The birth of the Hong Kong Island family

At the lawyer's office, Lin Zhichao, on behalf of Global Shipping, signed a share transfer agreement with Wheelock Chairman John Madden: Global Shipping spent HK$10.8 million to purchase 15% of Asia Shipping shares from Wheelock Group.

After the two parties signed the agreement, Madden stretched out his right hand and said with a smile: "Mr. Lin, we will be partners from now on, please ask for your advice!"

Lin Zhichao stretched out his right hand and responded: "Mr. Madden, happy cooperation, please communicate more!"

Naturally, he would not really communicate his views on shipping. What's more, little Madden would not listen either. He is even prouder than his father!

The assets that Madden is currently optimistic about are land assets in Hong Kong, which is completely opposite to his father in this regard.

Old Madden worked hard to develop shipping and expanded the fleet to about 500,000 tons because he believed that ships are portable assets. If there is a problem in Hong Kong at any time, Wheelock can escape unscathed.

Nowadays, Madden plans to tighten overseas investment and deepen cultivation and development in Hong Kong. Therefore, Wheelock Group will often be short of funds in the future, so it is logical to sell the shares of Asia Shipping.

Of course, it is precisely because of this development policy of Wheelock Group that Wheelock became one of the four major foreign banks in the 1970s.

Of the four major foreign banks in the previous life, only Jardine Matheson and Swire are currently worthy of their names. Wheelock Group can only be considered a medium-sized foreign company, and Hutchison can only be considered a small foreign company. Even half of the shares of Hutchison \u0026 Company are still owned by Wheelock Group. Of course, Hutchison \u0026 Company also owns a small amount of shares of Wheelock Group, and the two companies have a certain relationship.

Madden Jr. said: "The board of directors will be held in three days to welcome Mr. Lin to join the board of directors of Asia Shipping."

Lin Zhichao said: "Be sure to attend on time!"

Before he masters Asian shipping, he will not give good advice. He will be more of a transparent director.

After bidding farewell to Xiao Maden, Lin Zhichao and his team returned to Global Shipping.

"Manager Feng, you first go to Japan's major shipyards to inspect. Later we will build eight 100,000-ton oil tankers and multiple cargo ships."

Global Shipping has a lot of money on its books, just waiting for shipping to trough so that shipbuilding can be cheaper. Of course, I also ate some interest, although not much.

Feng Yongfa immediately said: "Okay, I will set off as soon as possible to make arrangements."

Then, Feng Yongfa said: "Boss, China Star Shipping already has sixteen second-hand ships, with a total load capacity of 120,000 tons."

China Star Shipping, a shipping company affiliated with Global Shipping's "Pension System", has twelve ships, but these ships are very cheap. For example, four Liberty ships only cost 50,000 to 70,000 pounds (pounds to US dollars 1 :2.8), and some 10,000-ton cargo ships only cost US$60,000.

Therefore, although the number and tonnage of China Star Line's ships are larger than those of Asia Shipping, its value is not high. It is just a pile of scrap metal with a value of less than 8 million Hong Kong dollars.

Of course, the value that China Star Line can create is definitely a few HKD 8 million.

Lin Zhichao said: "What is the current price situation of second-hand ships in major ports?"

Feng Yongfa said: "It has increased by more than 15%. Now businessmen are buying and dismantling ships, which has also driven up ship prices."

Lin Zhichao nodded, as expected, so he would withdraw from the shipbreaking industry by the end of the year and let others compete.

After Feng Yongfa left, Lin Zhichao began to think.

China Star Shipping's profits essentially belong to Global Shipping, because the "pension system" has only a capital of more than 2 million, and it simply cannot afford to buy all the ships of China Star Shipping.

So the profits are divided based on the principal of the 'pension system'. In short, the annual profit growth is about 40%, which is enough to take care of those senior seamen. Of course, this model makes it difficult for Global Shipping to lose another senior seaman. After all, everyone is waiting for their retirement funds to spend their old age.

At the same time, once the UK increases insurance premiums for second-hand ships, these ships will be sold and dismantled; including the seventy second-hand ships of Global Shipping, some will also be sold and dismantled, leaving only ships in better condition.

Global shipping is undergoing a revolution in which old ships are replaced with new ones.

Eight 100,000-ton oil tankers will be built this year, and nine more 100,000-130,000-ton oil tankers are expected to be built next year;

Thus.

As of mid-1962, TWA had approximately:

There are 25 100,000-ton oil tankers, 2 70,000-ton oil tankers, 4 56,000-ton oil tankers, and 2 36,000-ton oil tankers, a total of about 3 million tons of new oil tankers.

In terms of cargo ships, the load capacity can probably be maintained at 1 million tons, with old ships and new ships maintaining a balance; plus other miscellaneous second-hand oil tankers, the load capacity can be guaranteed to be stable at 4 million tons.

After mid-1962, the development became even faster. The target of 20 million tons may be reached in 1972, then development will be stopped and long-term contracts will be signed as much as possible.

More than half a month later.

When Lin Zhichao walked into the Hong Kong Airlines flight to Japan, the stewardesses' eyes lit up and they said more cordially: "Mr. Lin, welcome to this flight."

Lin Zhichao smiled and nodded. He is now considered to be well-known within Hong Kong Airlines and has expressed condolences to the crew members, so it is normal for him to be recognized.

To be honest, he was a very frustrated boss, and it took almost three years to reach where he is today.

However, the advantage of this is that Lin Zhichao took control of Hong Kong Airlines without any effort and did not cause internal turmoil.

After sitting in his seat, Lin Zhichao quickly felt comfortable. Not only was the seat comfortable, but the entire cabin environment was comfortable. The Boeing 707 is indeed the ‘ace model’, with more than 1,000 models produced in later generations, more than 600 more than the British ace model Viscount.

The Boeing 707 has certain requirements for the runway. Fortunately, Kai Tak Airport built a new runway in 1958, with a length of 7,200 feet and a width of 200 feet (just over 60 meters). It cost 90 million Hong Kong dollars; the newly built runway can be used by any aircraft, including later ones. Boeing 747.

Glancing around, he saw that the seats were all full, which made Lin Zhichao, the boss, feel very good.

He hopes that by the 1980s, Hong Kong Airlines will have 10 to 15 passenger aircraft, and of course all propeller aircraft must be eliminated.

Soon, Lin Zhichao closed his eyes and rested.

This time he flew to Japan for shipbuilding matters, and six 100,000-ton oil tankers are about to be launched one after another, and he will also start to finalize the leasing party. Basically, it is leased to four companies: Exxon, Clark Oil, Nippon Lines, and Sanko Line, and there is no need to worry.

After squinting for a while, Lin Zhichao felt another blanket being placed on him, and then opened his eyes.

I saw a Japanese flight attendant actually bending down to serve him.

"No, thank you!" Lin Zhichao said in English.

He wasn't really sleeping, he was really thinking about things.

Sakurai Hinaiko suddenly felt like a breath of fresh air. Although this man was refusing, there was no embarrassment at all.

"You're welcome, Mr. Lin! I am Sakurai Hinaiko, the flight attendant for this flight. If you have any instructions, you can call me at any time!" Sakurai Hinaiko took back the blanket, then squatted half-kneeling and replied.

"Hinaiko?"

Lin Zhichao repeated in his mind, what a strange Japanese name.

However, he did chat with Sakurai Hinaiko: "Are you Japanese?"

Sakurai Hinaiko nodded slightly and said, "Yes."

Lin Zhichao immediately switched to Japanese: "Then you can be the steward of this flight. You must have been a flight attendant before, right?"

This woman looks to be in her mid-twenties, so she is very powerful to be a steward.

Sakurai Hinako immediately felt that Lin Zhichao's Japanese level was very standard, and said kindly: "Well, I worked as a stewardess at Japan Airlines after graduating from college. I heard that Hong Kong Airlines was recruiting Boeing 707 stewardesses, so I applied for it. This is my dream aircraft to work on. .It’s great to be chosen, very lucky.”

With university education, fluent English, and JAL work experience, it is normal to be selected.

Moreover, it is equivalent to job-hopping.

Here, I am afraid that the Boeing 707 is a temptation, and it is the world's first jet aircraft.

Lin Zhichao didn't pay attention to this and quickly asked: "How is the occupancy rate recently?"

Hinako Sakurai looked at Lin Zhichao with her eyes, but under Lin Zhichao's eyes, she lowered her eyes slightly and replied: "The attendance rate is very high, much higher than that of Japan Airlines, almost all over 95%."

When this woman speaks, her eyes seem to sparkle, and she is dignified and reserved with charm.

Lin Zhichao is naturally not the kind of person who takes the bait easily, and finally met an excellent stewardess, how can he let him ruin it.

"Okay, thank you for your answer!"

Seeing that Lin Zhichao had no intention of chatting, Hinako Sakurai could only say, "Okay, if Mr. Lin has any needs, you can call us anytime!"

After finishing speaking, he got up slowly, and the two Taishan Mountains were almost crushed, as expected of Ri Naizi.

For the rest of the journey, Lin Zhichao didn't call for special services, and he was even a passenger who didn't like to bother others.

But during the boarding process, Lin Zhichao has been observing the details, and Hong Kong Airlines has not been able to do better.

In fact, in the end he could only shake his head in disappointment that he could no longer offer good advice.

in Japan.

Lin Zhichao visited two shipyards - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Sasebo Shipping, and prepared to lay down four 100,000-ton oil tankers each.

Since the two 100,000-ton oil tankers delivered last year received good feedback from all aspects, Lin Zhichao is also very assured of Japanese technology.

What needs to be pointed out here is that there is a strange phenomenon in the Japanese shipbuilding industry, that is, they are various expert teams organized by the state to study in Europe and the United States; after returning, the design technology of the major organizations and teams is handed over to the major shipyards (private), while the major shipyards implement technology sharing.

"Mr. Lin, Sasebo Shipping is developing a new oil tanker with a load capacity of 132,000 tons. I wonder if you are interested?" Kato Takeshi, the president of Sasebo Shipping, enthusiastically sold.

Among the private shipowners in the world, Lin Zhichao is definitely the most generous one. Last year, he built 6 100,000-ton oil tankers in Japan.

Lin Zhichao immediately asked: "What is the approximate data?"

Kato Ken knew that Lin Zhichao had a high technical level, and he could feel that Lin Zhichao could apply for a shipbuilder during the chat.

So, he introduced it in detail: "The length is 292 meters, and the full-load draft is 15.88 meters, which is suitable for the passage of the Suez Canal."

Lin Zhichao nodded, and asked again: "When is the first ship expected to be launched?"

Kato Takeru said: "It was almost 1962!"

Lin Zhichao said with a smile: "That's not urgent, maybe I will come to inspect this project next year, as long as the technology is reasonable, I like bigger ships."

Kato Ken said happily: "No problem, Mr. Lin is welcome to come and inspect at any time. I will sweep the bed to greet you."

MD, he also knows Chinese idioms!

As far as Lin Zhichao knows, it will take at least the late 1960s to break through 200,000 tons, probably in 1966. By then, Lin Zhichao hopes to have 50 oil tankers of 200,000 to 30 tons.

The oil crisis occurred in 1973, which meant that the oil tanker business would decrease. Coupled with the opening of the Suez Canal that year, shipping actually began to decline from that time, reaching its lowest point in the mid-1980s.

What Lin Zhichao has to do is to build ships before 1972, and start signing long-term contracts in 1972, the kind that last more than five years. This way, he still has time to slowly sell the boat.

After the trip to Japan, Lin Zhichao went to the United Kingdom and finally the United States. For the six oil tankers that were about to be launched, Lin Zhichao needed to visit old customers in person.

In fact, everyone was very motivated, and finally four shipping companies leased six 100,000-ton oil tankers.

It does not mean that the four shipping companies have small business volumes and need to lease six oil tankers separately. But the demand for oil tankers is different every year and is in a process of growth; and the growing demand every year is the need to charter additional ships.

Therefore, six ships will be leased this year, and the eight ships next year will basically be leased to these shipping companies. There may be new customers, but the main demand is still from three companies in Japan, two from the United States, and one from the United Kingdom.

If there are more and more ships in the later period, Lin Zhichao will become more famous by then, and new big customers will naturally join.

It was already late May when I returned to Hong Kong, and my overseas trip for another month was almost all about shipping matters. Of course, shipping is also Lin Zhichao's largest asset, accounting for 70% of the total assets.

The value of a 100,000-ton oil tanker (HK$50 million) is about 1.5 times that of a first-class Grade A building in Central. Of course, while buildings in Central appreciate in value very quickly, oil tankers do not.

this day.

Senior executives such as Lin Zhichao and Huang Changhong came to the Miramar Hotel site. After two and a half years of construction, the project has entered the decoration stage, and the opening is expected to be on the eve of the Spring Festival in 1961.

“Very beautiful and innovative!”

Lin Zhichao couldn't help but praise the Miramar Hotel Building's 'Moon Cave Door' windows and metal-wrapped exterior walls.

The windows of the Moon Cave Gate are designed based on the round gates used as passages between courtyards in Chinese classical gardens. Therefore, the ‘Moon Cave Door’ window of the Miramar Hotel Building is very beautiful. If guests are in the hotel room, they can see the outside scenery through this window.

Of course, the windows of high-rise buildings cannot be opened, and the windows of these moon doors cannot be opened; as for the problem of ventilation, as early as the 1890s, the United States solved the indoor ventilation system of buildings, and it has already matured. .

"Indeed, now that the exterior has been completed, there are too many people stamping nearby every day, which shows how attractive this building is." Huang Changhong agreed.

A group of people paused near the Miramar Hotel. At this time, the Miramar Hotel had removed the bamboo scaffolding outside, and it was clear at a glance how grand and beautiful it was.

"What about the investment situation?"

Liang Guangchang, general manager of Miramar Hotel Group, said: "The shopping mall already has a 70% leasing rate, and there will be no problem reaching 100% by the end of the year!"

There are a total of 108 shops. In this era, Lin Zhichao was not sure about the bottom line at the beginning. Fortunately, the past year has allowed him to see a different Hong Kong, and he has great hope of success.

In its previous life in 1966, Ocean Terminal was the first shopping mall in Hong Kong, and the floor area of ​​Ocean Terminal was larger than that of Miramar Shopping Center.

If you don't have enough clothing brands, you can just rent tailor shops.

The grade does not need to be too high, what is important is popularity.

After inspecting the Miramar Hotel project, Lin Zhichao returned to the office with satisfaction.

Whether it will be successful or not will depend on the beginning of next year.

Logically speaking, such an idea will never fail.

Hong Kong people always like novel things. When the escalator first appeared in Central, people would queue up to experience it.

"Boss, I inquired about Jinxing Real Estate's site in Causeway Bay, and it is preparing to sell it at the end of the month." Hu Zhaoxu came to Lin Zhichao's office to report a piece of news.

Lin Zhichao immediately became interested. He had no intention of letting go of the Zhang Yuliang family, he was just looking for opportunities. Take your time and carry out targeted attacks little by little. This is the best behavior in business.

"Then we have to get ahead of them and sell two properties to dampen their fortunes. Do you know the price?"

In this era, there should be no confidentiality.

Sure enough, Hu Zhaoxu said: "It is said to be 48 Hong Kong dollars per square foot!"

Nowadays, homes are sold based on the price per square foot, unlike in the past when they were based on floors, units, etc. Because high-rise buildings have solved the water supply problem, there is no longer a big difference in prices for different floors.

After thinking for a while, Lin Zhichao said: "Then we should sell it for 42.98 Hong Kong dollars per square foot, start a gold drawing event, and win one out of every ten. Do you have time to do this?"

Although some people inflict 1,000 losses on the enemy and 800 losses on themselves, Lin Zhichao's funds are already abundant, and the only thing to compare with is consumption.

Hu Zhaoxu nodded and said: "We have enough time. Our sand table and property brochure are ready, and the sales office is also ready. I also want to hang a big banner opposite them."

"Okay! Selling a house is like fighting!"

"Okay, I'll get the sales department ready right away!"

Hu Zhaoxu excitedly went to the preparations. He knew that the boss was very upset with the Zhang family. After all, the Zhang family was the most suspicious of the incident last time.

Lin Zhichao looked at Hu Zhaoxu's energy and was very satisfied. Hu Zhaoxu is not only in charge of the sales department, but also responsible for the purchase of the company's land and properties. Of course, this is up to Lin Zhichao to make a decision. He is also responsible for dealing with Hong Kong government departments and property owners.

To attack Zhang Yuliang's family, Lin Zhichao planned to boil the frogs in warm water.

For this site in Causeway Bay, Jinxing Real Estate purchased the land with 20 million yuan, plus construction costs, etc., which is a very large investment; if the sales are not smooth, it will inevitably affect the return of funds.

The slow return of funds means that there is not enough funds to develop new projects; when the funds are returned, land prices start to rise a lot.

Importantly, on Paterson Street in Causeway Bay, Cheung Kong Holdings still has six properties for sale, and the prices have been lowered.

Therefore, Jinxing Real Estate's real estate project may not only receive funds more than a year late, but will also suffer a price blow.

In any case, the little money Lin Zhichao lost could buy him happiness.