The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

Years later, Lin Zhichao inspected Zhongtian Shipbreaking Plant and Zhongtian Iron and Steel Plant.

Zhongtian Ship Recycling Yard started large-scale ship recycling projects in Zuijun Bay, Ngau Tau Kok and Tseung Kwan O. Since then, an average of 4 to 5 merchant ships have been dismantled every month.

The dismantled steel is sent to Tseung Kwan O Zhongtian Iron and Steel Works for re-forging, and then rolled steel and rebar are produced to supply the local market in Hong Kong. If the scrap steel is too late to be forged, it is transported to Japan for sale, which is very popular.

"How much rolled steel and rebar can be produced here in a year?" Lin Zhichao asked in the factory building of Zhongtian Iron and Steel Plant.

The reason why we were able to produce steel within a year was because the factory building was ready-made. It was originally intended to be used for smelting aluminum alloys. However, due to various reasons, it did not happen, so it has always been empty. Just as we were preparing for steelmaking a year ago, we quickly purchased equipment and trained workers, and now we have produced the first batch of steel in mid-February.

Cheng Yuanxiong, general manager of Zhongtian Iron and Steel, immediately reported: "It is estimated that it can produce 50,000 tons of steel per year, and the production capacity can be continued to increase in the future."

Lin Zhichao said: "Currently, Hong Kong consumes less than 200,000 tons of steel per year, and it almost grew to 250,000 tons in the 1960s. Therefore, we should not rush to increase this production capacity. The important thing is to accumulate experience and introduce advanced management technology." "

He has no intention of becoming Hong Kong’s ‘steel king’, but he definitely wants to become one of the three major steel plants in Hong Kong. The market in Hong Kong is so small that it is not as discerning as Lin Zhichao. Lin Zhichao is thinking about the future.

It has its own steel plant and can enter the overseas steel industry in the future.

Cheng Yuanxiong said: "Yes. But in this way, the scrap steel production capacity of Zhongtian Shipbreaking Plant is far greater than the demand of our factory."

According to the current situation of Zhongtian Ship Recycling Yard, 50 commercial ships can be dismantled a year, and several warships and aircraft carriers can also be dismantled. Therefore, the second-hand steel produced is at least 150,000 tons.

Lin Zhichao said: "Sell it to the Japanese!"

He will not pursue output. After all, even if it is hundreds of thousands of tons a year, Hong Kong's steel demand in the 1980s was only 700,000 tons. This amount of output is a joke in the big steel countries; at this time, the steel output of the United States was 60,000 tons. 70 million tons, and Japan is also approaching 20 million tons.

Zhongtian Steel is taking advantage of this opportunity of ship scrapping to develop, and its future output can reach more than 200,000 tons; the important thing is to learn management experience and improve technical level to prepare for future overseas business expansion.

The Hang Seng Bank Building at 163 Queen's Road is a nine-storey small building with a large area on the lower six floors and a smaller area on the upper three floors. It is a unique office building.

On the second floor is the headquarters of the 'Dah Chong Trading House' jointly established by the He Shanheng, He Tian, ​​Liang Yaoju and Lin Bingyan families. The first floor is naturally the service hall of the head office of Hang Seng Bank.

The founding team of Hang Seng Bank is very united. Both its banking and trading businesses have made rapid progress. Everyone works together and unites its employees.

In the office of Dachang Trading Bank, Dachang Trading General Manager Liang Yaoju, Hang Seng Bank Chairman He Shanheng, Hang Seng Bank General Manager He Tian, ​​Deputy General Manager Li Guowei and others were having a meeting.

Liang Yaoju said: "In the past six months, a 'Zhongtian Ship Recycling Yard' has appeared in Hong Kong. Now several ships are dismantled every month. Guess who its boss is?"

He Tian smiled and said: "When you talk about overseas affairs, you, the general manager of Dachang Trading, must be better informed than us, but what happens in Hong Kong, how can we not be better than you! The parent company of Zhongtian Shipbreaking Yard is Yangtze River Industrial Group, the boss is your fellow countryman Lin Zhichao."

Everyone laughed!

Liang Yaoju was not annoyed and continued: "Do you know where they came from when they dismantled so many ships?"

For a while, everyone looked serious.

Several ships are dismantled every month, and they are certainly not eliminated by Global Shipping.

He Shanheng said: "Could it be purchased abroad? As far as I know, although Jiehe Group is also involved in ship breaking, the ships are sent overseas to Hong Kong for dismantling, and the business is far less busy."

Liang Yaoju said excitedly: "As you know, in order to expand trade, I often go overseas for inspections. Recently, I discovered that major ports in the world are full of second-hand ships for sale. There are one or two hundred ships in the Gulf of Aden port alone. Merchant ships. A 10,000-ton merchant ship only costs US$60,000, and a loan of US$40,000 is allowed. It turns out that European and American shipping has entered a trough, and coupled with the development of the shipbuilding industry, a large number of second-hand ships have begun to be eliminated.”

Everyone was immediately shocked. The threshold for the ship-breaking industry was low, and Dachang Trading Company could definitely get a share of the pie, and it was also the first player to enter the market.

He Shanheng said: "It is feasible for Dachang Trading Company to enter the ship-breaking industry, and we should take action immediately! The scrap steel from ship dismantling can be sold to steel plants. Countries around the world are in short supply of steel, so scrap steel is very popular."

It can be said that the scrap steel from ship dismantling only needs a little forging before it can be put into use. Nowadays, many countries are very scarce in steel because steel is needed to develop the economy.

After some discussion, several people immediately prepared to take action, arranging to purchase second-hand ships and preparing a ship-breaking yard in Hong Kong.

In the end, Ho Sin-heng did not forget to sigh: "I don't know when a piece of land in Des Voeux Road will be released. Hang Seng Bank still lacks a decent headquarters building!"

The current Hang Seng Bank Headquarters Building was built in 1953 and is only nine floors tall (non-residential buildings are not limited to five floors in height). Nowadays, Hang Seng Bank is developing rapidly and needs a new headquarters building.

He Tian said: "With the real estate recovery in the past two years, there will be opportunities. The land purchased by Lin Zhichao is very suitable, but it is a pity that he cannot sell it to us."

He Shanheng said with a smile: "If there is real land in Central released, he is the biggest competitor himself, and he still wants to take the land from him, how can it be possible!"

pressure!

When it comes to Lin Zhichao, everyone feels the pressure from wealth.

Worldwide shipping.

Lin Zhichao didn't know that the 'ship breaking business' had been targeted, of course, even if he knew, he didn't care. His original intention was also to promote the development of Hong Kong's shipbreaking industry while making money for himself.

After all, 'second-hand ships' in major ports around the world will not only attract people from Hong Kong, but also people from other countries; maybe, in a year or two, Asian countries will snap up 'scrap ships', and prices will rise by then. , and eventually the profits become thin.

It is precisely because of these considerations that Lin Zhichao intervened in this industry for the first time, so that Hong Kong people can eat more.

It's not about how great he is, it's just that he affects the development of Hong Kong within the scope of his ability. The important thing is that he can't finish such a big cake in one go.

"Boss, a total of 30 ships have sailed back to Hong Kong one after another, and about eight of them can continue to operate, with a total deadweight of 72,500 tons." Feng Yongfahui reported.

At the end of last year, he personally went to the port of Aden to organize a large-scale purchase of second-hand ships, and now he finally got the statistical information.

Lin Zhichao raised his head and said with satisfaction: "It seems that there are quite a lot of ships that can be operated! I think so, aren't we working on a 'pension system'? We will just sell these ships to this system, and then set up a separate company Shipping company, operating independently.”

Feng Yongfa said: "The 'pension system' will only officially deduct fees in April, and there will be insufficient funds at the beginning."

Lin Zhichao immediately said generously: "It's a loan from Global Shipping, and we can pay it back later! We will try to build a fleet of 20 ships for this company in two or three years."

Feng Yongfa said in admiration: "With this move of the boss, our staff and senior seamen may never lose a single person again."

The pension system will eventually become the welfare of the staff and senior seafarers of the global seafarers. Ordinary seafarers cannot implement it for the time being because of the relatively large liquidity.

After the three-year contract expires for some ordinary seafarers, the first thing they think about is not to be a seafarer anymore, because it is difficult to go ashore. After all, air tickets are expensive in this era, and traveling by ship is a waste of time, so it is normal to return to Hong Kong once every three years.

Fortunately, the cost of training ordinary seafarers for a period of time is not high.

In the future, Global Shipping will consider adding more benefits to ordinary seafarers.

Zhao Congyan led his men to Zuijiuwan to visit the shipbreaking yard unannounced.

When he saw several merchant ships parked on the sea, he couldn't help but bleed. If these ships belonged to him and could still be operated, how wonderful it would be!

Since being listed as a target of sanctions by the U.S. Department of Commerce, several of his ships have been greatly restricted, so in these years he still only has three ships (the Guoxing was eliminated) and has not developed.

Fortunately, because his ‘involvement’ in the case was very shallow and he only experienced a short and dangerous journey, after his efforts, he finally had his name crossed out by the US Department of Commerce last year.

That night, he almost cried!

Over the years, he has never given up on the shipping business, even if he cannot do business with the United States, cannot call at American ports, cannot use American banks, etc., even if he does not make much money from three ships, this is because he always believes that - ships It is a walkable asset.

That is to say, Zhao Congyan is also wary of the other side, which can be said to be frowned upon.

"Have you found out, who owns the Zhongtian Shipbreaking Factory?" Zhao Congyan asked seriously.

He recently discovered a situation. There were a large number of merchant ships anchored on the sea in places such as Drunken Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, and Tseung Kwan O. These cargo ships were all waiting to be dismantled.

It was obviously unusual for so many cargo ships to be dismantled, so he asked his eldest son Zhao Shipeng, who was far away in the UK, to find out the situation.

When Zhao Shipeng was a university student in the UK, he majored in shipbuilding and marine engineering. After graduation, he worked in a Norwegian shipyard. This year he went to the UK as a ship surveyor.

All of this was arranged by Zhao Congyan, a "shipping layman". Yes, Zhao Congyan still lacks experience in shipping over the years, and because he was sanctioned, several of his ships have been handed over to Warren \u0026 Co., Ltd. for management.

The subordinate said: "It is a subsidiary of the Yangtze River Industry Group, which is Lin Zhichao's industry!"

"Lin Zhichao?"

"Yes"

Zhao Congyan immediately began to think seriously in his mind. According to his son in the UK, the sailing situation in Europe and the United States has declined since last year, and a large number of second-hand ships have been sold.

"I understand!" Zhao Congyan said in surprise.

He guessed that these second-hand ships may have been bought from major ports in the world, and the important thing is that they are cheap enough.

"What did the boss think of?" the subordinate asked.

Because Zhao Congyan likes to use people from Wuxi, all his subordinates are from the same hometown.

Zhao Congyan said: "Shi Peng found out in the UK that the current shipping situation in Europe and America is not good, and a large number of second-hand ships are for sale. And these ships are docked at major ports in the world, such as the Gulf of Aden port. I think Lin Zhichao discovered this situation, so he Send people to buy a large number of ships, and use them for operation if they are better, and dismantle them directly." The subordinate asked: "Will you lose money if you dismantle them?"

Zhao Congyan asked, "Are you capable of doing business at a loss?"

The men shook their heads!

Zhao Congyan immediately said in surprise: "You can't do it, and Lin Zhichao can't do it! So it means that these ships are sold as ships to be dismantled, so they must be very cheap!"

The subordinate immediately said happily: "We can also do this business, and it just so happens that the eldest son is the surveyor!"

Zhao Congyan nodded and said: "God is really helping me! I will go abroad for inspection later, and you can be optimistic about the company at home. If we can buy enough second-hand ships, the size of the fleet will increase greatly, and I will also be removed from the restricted list."

Although the current shipping situation is not good, Hong Kong's labor wages are low and its competitiveness is still there. If the ship price is cheap, you will make money no matter what. Once the shipping situation changes, these second-hand ships will definitely still be able to operate and they will definitely make a lot of money.

"Okay, boss!"

Zhao Congyan left the scene satisfied!

He never doubted that someone reported that he was sanctioned. After all, there were so many agents in the United States at that time, and many of them were later included in the sanctions list.

On this day, Lin Zhichao and Wang Liang came to a residential unit in Sham Shui Po. Inside, there were densely packed workers who were assembling pocket-sized atomic radios.

"Lin Sheng, Manager Wang, you are here, my place is full of glory!" Hu Xiaoqing, the owner of this factory, greeted enthusiastically.

It turned out that after Lin Zhichao thought about entering the radio industry, he thought again and felt that radios only had a few profits, and assembly could not cultivate electronic talents, so he gave up the idea of ​​forming a team.

However, he thought that it would be good if he could form a partnership with someone, so he took the initiative to find Hu Xiaoqing, whom he had met once before. Lin Zhichao met Hu Xiaoqing when he was buying a radio at an electronics store on Nathan Road, but they had no contact with him afterwards.

Lin Zhichao smiled and said: "Hu Sheng, do you mind if we visit?"

Hu Xiaoqing said cheerfully: "Lin Sheng is ridiculous. This is just an assembly factory. Is there anything we can't visit? I've heard Lin Sheng's story, saying that when you made wigs and plastic flowers, you gave them to your peers for free. The spirit is admirable.”

"Haha, it's everyone's praise!"

Later, Hu Xiaoqing led the two people to visit the factory, which has a total of two residential units and about dozens of workers.

During this period, Lin Zhichao asked curiously: "Hu Sheng, how many radios can you assemble every month?"

Although Hu Xiaoqing was a little confused in his heart, he thought that this person would not really be interested in this industry. He would be overqualified for his talents. If he thought about it carefully, it was possible. After all, he was not called the "King of Industry" for nothing. He was engaged in many industries.

But he still said: "Almost 4,000 units, all manufactured for Sony!"

The implication is that it really doesn't make money.

Lin Zhichao nodded and finally expressed his thoughts: "Hu Sheng, when I bought the radio from you, I knew that a person who graduated from Jiaotong University would never be just the owner of a small electrical appliance store. Now his career has indeed become more advanced. One floor! But have you ever thought that Sony is preparing to open a branch factory in the Commonwealth, and your contract manufacturing may be canceled at any time? "

Hu Xiaoqing was startled and then asked: "Is there any news about Lin Sheng?"

Lin Zhichao shook his head and said: "I'm just guessing! In short, I don't think you should place your hopes on an foundry that may be canceled at any time. Originally, I wanted to buy transistors from Japan, produce radios, and then mainly sell them For the United States; but I thought of you as a radio expert, so I wanted to talk about cooperation. What do you think?"

Hu Xiaoqing did not agree immediately, but asked: "Mainly selling to the United States? Will there be sales?"

Lin Zhichao said: "There is definitely a market! Because of the baby boom after World War II, the United States has strong market demand; on the other hand, due to low labor and management costs, Hong Kong manufacturing can be more competitive than Japanese manufacturing."

Except for the core component of the radio, which is the transistor, Hong Kong cannot make it. Everything else is easy. As for transistors, Japan can import them, but the Japanese do not sell them to Hong Kong, Britain and the United States. They are not much more expensive.

Lin Zhichao's idea is to try the water first!

If there is a chance, I will be producing other electronic products!

By cooperating with Hu Xiaoqing, he would not suffer any loss and could even get him to work for him.

Hu Xiaoqing finally said: "If we cooperate, how should we cooperate?"

It is certainly a good thing to cooperate with such a big boss because there are many resources; however, if you are not careful, he will completely become a part-time job.

Lin Zhichao said: "We provide the venue and sales channels, and you provide management and technology. In terms of funds, 50:50 will be provided. If you have insufficient funds, we can advance the payment and repay it later after profit sharing."

There are factories and sales channels. Changjiang Industrial Group has many channels in the United States, so there will be no problem in getting its products into the United States.

Hu Xiaoqing only has expertise in radio, and he is also good at management. After all, he is from the Management Department of Jiaotong University.

"Can I think about it for a day and then give you an answer, Lin Sheng!"

"No problem, I'll wait for your message. Anyway, we're definitely going to get into the radio business!"

Hearing Lin Zhichao's last sentence, Hu Xiaoqing wanted to agree immediately.

Because if Changjiang Industry is interested in this cake, it must be a leader in the industry.

Now it seems that it is only because the cake is too small that the Yangtze River Industries Group does not want to be distracted, so it asks him to cooperate.

Hu Xiaoqing feels that this is a project that requires cooperation!