunhe's.

MacLehose knew these guys were all seasoned veterans, and getting anything out of them would be harder than landing on the moon.

However, since the topic had turned to the younger generation, MacLehose asked Xiao Shan, "Then please let Mr. Xiao, a rising star representing the younger generation of Hong Kong, share his views on the future of Hong Kong."

Xiao Shan looked at MacLehose and pointed the finger at him, and slowly said, "There is a saying in China: 'A young man with no experience is unreliable.' As for the future development of Hong Kong, it is not something a junior like me can comment on."

“Although Mr. Xiao is young, his accumulated wealth is already comparable to that of everyone here. I believe Mr. Xiao has some insights into the development of Hong Kong. Whether they are right or wrong, you are welcome to share them,” MacLehose further coerced.

Compared to those seasoned veterans, MacLehose felt that Xiao Shan was young and energetic, making it easier to start conversations.

He has clearly achieved his goal!

Xiao Shan's expression immediately changed upon hearing this compliment.

MacLehose is putting himself in opposition to these Chinese capitalists!

Since MacLehose wants to hear it, Xiao Shan might as well tell me.

Looking at MacLehose, Xiao Shan slowly said, "We businessmen value contracts and agreements, and we are true to our word and resolute in our actions. Hong Kong is under the jurisdiction of the British colonial power, a country that takes chivalry as its guiding principle. Governing Hong Kong also requires chivalry, and chivalry lies in the embodiment of free will and the spirit of contract!"