The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

It’s Spring Again (1970).

In the office of Cheung Kong Holdings, Lin Zhichao looked at the "Oriental Daily" in his hand and did not work directly. The company has developed to this day, and his role is no longer to take the lead, but to command.

The "Oriental Daily" in his hands has ended its 'promotion period'. After a month of spending money, the sales of "Oriental Daily" have climbed to 155,000 copies, and the sales volume has surged by more than 30,000 copies.

The goal has been achieved!

A piece of news caught Lin Zhichao's eyes - on March 18, Lon Nol launched a coup to overthrow the government led by Prince Sihanouk.

Oriental Daily was able to report this incident in Cambodia immediately, which shows that overseas journalists played an important role. Of course, there are not even Oriental Daily reporters in Cambodia. These news come from overseas information channels. It is not the first-hand local news, but of course it is at least one day ahead of other newspapers in Hong Kong.

Lin Zhichao put down the newspaper and thought about what this news could bring to him!

Because he understands that Hong Kong is very affected by international events as well as mainland political events.

This news means that the Americans will interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs and the possibility of entering Cambodia seems to be this year. The Americans are actually tired of the war in Vietnam, so "large-scale activities" will break out in these months.

"It seems that the first half of this year may be an opportunity to buy U.S. stocks at the bottom!" Lin Zhichao concluded.

Of course, he also has a reference indicator, which is that Nifty 50 stocks have basically fallen by 50% compared to 1968. But now he has a better way, that is, once protests break out in the United States and cause the stock market to fall sharply, it will almost be an opportunity to buy the bottom.

At the same time, Lin Zhichao thought of another thing, which was about the Hong Kong stock market.

He grabbed the phone and dialed.

After a while, Zhou Fuzhao came to his office.

"What's the current Hang Seng Index level?" Lin Zhichao asked.

Zhou Fuzhao is the financial manager of Yangtze River Industrial Group. He not only manages the company's finances, but also manages the investment stock market, Yangtze River Finance and other aspects.

"Yesterday it was 192 points, and last Friday it reached a maximum of 196 points. The market value of the stocks we have invested in has exceeded HK$100 million. There are currently 80 listed companies in Hong Kong with a total market value of 11.5 billion."

Knowing that the boss generally doesn't care about the stock market, once asked, he will naturally give a detailed introduction.

Lin Zhichao nodded. He often bought the bottom from 60 points in the stock market. Now it has more than tripled, which is normal. After all, the stocks selected are all Hang Seng Index reference indicators.

"I plan to cash out half of it and buy it again through Feng Jingxi and the Far East Club behind him."

Zhou Fuzhao said curiously: "The boss just thinks it's better to have two brokers, or does he think there is an adjustment in the stock market?"

Lin Zhichao pointed to the newspaper on his desk and said: "For both of the reasons you mentioned, this news inspired me a little bit."

Zhou Fuzhao then came to his desk and read the news in the newspaper.

"Boss, does this news have anything to do with the Hong Kong stock market?"

Lin Zhichao smiled and discussed the stock market with his men: "This news illustrates a problem. The United States has already sent troops to Cambodia; while the United States has been mired in the Vietnam War for so many years, the economy has entered a stagnation period, and there is a loud voice against the war in the country. And the Hong Kong stock market It rose to 196 points on a weekly basis, which is equivalent to the Hang Seng Index jumping 40 points in less than three months this year. So I think there is a high chance of adjustment. I just want to split stocks between two brokerage houses, so I plan to take advantage of this opportunity. Take this opportunity to sell high and buy low.”

Zhou Fuzhao said with admiration: "The boss is really wise and has such a thorough knowledge of finance."

Lin Zhichao laughed and said, "I don't know if it's correct yet. I'll save this flattery for a few months before filming. But I personally think that the Hong Kong stock market is greatly affected by international time and mainland politics. Just refer to this With two things, you can have a certain degree of certainty.”

"Been taught a lesson!"

Lin Zhichao nodded and told his subordinates that it would have no impact. The assets invested by these senior people around him are almost all higher than their salaries.

For example, during the real estate bargain hunt in 1967, several high-level executives took the risk to purchase some residential units and made huge profits.

"Make an appointment with Mo Yingji for me, and let's talk to him about cashing out."

"Okay, how about tomorrow at noon?"

"Can"

Knowing that his boss's time was precious, Zhou Fuzhao just made an appointment for lunch on Saturday.

After Zhou Fuzhao left, Lin Zhichao began to think.

He originally thought that he would only make 340 million Hong Kong dollars in this wave of stock market.

But now it seems that there is no problem in earning 7.8 billion Hong Kong dollars, or even more.

The annual transaction volume last year (1969) was 2.6 billion, an increase of 1.7 times from 950 million in 1968.

But this growth is nothing. In the previous life, the transaction volume in 1971 was already 15 billion, and the transaction volume in 1972 had reached 43.5 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong people are really rich!

It is said that bank deposits are growing at a rate of 20 to 30% every year.

As a result, Lin Zhichao's business projects are not short of money at all!

The next day.

At the Luhaitong Hotel, Lin Zhichao hosted a banquet for Mo Yingji, senior agent of the Hong Kong Club.

Don't underestimate a 'Hong Kong Club' agent. You must know that neither Li Fushu nor Hu Hanhui has obtained the qualification of the 'Hong Kong Club'. Therefore, Li Fushu only created the 'Far East Club' last year, and Hu Hanhui is also preparing for the 'Gold and Silver Club'. '.

If the Hong Kong Association had given these two people brokerage qualifications, they might not have opened another stock exchange.

"Lin Sheng, I heard that you bought a new two-story yacht. It is very luxurious!" Mo Yingji asked curiously after meeting.

He is also a member of the Tiebozhou Yacht Club and owns his own yacht, and he likes yacht life and banquets.

Lin Zhichao discussed the yacht with him: "This is not called a two-story yacht, it is called a duplex yacht. The second layer is called the flybridge system and has a co-pilot station. This is because the fiberglass technology in Europe and the United States has matured, so this kind of duplex yacht Birth. With the emergence of the flybridge system and technological advancements such as fiberglass and aluminum alloys, yachts are getting bigger and bigger. It will not be difficult to call them palaces on the sea in the future."

After listening to this, Mo Yingji said with a smile: "I learned a lesson! I didn't expect Lin Sheng's career to be so big and his research on yachts to be deeper than the rest of us."

Lin Zhichao waved his hand and said: "The success of my career is due to the help of my colleagues. Basically, I am a person who likes to enjoy life."

Mo Yingji laughed and said: "Lin Sheng is so humble! Of course Zhou Sheng (Zhou Fuzhao) is a very talented person, but without you as the helmsman, naturally we can't get together. But Lin Sheng, like me, likes to enjoy life." "

Zhou Fuzhao was standing aside and did not participate much in these topics, but Lin Zhichao was still very excited when he mentioned that "colleagues are very capable".

After chatting for a while, the three of them continued to talk while eating.

"Mo Sheng, we plan to clear out half of our stocks. How many days do you think is reasonable for completion?" Lin Zhichao asked.

Mo Yingji could feel a thud in his heart and became nervous.

He knew that Lin Zhichao was very good at stock trading. He invested 10 million Hong Kong dollars in 1959 and then sold it out in 1961, making more than double the profit. Then the Hong Kong stock market was relatively sideways from 1962 to 1964, and began to perform very poorly in 1965; in 1967, when the market was at its lowest, Cheung Kong Holdings once again entered the market at the bottom, spending 30 million Hong Kong dollars to buy the bottom, accounting for 1% of the total market value of Hong Kong. More than %; now, in less than three years, it has already reached over 100 million.

Mo Ying was basically worried that Lin Zhichao sensed some risk, but he quickly put his mind at ease. Lin Zhichao was not a god, so he might not make accurate judgments every time. What's more, this time he only cashed out half of the money, so he might need to invest in real estate. .

"If it's a week faster, the impact won't be big; if it's more stable, it'll be about two or three weeks! The current market is pretty good, and Lin Sheng can consider cashing out slowly." Mo Yingji said.

Lin Zhichao thought about it and realized that it was already late March. The purpose of cashing out was not to make a lot of money, but because he didn't want Mo Yingji to trade stocks for him alone.

He was also familiar with Feng Jingxi, so he planned to let Feng Jingxi act as his agent and share half of the investment.

"Okay, I'm not in a hurry. I'll finish it in two or three weeks to avoid having too much impact on the market."

"Okay, no problem. I will discuss the specific situation with Manager Zhou later."

"Well, you communicate."

In this wave of the stock market, if Lin Zhichao made 800 million, plus the profit of more than 400 million from real estate from 1969 to 1971, and the 100 million previously contributed by the Yangtze River Industrial Group. Then, the old site has enough funds of 1.3 billion to be used for commercial projects.

Far East Financial Center Tower AB, Burj Al Arab, and Raffles City (Singapore), these four projects require a total of more than 600 million; plus this year's land king and its construction costs, the total cost is almost 1.1 billion.

Funding is very sufficient!

In late March, Lin Zhichao left Hong Kong again and started an overseas trip.

Starting from this year, when Lin Zhichao started his overseas trip, he felt relieved that he had not come.

After thinking about it carefully, I found out that it was because the 'Lin Family' had stabilized. His eldest son is 21 years old this year. He graduated from Harvard University almost a year ago and can return to work in the family business at any time. His second son and third son have also gone to college, further consolidating the Lin family's reserve force.

Of course, the most reliable ones at present are Tang Caiyun, Xu Caiying, and Audrey Hepburn. Under Lin Zhichao's training, these three women have become business elites who can "take charge".

Tang Caiyun is very familiar with the business of Cheung Kong Industrial Group. She understands real estate development, financial arrangements, commercial real estate layout, etc. Although Xu Caiying does not like doing business, she is also very familiar with the development of Universal Group, and she knows that Lin Zhichao will no longer be the leader of Universal Group. Shipping, shipbuilding in the name of World Shipping and other business ideas; as for Audrey Hepburn, she has been running two companies independently - Audrey Group and Audrey Investments, and has long understood the way of doing business.

Because his wife and son were there to support him, Lin Zhichao suddenly felt a lot more relaxed and wanted to enjoy life as much as possible in the future.

British waters.

A 212-foot (65-meter) superyacht parked on the sea is quite spectacular.

On the yacht, Lin Zhichao and Audrey Hepburn received the Thatchers as friends.

This yacht was a second-hand yacht 'Shemara' purchased in the name of Audrey Hepburn. Shemara was requisitioned by the Royal Navy less than a year after its construction and was used as an anti-submarine training ship during World War II. . After her service, she was returned to her owner, Bernard Burke, who entertained high society on deck. In the later period, no one cared about the Shemara for a long time, until Audrey Hepburn, under Lin Zhichao's instruction, won it for US$1.5 million.

Yachts are not expensive, but later modifications will cost a lot of money.

"Sir Lin, how many years have you and Audrey known each other?" Thatcher looked at Audrey Hepburn and Lin Zhichao and asked a question with a woman's intuition.

At this time, four people were sitting on the deck, chatting together.

Lin Zhichao looked at Audrey Hepburn and said honestly: "It must have been 1949. At that time, Audrey was only 20 years old!"

Denis Thatcher immediately said: "Hey, Margaret and I met in 1949!"

Thatcher is the surname of Dennis, so the future female prime minister takes her husband's surname.

Thatcher looked at Audrey Hepburn and Lin Zhichao again, and seemed to understand something. She has known Audrey Hepburn for many years, and she knew that Audrey Hepburn had a pair of mixed-race sons, but she never expected that they were the children of the 'World Shipping King'.

In fact, Audrey Hepburn's approach to Thatcher was naturally ordered by Lin Zhichao, because in the 1980s, Lin Zhichao needed to make friends with two political figures, namely Reagan and Thatcher.

Of course, over the years, Lin Zhichao has been on good terms with both the British and American players. In Europe and the United States, entertaining political figures is not a big deal, and political and business interactions are not a taboo.

"Then your relationship seems to be more than just friends, right?" Thatcher showed the potential of the 'Iron Lady' and wanted to figure things out.

She really didn't understand why her friend never got married and never had a public man, not even a boyfriend. You know, Audrey Hepburn is a very famous "Mother of Barbie" and "Hollywood Star" in the Western world. Her company also developed "video games" that are popular in the West.

Audrey Hepburn took Thatcher's question and said seriously: "Partners, Sir Lin and I are very good partners. When I wanted to create a 'doll for children', it was Sir Lin who invested." I."

In fact, Lin Zhichao didn't care about anything. He was just worried that making his relationship with Audrey public would affect Audrey Hepburn's reputation, which would put a lot of pressure on him.

And Audrey Hepburn has become very calm over the years and doesn't care about anything.

When Thatcher saw this, she planned to stop pursuing him. Everyone will have their own secrets. She always believed that the relationship between Audrey Hepburn and Lin Zhichao was that of lovers.

Lin Zhichao immediately changed the topic and said: "In the British general election in May this year, I will definitely be a supporter of the Conservative Party. Thatcher, you will be in the cabinet as you wish."

Thatcher suddenly felt cheerful and said: "Thank you Sir Lin for your blessing!"

She herself is an "official fan". She was interested in politics when she was in college, and she married her husband for political reasons. Because Daniel had been divorced, Thatcher once looked down on him, but she only agreed with her father's advice, because his father's advice to her was that Daniel was rich enough, and he could support you to move further in the political arena. Far.

In the UK, every election, even for local councillors, costs money. Because of this, politics and business in the West need to collude.

During the chat, Thatcher also asked: "Sir Lin, you are an outstanding businessman and very involved in British politics. Here, I would like to ask you something about the United Kingdom, which has the Commonwealth, but is economically behind West Germany and France. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Putting aside the unclear relationship with her good friend, she still admires Lin Zhichao very much - he is two years younger than her, but he is already a world shipping king and industrialist, and has a huge influence on the world economy.

Lin Zhichao thought for a while and said: "Defeat the union! Rely on the theory of monetarism!"

Thatcher was immediately shocked and had the idea of ​​becoming a confidant. She immediately said: "Victory over the unions is easier to understand. But relying on monetarist theory, which aspect are you specifically talking about?"

Lin Zhichao said: "This is the different ideas of the Labor Party and the Conservative Party. You understand it very well!"

He is now a Commonwealth citizen and has no problem discussing British politics. The British Labor Party and the Conservative Party took turns in power. One was obsessed with G-ownership and the other was obsessed with privatization. As a result, the British steel and transportation industries were alternately public-owned and privately-owned, which was very frustrating.

"Which one do you prefer? State-owned or privately owned?" Thatcher asked this question directly.

Today was a gathering of friends anyway, and she had not thought about becoming the future prime minister at this time.

Lin Zhichao is Chinese, so his words are usually very tactful: "In different periods, there are policies in different periods. It is difficult for me to define this. The advantages of privatization are to improve the economic benefits and labor productivity of enterprises, suppress inflation and reduce financial burdens. The disadvantages are Yes - it has caused many people to lose their jobs and cause some social problems. That’s why I say that only a courageous British Prime Minister who must defeat the trade unions can truly complete privatization."

Of course he supports privatization in the UK, after all, he might be able to get a share of the pie in the future. So at the end of his speech, he looked at Thatcher seriously, as if to say, I am optimistic about you.

Thatcher said: "Sir Lam, do you think Hong Kong's free economic system is very good?"

Lin Zhichao said without hesitation: "Of course, there is no need to question this. The American monetary school points out that in the process of economic development, the role of the market mechanism is the most important. And Hong Kong is undoubtedly a representative of the world's free economy."

The two had a "wanton" conversation. In fact, Lin Zhichao was in agreement with Thatcher's wishes. He also took care of Daniel and his wife Audrey from time to time.

Overall, his first meeting with Thatcher was very pleasant.

When she takes office in the future, it will be easier for Lin Zhichao to do business and expand in the Commonwealth system, and he will also be able to come to the UK to invest in real estate.

After the party.

Lin Zhichao is very interested in the modification of the Shemara yacht.

"Audrey, this yacht needs to be refitted by the Germans, and then driven back to Hong Kong as my palace on the sea." He put his arm around Audrey Hepburn's waist and said in a manly tone.

Audrey Hepburn half leaned on her man's strong chest and said, "Do you want to have a party on this yacht?"

"Do you want to participate?"

"If it's with the eldest sister and second sister, of course I will participate. If it's with another woman, I refuse to participate!"

Audrey looked at Lin Zhichao with a cunning look on her face.

"Where are the other women!"

Of course Lin Zhichao would not admit it. In fact, he had let go, so he would not be able to avoid romantic debts in the future.

Audrey Hepburn did not continue to interview this man. After more than 20 years with this man, she knew Lin Zhichao. Generally, he doesn't like new women, but if he likes new women, he won't be afraid of them becoming jealous, but this man is very 'family-oriented' and won't be obsessed with other women.

In fact, Audrey Hepburn didn't understand Lin Zhichao well enough, and even Lin Zhichao didn't understand himself. I used to worry that too many women would have a bad influence on the children. But now that the kids are older, he seems to be getting more relaxed.

Later, Lin Zhichao probably told Audrey Hepburn about the modification plan and asked her to modify the tanker for him and finally send it to Hong Kong.

The yacht is in her name, but he uses it.