Hong Kong Comprehensive: Who said that those who practice martial arts have no money?

Chapter 241: Jianghu History, Lack of Money
Feng Huiya's expression relaxed.

The salary offered by Ang Lee was 2,000 Hong Kong dollars, which was only moderate and not too high. Taking the other party's business status into consideration, it was not very attractive. The reason why she agreed to meet was because she was optimistic about the prospects of the supermarket.

"Ms. Feng, what do you think of supermarkets?" Li An asked calmly while stirring the coffee evenly with a spoon.

"I think the retail market in Hong Kong is still blank. Wellcome was established earlier and specializes in selling imported goods such as foreign wines and beverages, but its business model is outdated. The new Lee Union supermarket that opened in Causeway Bay last month has a more complete range of products. Although there have been some improvements, it still cannot avoid the outdated business model of the store. The founder of the supermarket is Sanders from the United States. He was able to develop a scale of nearly 2,000 stores across the United States because of his positioning in the market. The goods are marked with prices and displayed on open shelves. Customers can choose and pay when they leave. The operator's cost is lower and the customers have more opportunities to choose, thus achieving the goal of small profits but quick turnover, which can lead to rapid development." Feng Huiya answered calmly.

Li An nodded with satisfaction: "It seems that Miss Feng has done her homework."

Feng Huiya looked inquiringly, "I live in Mong Kok. I heard from the neighbors downstairs that a new Baihui supermarket has opened in the Walled City. It breaks the traditional sales model. You can choose freely, and the prices of the goods in the store are low?"

Li An understood in his heart that it seemed that he didn't need to spend much time convincing the woman in front of him.

"I think this is why you are willing to meet me?" Li An asked with a smile.

"Yes." Feng Huiya answered directly.

"I think supermarkets should be positioned as affordable goods. Hong Kong's economy is improving. There are many rich people, but there are even more poor people. Even if they work hard, most people can only simply maintain their family's food and clothing. They don't have much savings, so they can only stay away from shops selling imported goods. If supermarkets are positioned as affordable goods at this time, I believe it will attract more citizens to come to the store to buy, and quickly occupy the retail market."

"Then I can tell you for sure that your trip was not in vain."

The two people's ideas were almost the same, and Li An became more and more satisfied. He took a sip of coffee and said, "You just talked about market positioning, so how do you position yourself?"

Li An's question seemed to have touched the woman's heart. She said confidently, "Do your job well, lay the foundation for management, use the knowledge and experience you have to provide services to the company, take the responsibility of maintaining and increasing the value of the company's assets, and achieve the greatest economic benefits, thereby creating wealth for the company, rather than being squeezed out of the management and doing miscellaneous tasks such as serving tea and sorting out documents."

Feng Huiya's words almost put her in the position of a professional manager. Li An became interested: "Can you talk about your last job?"

"I work as a secretary at Xingmao Import and Export Company." Feng Huiya answered somewhat disappointedly.

Li An heard the disappointment in the woman's tone.

He pondered for a moment before speaking, "You are actually in a very awkward position. If you were British or American, or even Indian, there would be no problem, but you are Chinese. Well-known foreign companies and British-funded enterprises prefer to let foreigners serve as senior executives. And what about us Chinese? For thousands of years, the emphasis has been on the inheritance of the father's business. Those Chinese-funded companies would not let the power fall to others and hand over important work in the family business to outsiders. They would rather do it themselves or arrange for close people to help. Even if it is influenced by Western business and begins to change, this traditional business model cannot be overturned in just a few years."

Feng Huiya was somewhat surprised that Li An would say such a thing. She was silent for a moment, but finally nodded in agreement:

"Mr. Li... maybe you are right."

She believed that she was no worse than other men, and was confident that she could help the company develop better with her professional knowledge. However, things did not go as she wished, and her suggestions were not taken seriously by the company at all.

This feeling of lack of trust was the main reason that prompted her to resign from both companies.

Li An put down the cup, looked up and said:

"By the way, Ms. Feng, let's chat for a while. What do you think of Hong Kong real estate companies today?"

"what?"

Feng Huiya, who was in a slightly depressed mood, was stunned by Ang Lee's fantastic question and was unable to react.

“I asked, what do you think of the current real estate developers in Hong Kong?”

Li An laughed and said in a gentle tone: "Don't worry, the coffee is getting cold. Let's drink it and talk."

Feng Huiya tucked the loose hair on her forehead behind her ears and said, "Sorry, I was a little distracted just now."

"No."

Li Ang smiled in response and did not urge him.

Feng Huiya drank coffee and sorted out her thoughts.

The man in front of me is very young, but obviously has wisdom that does not match his age. In just a few words, he can express my embarrassing situation. The fact that he can say these words is enough to prove his vision. Maybe this time I can find a good boss who trusts me?

Feng Huiya thought for a long time before choosing her words and said, "In just a few decades, a small island has attracted the four major foreign companies. Chinese companies have entered the market one after another, and it is as lively as a history of real estate companies."

“That’s a very fitting description.”

Li An nodded in agreement.

Before the Qing Dynasty opened its door, Hong Kong was just a small paradise on the southern border, a small island where some people fished and some farmed.

Since the British landed in 1841, Hong Kong was instantly caught up in a fate of displacement.

The first thing the foreigners did after arriving on the island was to make money, but this was originally a fishing village and there was no money to be made, so they could only sell land.

In the same year, the first land auction was held in Hong Kong under the auspices of the British. The auction was held in Macau across the sea, because it was a place of debauchery and luxury, with a group of wealthy opium dealers and foreign merchants doing business. A total of 35 plots of land were launched in that auction, each starting at 10 pounds. In the end, 34 plots were sold, with the lowest price being 20 pounds and the highest price being 265 pounds.

As if picking up money, a large amount of pounds came into their accounts easily. After tasting the sweetness, these British people began to sell land like taking drugs and became addicted. Until 1881, the real estate income at that time accounted for one-third of the Hong Kong British government's fiscal revenue, more than opium.

At that time, most of the land buyers were British merchants. To them, land was as cheap as cabbage, and they could buy large tracts of land with just a little money. At that time, no one would have thought that the land under their feet would one day be as valuable as gold.

After the first batch of government land was auctioned, foreign merchants who bought the land came ashore to dig for gold. Shops and neighborhoods emerged one after another, and Central, Sheung Wan and Lower Wan were gradually demarcated. A brand new Victoria City rose from the sea.

The history of Hong Kong's real estate industry is also slowly revealed.

In 1889, the first real estate company in Hong Kong was established: Hongkong Land and Agency Company.

This was founded by Indian Chater and Jardine Matheson, specializing in the production of goods. For a long time, Hong Kong Land dominated the area, and by 1930, it had become the largest landlord in Central. Now it is , and years have passed. Hong Kong Land still sits firmly on the top position of Hong Kong real estate developers, and has never been lost.

During the same period, the Swire Shipping Company, taking advantage of its shipping monopoly, acquired a large amount of land in Quarry Bay to build sugar factories and docks. Another company founded by Chater and Jardine Matheson was born, Wharf Holdings, which guarded the southwest of the Kowloon Peninsula and was obsessed with building warehouses and docks. During this period, most of the powerful British merchants in the Hong Kong real estate world were British merchants, such as Jardine Matheson, Butler & Co., Kung Wo & Co., and Lindsay & Co. Only a few Chinese compradors of foreign companies built huge businesses in the cracks. Most Chinese, let alone fighting in the world, didn't even have a place to live.

The streets in the Chinese quarter at that time were so narrow that you could use a bamboo pole to hang clothes on the other side to dry.

On average, each house had 17 people living in it, and the per capita living area was even less than 1 square meter. But at that time, the legal grave area for Chinese in Hong Kong was 12 square feet, which was more than one square meter.

The dead have more dignity than the living!

It was also from this time that the housing shortage began to hang over Hong Kong like a dark cloud, which would not dissipate.

For 60 years after the founding of the port, Chinese were not allowed to live in Central. It was not until 1906 that the first Chinese was allowed to live on the top of Victoria Peak, and the situation was gradually changed.

At that time, Central was considered a wealthy area. Some former Qing dynasty survivors who fled to Hong Kong after the revolution went straight to Central with a lot of gold bars and bought properties with huge sums of money. Because of the housing shortage, speculation in real estate began to prevail.

It was not until the early 1950s that the "embargo" was introduced, causing the then re-export trade to suddenly decline, and the Nanbeihang business was no longer as prosperous as before. Those traders with a lot of cash in their hands began to go ashore one after another.

With money but nowhere to invest, businessmen can only wave their money into the property market. Coupled with economic development and rapid population growth, the "housing shortage" is getting worse.

Land prices and rents are running wild like wild horses, and the year-on-year increase in five years has exceeded 50%.

Most of the houses at that time were Tang-style buildings and arcades, sold by the building, each with three to five floors, which were unaffordable for most ordinary people.

Until a Hong Kong immigrant named Wu Duotai came up with an idea: Why not sell the houses in layers? As a result, the two five-story houses, which would have taken three months to sell, were sold out in three days by selling three rooms per floor.

Immediately afterwards, an "innovation" that influenced the real estate development process emerged.

In 1954, Guo Yingzhong developed his first project - a new building on Sifang Street in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon. It was planned to build more than 100 buildings and over 600 units, but he did not have enough start-up capital.

Thus, "selling pre-sale properties" came onto the historical stage.

In order to raise funds, Guo Yingzhong pioneered the "installment payment" method: pay a 50% deposit, and the rest is paid off in 5 installments, with the last installment being when the house is delivered.

Because people buy houses that are in the construction stage, just like plants that have bloomed but not yet borne fruit, citizens call them "floor flowers".

In one year, more than 100 buildings were sold out.

Once the method of selling pre-sale properties was announced, the whole of Hong Kong went crazy for it.

A subversive marketing campaign has drawn the general public into the real estate market. Buyers, sellers, speculators, and others are all like fish in water, unable to get out.

Since then, the real estate industry has become completely bustling.

"Ms. Feng, what do you think of the prospects of real estate companies?"

"With the sudden increase in population, the demand for housing will inevitably increase, and real estate companies will naturally rise accordingly."

Feng Huiya asked in surprise, "Is Mr. Li planning to get involved in real estate?"

"I don't have that much money."

Li An laughed in silence and continued, "I wonder if Miss Feng knows anything about industrial and commercial brokers?"

"Mr. Li, are you talking about those professional brokers who rent houses, buy and sell houses, and speculate on pre-sale properties?"

At this point, Feng Huiya reacted: "Do you want to do brokerage business?"

Li An talked about it: "Although the retail industry has broad prospects, it requires strong financial support to quickly seize the market. I came from a wooden house area and I don't have a rich family background to support me. I think the brokerage business is good. The capital is small and the profit is big. For a house sale, I can charge a commission of 1%-2% of the total house price. For leasing, I can also earn a commission of half a month to one month's rent. With the hot real estate industry, let alone speculation in pre-sale properties."

It is worth mentioning the pre-sale property incident this year. In the first half of the year, the construction of the Fortune Building in Tai Kok Tsui was suspended due to overspending, resulting in the first unfinished building in history. The owners had to make up the excess costs. Afterwards, the Hong Kong government required real estate developers to ensure that the land price had been paid in full before selling pre-sale properties, and to prove that they had sufficient funds to complete the development project, otherwise it would not issue the consent.

Therefore, the real purpose of real estate developers selling pre-sale properties is not to obtain funds for building houses, but to sell the properties in the shortest possible time to ensure that the funds are quickly recovered so that they can continue to develop properties. There is no such thing as a real estate developer that can make money out of nothing.

Not to mention that the down payment is reduced year by year, and all funds are supervised by a third party. Before the delivery of the building, the real estate developers cannot get a penny.

"But most of the people who do brokerage business are from all walks of life, and it is easy for debt disputes and fights to occur. It cannot be considered a legitimate business."

Feng Huiya spoke out about the current situation of the brokerage industry where there are both good and bad people.

Li An smiled and asked, "Do you think the Walled City is chaotic?"

"It's very chaotic, with gangs everywhere. Even the police don't dare to go in for fear of not being able to get out. But... I heard that the security in the walled city is better than outside. I wonder if it's true?" Feng Huiya hesitated.

"I can assure you that the security in the Walled City is very good now. But when I first entered the Walled City, it was indeed very chaotic. At that time, I was able to open a store, so why would I worry about these brokers? What's more, I am doing a legal business. If someone makes trouble, the police will come forward. There are lawyers drafting the contract documents. The Faraway Daily will also reserve a page to publish house advertisements all year round. With what I said, isn't it easy to start a company?"

“……” Feng Huiya was speechless for a moment.

Ang Lee has always believed that people are not made by the times, but can only soar to the sky if they adapt to the times!
From now until the return, Hong Kong real estate has been rising steadily except for a few short-term declines and depressions. Getting involved in real estate is definitely a business that is sure to make money, even if you are just a real estate agent.

He is short of money now.

He was already strapped for cash, and it was simply unrealistic to continue to quickly expand his territory. He did not have good financial statements, so it was impossible for him to get a loan. He had to find other ways, hoping to use the money he earned from real estate agency to support his retail business.

Li An looked at the woman sitting opposite him and extended an invitation: "Actually, I think it would be very tiring to be a boss and do everything myself. So I have been looking for someone to help me with the daily business. I wonder if Miss Feng Huiya is interested?"

Feng Huiya raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips: "Of course I'm interested!"

(End of this chapter)