The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Yangtze River Industrial Group, conference room.

Senior executives of the group and subsidiaries are summarizing the work of the past year.

Deng Zhongfa, general manager of Zhongtian Ship Recycling Plant, was the first to report: “Last year, Zhongtian Ship Recycling Plant demolished 46 commercial ships and 6 warships and aircraft carriers. At the end of this month, all operations at Zhongtian Ship Recycling Plant will be completed and the company will withdraw from the ship recycling industry. "After saying that, I couldn't help but show a trace of reluctance.

In the past two and a half years, Zhongtian Ship Recycling Yard has dismantled a total of 122 merchant ships and 12 warships and aircraft carriers, earning a profit of more than 13 million Hong Kong dollars. However, as the number of ship recycling yards in Hong Kong has reached 200, and ship recycling yards in Southeast Asia have joined the competition, this industry has Profits have become thinner.

Deng Zhongfa understood the boss' call to stop at this time. But after doing it for almost three years, I naturally couldn’t let it go.

Lin Zhichao said: "The management of Zhongtian Shipbreaking Plant has been merged into Zhongtian Iron and Steel Plant; and Zhongtian Iron and Steel Plant needs management talents to expand its production."

He had no reluctance to give up, even though Deng Zhongfa told him that there was still some profit, and he could at least reduce his holdings until this year; but Lin Zhichao always liked to exit the sunset industry early, and a dignified exit was the best.

At this time, the prices of second-hand ships in major ports have been driven up, so profits have been reduced. As for Southeast Asian ship-breaking yards to join, it is actually not a big deal. In recent years, many cheap labor from the mainland in Hong Kong has been cheaper than Southeast Asia.

If you feed them half full to seventy percent full, they will be able to work. The monthly salary of these cheap laborers is still only sixty or seventy Hong Kong dollars. When they first come to Hong Kong, what they are waiting for is not paradise, but the squeeze of business owners.

Of course, the situation should be much better than before when I could only eat three-thirds full.

Cheng Yuanxiong, general manager of Zhongtian Steel, immediately said: "The positions have been arranged and can be merged at any time. By the end of this year, our steel production is expected to expand to an annual output of 80,000 tons, supplying one-third of Hong Kong's steel demand." "

The steel plant also made a profit of 8.5 million yuan last year, thanks to the booming real estate industry and low costs. If one-third of Hong Kong's demand is supplied, the profit will reach more than 10 million Hong Kong dollars.

Every subsidiary of Cheung Kong Industries Group is a leader in Hong Kong industry. If anyone knew the profit amount, their jaws would drop. Since it is not a listed company, no one knows how profitable Lin Zhichao’s industrial group is.

Tao Deronghui from Yangtze Plastic Factory reported: "In the past year, the profits of plastic flowers have increased again, but we have not increased employees. We still maintain 6,000 workers and produce in three shifts. The sales volume is about 15% higher. We make full use of the agency model and hand over orders to small factories for production, saving costs. In the new year, we will continue to utilize the agency factory model."

Plastic Flower's profit last year was HK$26 million, which is an increase, but it has no potential. If the peak can be maintained until 1963, it is already very good.

The Yangtze Plastic Factory is expected to close down by the beginning of 1967 and hand over orders to other factories, especially Lin Yunchu, who needs to take more care of it.

First, the closure of the Suez Canal will inevitably increase the cost of raw materials and transportation, and large factories can easily close down;

Second, dismissing the plastic flower workers is equivalent to dismissing a time bomb to avoid causing trouble in the middle of the year.

At this time, the plastic flower industry has been reduced to a level with low added value. Last year, the industrial output value of plastic flowers in Hong Kong was HK$890 million, accounting for about 13.5% of the total industrial output value in Hong Kong, second only to textiles, garments, and plastics. After that, more than 50,000 people were employed.

In terms of added value, it is estimated to be only slightly better than the textile industry and lower than that of garments and plastics.

Chen Linyuan of Yangtze Wigs reported: "The competition in the wig industry is fierce. This year, the factory has further laid off workers, leaving only 400 workers. The agency business has increased, and they have begun to sign single-month supply contracts. The production of high-end wigs has increased."

The profit is only over 4 million Hong Kong dollars. Once it stabilizes, it may last for five years.

Next, there are two important things - toys and zippers.

Ke Yanping, general manager of the Yangtze River Toy Factory, said: "Affected by the surge in orders for Barbie dolls, the Yangtze River Toy Factory's performance increased by 35% last year and its number of workers has exceeded 5,000. There are also dozens of OEM factories that we cooperate with."

Barbie is definitely one of the most successful toys. If this trend continues, it will probably sell 500 million US dollars in ten years. It’s US dollars, not Hong Kong dollars, so as the only OEM factory, Yangtze Toy Factory will benefit a lot.

The important thing is that they are all in-house companies. The profit of Yangtze Toy Factory this year has reached 30 million Hong Kong dollars, which is a huge increase.

The profit of Audrey Toy Factory is more suitable to exceed 12 million US dollars, and its performance has also skyrocketed.

In the previous life, Barbie was produced in Japan and Cabbage Patch Dolls were produced in Hong Kong. Now both of them will be produced in Hong Kong. Not only does it earn profits of tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars a year, but it also supports a large number of workers.

Moreover, the wages of workers at the Yangtze Toy Factory and the Yangtze Zipper Factory are the highest in the Yangtze River Industrial Group. Because it requires skilled workers and technical workers.

As for plastic flower factories, there has been no wage increase for a long time because they mainly employ female workers, and a monthly salary of 80 to 100 is almost enough. After all, another 400,000 cheap workers were sent from the opposite side, and the total population of Hong Kong has increased to about 3.15 million.

As the number of workers increased, Lin Zhichao also began to control labor costs and not be too generous. Of course, the salary in the plastic flower factory is only 80 to 100, but the working time is only 8 hours a day because there are three shifts.

Finally, Bao Chunlai, general manager of Yangtze Zipper, reported: "Yangtze Zipper's profits rebounded slightly last year. The main reason is that Yangtze Zipper and YKK gave up the price war at the same time. In the future, Yangtze Zipper is expected to usher in new growth."

Profit reached HK$45 million, a profit increase of more than 12%.

Tadao Yoshida of YKK Zippers attempted a price war, but was ultimately thwarted by Lin Zhichao. Tadao Yoshida believed that Yangtze zipper could not produce aluminum alloy alone, and thought it had advantages; but he did not expect that because YKK zipper also produced aluminum alloy, Japanese aluminum alloy manufacturers were unwilling to conspire with him; in addition, Lin Zhichao deliberately lowered the price of imported aluminum alloy at that time , the Yangtze River Industrial Group was also producing aluminum alloys, which frightened Japanese aluminum alloy manufacturers and took the initiative to reduce prices and supply.

The end result is that Yoshida Tadao's idea fell through.

In fact, the advantage of YKK zippers is the development of the entire industrial chain, which can smelt aluminum alloys and produce non-metallic zipper raw materials such as plastics. However, the salary of Japanese workers is 3 to 4 times that of Hong Kong, which is enough to obliterate YKK's advantages.

Lin Zhichao said: "After this incident, YKK zippers are bound to develop into mid-to-high-end zippers, and we cannot wait. I am ready to invest more R\u0026D funds to increase the development of mid-to-high-end zippers, as well as the development of special zippers. Your management Give me a plan later, and I will personally supervise the battle."

In the entire Yangtze River Industrial Group, only zippers have the highest technical level. Moreover, after many battles, Lin Zhichao found that YKK zippers are not terrible. Although Yangtze Zipper may not necessarily defeat him, it can take away a large part of the market.

But there is a premise, that is, the technology and quality of zippers must be continuously increased, otherwise they will still be eliminated by YKK in the future. In later generations, YKK zippers appeared on most of Huaxia clothing, which shows its long-term quality.

In this life, Lin Zhichao must change this situation and never let YKK zippers be so rampant.

Bao Chunlai said: “If we want to strengthen the technology and quality of Yangtze Zipper (YR), we need strong R\u0026D capabilities in Hong Kong, Germany has R\u0026D and manufacturing capabilities for mechanical equipment, and we also need a huge supply chain, such as aluminum alloys in Japan. And non-metallic materials, as well as raw materials such as nylon on Taiwan Island.”

Everyone agrees with Bao Chunlai’s opinion!

In fact, regardless of these old people, their level has been improved through the development of the company, and their leadership skills are not weaker than outsiders.

Lin Zhichao suggested: "We should pay attention to the raw materials such as nylon and plastics in Taiwan. If there are opportunities to acquire or invest in them, don't miss them."

The strength of Taiwan Island in nylon and plastics is closely behind Japan, and it is the source of raw materials that the Yangtze River Zipper needs to pay attention to.

Wang Liang nodded and said, "Okay, let's investigate the situation over there later."

After a meeting, everyone became more and more excited, and it was another bumper year.

The Yangtze River Industries Group created a profit of 120 million last year, which means that the output value is around 1 billion.

The total industrial output value of Hong Kong is only 7 billion, and the proportion of the Yangtze River Industry Group has reached 14%, which can be called a giant.

As for the workers, there are almost 18,000 workers in the Yangtze River Industry Group, accounting for about 8% of the registered workers.

It’s the Spring Festival again (1961).

Audrey Hepburn and her two sons came to Hong Kong to celebrate the Spring Festival. Although Lin Ruidong is already in the first grade of elementary school, it is not a big deal to take ten days off. He can just go back and catch up on the courses.

At 6:30 in the evening, after a day of shopping, the Lin family members returned to the exclusive presidential suite of the Miramar Hotel and sat around a large dining table that could accommodate twenty people.

"Our New Year's Eve dinner this year will be enjoyed here!" Lin Zhichao said with a smile while sitting in the main seat.

This suite was originally proposed and designed by Lin Zhichao. It has a total area of ​​more than 3,000 square feet, and the restaurant has an area of ​​more than 600 square feet.

The members of the Lin family sat down one after another, and the youngest child could already sit next to the adults.

Nine children, three wives, a mother, a little sister, plus Lin Zhichao, there are 15 people in total.

Everyone spent a day shopping outside today, especially Audrey Hepburn, mother and son, and fully felt the meaning of the Spring Festival.

There are lion and dragon dances, blessings and Spring Festival couplets, setting off firecrackers, making fortunes, etc. The Spring Festival atmosphere in Hong Kong is very strong because many people moved here from the other side, so naturally they have to use a strong festive atmosphere to express it. My own feelings of homesickness.

The whole family gathered around the big table, and the relationship with Lin Zhichao as the center made Lin Zhichao feel like "being an emperor."

Not an emperor, but better than an emperor.

He drank Maotai, the women drank foreign wine, and the children drank Watsons' Gola Soda. The delicacies on the table were abalone, lobster, fish maw, shark's fin, sea cucumber, beef, chicken, and pork. 2 More than ten dishes.

"Everyone, come and try this abalone, authentic 3-head Japanese abalone!"

One three-headed abalone per person, the thick soup is very appetizing.

This abalone is dry abalone, and "three-headed abalone" means that three-headed abalone is one pound (600G); and Japanese net abalone is the best abalone and is very expensive.

The import of raw materials alone probably costs several hundred yuan a head.

Due to its maritime advantages, Japan can produce the highest quality fresh abalone, and its dry abalone production technology is also mature and has long become an industry benchmark. Of course, don’t eat abalone in areas with nuclear radiation.

"Well, it's delicious!" Audrey Hepburn praised.

She speaks Chinese, and she even likes Chinese food, of course Cantonese-style Chinese food, which can be said to be her favorite.

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "Everyone has one, don't waste it!"

At this moment, Lin Zhichao suddenly wanted to laugh. He recalled the scene on TV in his previous life where He Shen and his wife were having a meal. Before eating, they even shouted a slogan - save food. In fact, it was extremely wasteful.

Now it is Lin Zhichao's turn to experience it, but Lin Zhichao really saves food and enjoys high-end ingredients, which does not conflict with saving food. After all, if the rich don’t spend money, how can the poor make money?

Separate the dried abalone with a knife and fork, and then put it into your mouth with a fork. It will immediately feel refreshing and elastic, with a rebound texture when you bite it, which will make you appetizing.

Then I picked up the Moutai and took a sip. It was indeed a perfect match.

For decades, Moutai was only available to high-ranking officials. Moutai was poured into sewers, warehouses were filled with Moutai, and Moutai was put into plastic bottles.

It may not be until after the 21st century that middle-income families will occasionally taste it, and the situation will be much better. After all, with more than a thousand bottles, you can still afford to drink it occasionally as long as you look at it.

After dinner, everyone did not go back to Deep Water Bay Villa. Many servants had two days off this year, and Mrs. Lin happened to be celebrating the New Year in the hotel.

night.

When Lin Zhichao hugged Audrey Hepburn, she asked: "Audrey Toys plans to pay dividends of 10 million US dollars and then go on the market in July!"

Lin Zhichao said: "No problem!"

The listing time was all arranged by Lin Zhichao, because this year is likely to be a bull market for the US stock market. Otherwise, what will happen next year?

Of course, Lin Zhichao guessed everything!

And the dividend of 10 million US dollars is naturally intended to be divided into cash flow.

Audrey Hepburn said again: "What should I do with the money?"

She doesn't understand investment, so she habitually ask Lin Zhichao for advice.

"IBM stock, how much market value do you have?"

"16 million US dollars, almost an increase of 3 million US dollars, as of the beginning of last year."

Lin Zhichao said without hesitation: "Dividends are invested in IBM again, and there will be another wave of battles this year."

Audrey Hepburn nodded, she fully trusted Lin Zhichao.

In this way, her IBM stock holdings will reach more than 24 million, because Lin Zhichao will not pay dividends.

What she didn't know was that IBM would nearly double this year, and its stock market value would exceed $45 million.

Lin Zhichao is also thinking about this problem. This year, IBM's stock will have to be slowly sold short by the end of the year (late December), because the US stock market will fall a lot next year (JFK Spring Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis);

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, he quickly bought it again and withdrew from the market in the second half of 1967.

Over time, Audrey Hepburn's net worth will reach 150 to 200 million US dollars in the late 1960s.

Somewhat incredible, the stock market can really become a cash machine!

In the late 1960s, IBM's market capitalization reached 190 billion U.S. dollars, and its stock worth only 1 to 20 million U.S. dollars would naturally not cause a sensation.

Audrey Hepburn has such a net worth, and her and Lin Zhichao's two children can easily gain careers in the future, of course through acquisitions.

After chatting for a while, Lin Zhichao became interested, and Audrey Hepburn faced the classic "Moon Gate" window, and he began to assist from behind.

"Will my dear be found out!"

Audrey Hepburn's petite body could only hold both sides of the moon cave door window with her hands at this time. Opposite was the night view of Victoria Harbor and Central; it was as if a lantern was hung up, echoing from the sky.

Lin Zhichao enjoyed this kind of fun very much, but he said with certainty: "Don't worry, this glass cannot be seen clearly from the outside, and it is impossible to have enough sight distance to see clearly from the other side. Let's enjoy this wonderful time!"

"Well, why don't they come in?"

"Don't worry, I'll come in"

After the Spring Festival, Lin Zhichao also came to New York, USA. He used 15 million U.S. dollars of Yangtze River Industrial Group's working capital to continue investing in U.S. stocks—Delta and Pan Am Airlines.

In the U.S. stock market in the 1960s, any stock with the words "electronics," "semiconductor," or "aviation" would definitely rise in price. In addition, Lin Zhichao understood when a "crisis" was coming, so investing in U.S. stocks would definitely not go wrong. It would be wrong.

The important thing is that the funds of the Yangtze River Industries Group cannot be placed in too many banks in Hong Kong, so as not to depreciate.

The 20 million U.S. stocks previously invested have risen to 25 million; now with an additional 15 million principal, it will be a full 40 million U.S. dollars.

If the market value rises to 60 million US dollars this year, Lin Zhichao will not be surprised; next year, he can jointly establish an investment company with Audrey Hepburn.

In her name, invest in some US stocks, which is more concealed. (End of chapter)