The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Mid-July.

In the office of Cheung Kong Holdings, Lin Zhichao, Tang Caiyun, Huang Changhong, Zhou Fuzhao, Hu Zhaoxu, Liang Guangchang, and Li Paulo attended the meeting. Five of their subordinates were tentatively designated as the "Five Tiger Generals" of Cheung Kong Holdings and future board members.

The oldest Huang Changhong is only 50 years old this year. There is no problem in working for another ten years, maybe fifteen years.

“I’m going to talk about two things today: First, I want to go abroad, but it’s not to avoid anything, because as you may also know, with the closure of the Suez Canal, freight rates have increased sharply; as it happens, I built ten 226,000-ton ships last year. Oil tankers will be launched one after another from August; so I will go to Europe and the United States to contact customers and reach cooperation intentions."

At this time, the outside world has spread to the whole of Hong Kong, and it has reached an extremely dangerous point. There are even rumors that the army will be called in for support.

Lin Zhichao's explanation to his subordinates also played a role in stabilizing military morale. After all, many rich people have fled. At the end of last month, Dai Linzhi also claimed to be ill and went back to the UK for vacation.

"Congratulations, boss" several people congratulated happily.

The boss owns a huge fleet, and they suddenly feel confident. The boss is very powerful. Once the fleet is launched, everyone will be a guest wherever they go. Even if they go abroad with the boss in the future, because of the boss's benevolence, they will still give everyone a treat. job.

Lin Zhichao nodded and continued: "Second, the company plans to start buying real estate at low prices. The five of you will discuss the matter and buy those high-quality properties, sites, land, and land exchange rights. Assistant Tang will stay in Hong Kong, and so will I Contact everyone on the phone, and we can communicate with you if you have any questions.”

A single-family house in Mid-Levels sells for only HK$600,000. A house like this will be worth HK$600 million in the future. Real estate has a price but no market, and no one cares about the large number of commercial buildings, office buildings, and residential buildings that have been completed. Rich people sold their properties one after another, and the property market collapsed.

This is the true portrayal at this time!

The purchase of properties by Cheung Kong Holdings is a comprehensive purchase. You can buy anything as long as the price is cheap. Of course, it's not necessary to buy a house unit by unit. You have to buy it by the building anyway.

"Okay, boss!"

The five people couldn't help but admire Lin Zhichao's courage for actually daring to commit a crime against the odds at this time. To put it simply, even if there are Hong Kong rich people who dare to buy at the bottom, they will basically have to wait until the situation improves a little before they dare to take action. This is already a real estate developer that responds quickly and has an unlimited future.

Lin Zhichao will not explain too much to everyone, nor will he advise everyone to buy the bottom, but these senior executives are following Lin Zhichao, and as long as they are not stupid, they will also take a tentative gamble. With their wealth, there is no problem at all in buying some shops or residential units as investments.

After making some arrangements, Lin Zhichao finally felt relieved.

In fact, he also knows that many high-level subordinates have arranged for their children to go abroad for temporary refuge; but this kind of thing does not affect anything. Who doesn't have a double plan? His high-level net worth is at least millions, or even millions. , it’s not like he has no strength.

Back in the office, Lin Zhichao told Tang Caiyun who followed him: "Tell your father-in-law so that he can buy the land exchange rights and land in the New Territories. The New Territories have great development prospects, especially Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. Because they are connected to Kowloon, they will definitely be the most prosperous areas in the New Territories in the future." Promising satellite city.”

Tang Caiyun was immediately moved. Lin Zhichao took care of her natal family, naturally because he loved Wujiwu and doted on herself and her sister very much. Otherwise, even close brothers would not take such thoughtful care of such a major business matter.

"Yes, I will tell you. It's just that Cheung Kong will also develop the New Territories." The implication is that it will affect his own business.

"This amount of money is just drizzle to the market. Although your father is keen on investing in real estate, his core is still textiles and ready-made clothing. Speaking of which, it was my suggestion to invest in real estate back then. Of course, all I can do to help is to remind you, and it won't get in the way. !”

Tang Zhongyuan entered the real estate industry, and his scale was similar to that of the Six Tiger Generals at this time; however, since he had just entered the real estate industry, he still had to learn for a long time.

Therefore, it cannot be ranked among the top ten real estate developers, but can only be said to be among the top twenty real estate industries. Originally, part of the diversification of real estate knowledge Oriental Group was not that Tang Zhongyuan wanted to change his career to real estate.

At this time, the land price in Hong Kong is about 60 to 90 Hong Kong dollars per square foot in urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon, and about 20 to 40 Hong Kong dollars per square foot in the New Territories.

Very cheap!

New York, Long Beach House.

Lin Zhichao met his family and everyone gathered together except Tang Caiyun who was in Hong Kong. When the two wives saw Lin Zhichao, their eyes showed concern and attachment. The eyes of the mother Wu Wenying were full of worry, the eyes of the eldest son Lin Ruihuan were full of admiration and strength, and the other children were also full of care and joy.

After chatting with everyone for a while, I said that there is no problem in Hong Kong and there is no need to worry about safety. As for Lin Zhichao's visit to New York this time, he can only spend one day with everyone before he has to go to work.

Lying on a chair by the pool, drinking ice-cold red wine and chatting with his two wives, Lin Zhichao felt a rare relaxation. Although bargain hunting is fun, there is always a vague sense of excitement.

In fact, the profit from bargain-hunting real estate is far less than the shipping profit brought to him by the closure of the Suez Canal, but for some reason, Lin Zhichao always prefers real estate in his heart.

"Husband, IBM's market value has reached 130 billion US dollars, and we have quadrupled it." Audrey Hepburn said excitedly.

Her 40 million US dollars has turned into 160 million US dollars, how can she not be happy!

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "Don't rush! When the market value reaches 160 billion, you can sell slowly. It's no problem to sell short for a month or two. What you want is not to alert the market."

This year, IBM will have a market value of 190 billion. Audrey and Lin Zhichao invested a total of 80 million U.S. dollars, which can cash out almost 400 million U.S. dollars, and everyone will share half of it.

Audrey Hepburn said without hesitation: "Okay! It's just the $200 million I cashed out, how should I invest it?"

She already vaguely understood Lin Zhichao's idea, which was to support their two sons.

Lin Zhichao said: "You can choose to invest in an office building in Manhattan and then invest in a hotel. Keep the rest of the funds in your hands for the time being and don't touch them."

"Okay, I understand what you mean!"

Audrey Hepburn had her own investment company, and she left these matters to her subordinates to invest, and she only had to make the final decision.

And Lin Zhichao would give her some advice:

For example, when the U.S. stock market plummeted in 1968, you could buy the bottom appropriately in 1970 and cash out before the oil crisis (1973.10), and you should be able to get a good rate of return.

For example, Manhattan office buildings must have had a good rate of return before 1973. When the oil crisis came, it was naturally over; therefore, you can also do a buy-low-sell-high operation.

For example, the return rate of a three- or four-star hotel will not be bad during this period, and you can also buy low and sell high.

In this way, before the oil crisis, Audrey Hepburn's funds would not be idle, and maybe they could double in five years. During the oil crisis, it was natural to buy the bottom in 1974. Office buildings, hotels, and the stock market could all be bought at the bottom.

She has two sons in her lineage. Later, one son took over the Audrey Toy Company and developed the media; the other son entered the investment industry, including office buildings, hotels, stocks, etc.

Easily, the wealth of these two sons reached hundreds of billions.

Xu Caiying didn't find it strange that the two of them talked about money in terms of "US dollars" and "billions of dollars". Even if she didn't understand business, she also knew that Global Shipping's net worth was more than 700 million US dollars.

The next day, New York World Shipping Division.

"boss"

Bobby Blair respectfully stood at the door of the office building and led other senior executives to welcome his boss.

"Bobby Vice President, Ben Jason Manager"

Lin Zhichao responded.

Later, Lin Zhichao inspected the office building. There were only about a dozen employees inside, but the working environment was indeed very good.

Return to the conference room.

"Boss, Onassis has recently joined forces with some Greek shipowners to form a very active group in the New York shipping market. It seems that he wants to use this opportunity to reverse the decline of Greek shipping." Bobby Blair reported a piece of news.

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "No matter how they connect, it can't change the fact that their competitiveness has declined. The salary of our Hong Kong seafarers is far lower than that of Greek seafarers. At the same time, our Hong Kong shipowners took the lead in owning the first batch of 226,000-ton oil tankers. .The ship is big, what does it mean?"

Bobby Blair immediately said: "The operating cost is greatly reduced, employers can get discounts, and we can get the rate of return we want."

However, the price of leasing two 100,000-ton oil tankers is much higher than leasing one 226,000-ton oil tanker.

At present, the cost of building a 100,000-ton oil tanker is already as high as 13 to 15 million US dollars; while the cost of a 226,000-ton oil tanker is only about 23 to 24 million US dollars.

Lin Zhichao then said: "Exxon and Incomparable Petroleum said that?"

Bobby Blair said: "They welcome you to New York and have prepared a cocktail party for you! Even US President Lyndon promised to meet you to discuss shipping."

Lin Zhichao nodded. He would inform Bobby Blair in advance of his schedule in the United States, and then Bobby would make some arrangements. The total tonnage of the ships he now owns is the best guarantee for ensuring the transportation capacity of the United States in Vietnam and the energy needs of the United States.

He is crucial!

Because Lin Zhichao is building 20 226,000-ton oil tankers in Japan, and orders from Japan have been pouring in in the past two months, it now takes more than 18 months to build a ship.

"Okay, I have to participate in these trips, please make an appointment for me at a specific time!"

"no problem!"

Then, Lin Zhichao said: "My compatriot Dong Haoyun is also in New York. He also built six 226,000-ton oil tankers last year. In fact, the important force of 'VLCC' in global oil transportation has become Hong Kong."

Dong Haoyun’s VLCC is expected to be launched by the end of the year or early next year. The number of VLCCs in the entire world is expected to be only 20 to 25 by the end of the year, with Hong Kong accounting for 70 to 80%.

Bobby Blair quickly said: "In fact, everyone can communicate in advance and fight back against the Greek shipowners."

Lin Zhichao's eyes lit up, this strategy was good. Of course, the goal of the so-called counterattack is definitely not to make Greek oil tankers unable to be rented out. After all, oil tankers are now scarce in the world and must be very popular. The real goal of the counterattack is to make Greek oil tankers gradually lose their competitiveness. For example, Exxon Oil Leasing After time, if they feel that the prices charged by Greek shipowners are high, they will increase the charters of Hong Kong shipowners. At the same time, Greek shipowners will become afraid to build new ships. European shipbuilding is also expensive, and the development potential will be exhausted.

On the contrary, Hong Kong shipowners gained more and more trust and charters, so they built cheap ships in Japan and continued to lease them to Western oil companies.

"Well, I'll have a chat with Dong Haoyun first."

Exxon Petroleum Company is undoubtedly the largest oil company in the United States. After its merger with Mobil, it was once among the top ten of the world's top 500 companies and achieved a profit of US$8.5 billion in 1997.

There is a saying in the shipping industry - whoever can work well with Exxon will gain the trust of other large oil companies in the United States.

Lin Zhichao believed this sentence deeply, and because he gained the trust of Niu Deng, the manager of the International Chartering Department, Niu Deng introduced Lin Zhichao to many oil companies such as Wubi Petroleum and Clams Oil.

So these Exxon oil companies also like to lower prices, but Lin Zhichao is relatively easy to talk to.

He prefers to obtain maximum profits through the shipping cycle; so this negotiation is very important.

Lin Zhichao made an appointment with Dong Haoyun for dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel the next day. The two sat by the window, enjoying the food and chatting.

The two are professional rivals, but they have a decent personal relationship. As for career competition, it is mainly in the large overseas market and is not very fierce.

Dong Haoyun currently has an operating fleet of less than 2 million tons, most of which are second-hand ships; but he ordered six 226,000-ton oil tankers last year, which really made the right move.

"Lin Sheng, what do you think of the development of things in Hong Kong?" Dong Haoyun asked seriously.

He had moved to New York in May, so he only knew that things were getting out of control, and it seemed like it was the end of the world; fortunately, he was a fleet asset, and even if he was registered in Hong Kong, it would not be affected.

"Almost all of them are young people between 15 and 25 years old. They are full of passion. When they have suffered a lot and no one comforts them, they will naturally stop." Lin Zhichao said simply.

"So, Hong Kong's capital can be preserved?"

"I will pay it back in the future, but now it seems that the authorities there don't have that intention. Of course, it's just a family opinion."

Dong Haoyun nodded and said: "It's just about how long this quarrel lasts!"

Lin Zhichao didn't answer. He was not a god.

Next, Lin Zhichao took the initiative to speak: "Dong Sheng, you have been in New York for so long, have you heard that Greek shipowners are very active recently?"

Dong Haoyun nodded and said: "They are indeed quite active. After all, with the current market situation, they will not miss the opportunity to develop and grow. The one-way short-term rental they implemented is now very expensive. The annual return rate of a new ship As high as 45%~50%.”

Before this, the return rate of new shipping ships was generally 15 to 25%; in fact, it is very difficult to reach 25%. One-way short-term rental seems to be able to achieve this annual return rate, but it may not be able to meet the business needs.

But now, he doesn’t have to worry about his business, so he can naturally double his business by 45 to 50%.

Lin Zhichao suggested: "Sheng Dong, although we are competitors, we are also Hong Kong shipowners. Are you interested in cooperating once and giving Greek shipowners a blow? As long as it reaches the 1970s, Greek shipowners will no longer have development potential. .”

Onassis' current total tonnage is only more than 2 million tons, because he will also face the crisis of phasing out old ships, coupled with diversified investments, his growth has been very slow in recent years.

At the peak of his previous life, Onassis only had a carrying capacity of four to five million tons. In this life, let's set his load capacity at 3 million tons!

"How to cooperate?" Dong Haoyun said with interest.

Lin Zhichao is right, if they compete with Greek shipowners, they can unite.

"I built 10 ships in early August last year. I built 10 ships in early April this year. You built 6 ships in November and December last year. We can collude to use these ships to talk to oil companies such as Exxon. Choose three years For the above long-term lease, Exxon Oil will definitely give priority to our two companies, and the orders from Greek shipowners will gradually decrease. They are one-way short-term leases and can be canceled at any time. If this continues, they will not dare to build ships on a large scale. , and if we dare to build ships if this continues, Greek shipping will definitely decline in the early 1970s."

To put it bluntly, I hope Dong Haoyun's ship will also be used as a bargaining chip in Lin Zhichao's hands.

"At this time, is Exxon willing to sign a three-year contract?" Dong Haoyun asked.

Lin Zhichao talked about Japan's negotiation plan. Of course, the rate of return in the United States is slightly higher, reaching 35 to 40%.

"In this plan, even if Exxon asks to re-sign the contract because of the opening of the Suez Canal, we will still have no loss, but will tie up Exxon Petroleum Company."

To put it simply, Lin Zhichao is completely at an advantage in this gambling agreement. More importantly, this kind of gambling agreement can greatly increase the goodwill of Exxon Oil Company, and they do not have to worry about paying excessively high rent in the future.

Dong Haoyun said: "I have always admired Mr. Lin's long-term leasing method. I do intend to use the long-term leasing model of large oil tankers. After all, this development is very beneficial. This time, I am willing to cooperate with you and negotiate with Exxon Petroleum Company. Advance and retreat together.”

Many of his ships are on long-term lease. After all, this is one of the advantages of Hong Kong's shipping development. At the same time, his fleet is mainly for fixed route transportation, and this share is larger than that of Universal Group.

The two quickly reached an agreement! On behalf of Hong Kong shipping, declare war on Greek shipping.

Of course, this kind of declaration of war is not a direct war, but a contest, even a secret contest.

As for whether the two will compete fiercely in the future, Lin Zhichao thinks there will be competition, but it will not be fierce. Because after Lin Zhichao planned to develop a load capacity of 20 million tons, he was ready to retreat bravely.

That is to say, starting from 1972, he would not build ships, and he would also sell some ships that could not be rented out for a long time.

Currently, it has a total deadweight of 12 million tons (including under construction), so in the four years from 1968 to 1971, it needs to order ships of about 2.5 million tons every year. The reason why some came out is because some small oil tankers should also be sold before 1973.