Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

Chapter 167 King: Patriotic

In recent years, the main source of export earnings has been overseas Chinese, who buy a little bit from here and there.

For example, Mr. Huo would go to Beijing every year to buy some antiques, artworks and the like. The old man also specifically told him not to buy useless things as it was unnecessary.

Actually, there is a misunderstanding. In the early 80s, antiques in China were cheap, and you could make a lot of money by buying them at cultural goods stores and taking them abroad...

The fact is that the number of Chinese antiques and artworks overseas is even greater, exceeding 30 million pieces, of which a large number are first-class cultural relics and national treasures that were snatched away many years ago. Who would snatch them if they were not good things...

But if it is stolen, no one will recognize it, and it is not popular in the Western antique market, so it can often be seen in foreign flea markets.

Compared with antique artworks such as porcelain, calligraphy and painting, and jade, domestic antique furniture is more popular in the market.

It is well known how tight the domestic foreign exchange situation was in the early 80s.

After agreeing on some details, Director Zhao asked someone to bring out a 1980 export statistics report to facilitate foreign businessmen in selecting products.

Total exports in 1980: US$181.2 billion China Statistical Yearbook 1981

Crude oil export volume: 1331 million tons, foreign exchange earnings of approximately US$29.5 billion, accounting for 16.3% (China's Foreign Economic and Trade Yearbook 1981).

Exports of refined petroleum products are negligible.

Textiles: $44 billion (24.3%);
Agricultural products: $29.3 billion (16.2%);
Light industrial products (including handicrafts): about 19%;

Mechanical and electrical products: less than 5% (mainly primary industrial products).

This report was very useful to Wang Yaotang. If he wanted to smuggle something, he had to know what was produced in abundance in the mainland and what Hong Kong imported in large quantities.

The report shows that the main products exported to Hong Kong Island are: live cattle, live sheep, live pigs, live poultry, green leafy vegetables and fungi.

"Hong Kong Customs is very strict in checking imported items. Living things must be energetic and of a certain weight, and they must also be quarantined to ensure they are disease-free before they are allowed to be imported."

Director Zhao said, "Sometimes live pigs, sheep and cattle are not energetic during transportation, or they are not well fed and have lost weight. They are not accepted. They are transported by special trains, and they are equipped with special breeders to prevent any problems during the process."

"The same goes for the vegetables. They are a little wilted, and we won't harvest them if they are infested with insects."

Wang Yaotang looked at Ajie and Awei.

Ah Wei shrugged, "What do you mean? These live poultry are high-end products. A live chicken costs at least seventy or eighty yuan. What we eat is frozen meat, and a lot of it is just pig meat."

"Hong Kong doesn't import edible oil?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile.

Director Zhao and Director Shi looked at each other. You... "Most of Hong Kong's cooking oil is imported from Southeast Asia, Japan, Spain, and Canada. Rice is generally imported from Thailand, and some is imported from Japan. Meat comes from the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand. Fish products come from Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and Spain."

"I understand." Wang Yaotang nodded.

The two sides did not talk about the rest of the things. How the items purchased by Wang Yaotang were transported and sold was none of their business.

As long as the US dollars are in place, everything will be fine.

It's nothing more than grain, oil and meat. China is such a big country, as long as Wang Yaotang dares to ask for it, we will get it for you no matter how much.

The matter was almost settled, and both sides were drinking happily.

The next day, the group headed straight to Shekou Industrial Zone. Standing at the future Pengcheng Bay Yacht Club building, Director Shi pointed to the seashore and said, "Here, the water is about 5 meters deep, a natural harbor. Large ships cannot be moored, but some yachts are not a problem. I'll give you 10 acres of land. Is that enough?"

"That's enough!" Wang Yaotang grinned and said, "I want to build a fuel storage warehouse here. I'll start with a thousand-ton warehouse. I'll also need a batch of filling equipment, lifting equipment, transport vehicles and a small dock."

"Okay, I'll arrange for the design institute to produce the drawings."

"Okay, I'll transfer the money right away once it's settled!"

"If it's just mechanical equipment..." Director Shi hesitated.

"There are two options. I pay for domestic equipment but the quality must be up to standard, or I ship a batch of professional vehicles and equipment over."

"Dollar?"

"Dollar!"

"Okay, I'll get you the equipment."

"I will recruit a group of staff locally, and transfer a few people from Hong Kong Island to manage it."

"can."

In just a few words, the matter was settled. Now as long as the US dollars were in place, everything would be easy.

"Do you want cash in US dollars or do you want me to transfer the money to the account of Bank of China Hong Kong?"

Due to the lack of diplomatic relations between China and the West and the blockade, Bank of China established a branch in Hong Kong on September 1917, 9, specifically for foreign exchange settlement. In 24, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and 83 sister banks in Hong Kong and Macau formed the "Bank of China (Hong Kong and Macau) Group".

With just one sentence, Director Shi was silenced.

In theory, all money should be deposited in Bank of China (Hong Kong) to avoid confusion, but it is easy to get money in but difficult to spend it as various applications need to be submitted.

It would be convenient if you have US dollar cash in your hand, but this is a bit illegal...

"Hehe, well, it's all right, it's all right. It depends on what's more convenient for you." Director Shi laughed.

Wang Yaotang understood immediately, "Thank you, Director Shi."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"By the way, someone asked me about some equipment these days. I wonder if it is convenient for you to purchase it." Director Shi asked casually.

"Oh, what equipment?" Wang Yaotang asked with a smile. "Large ultra-low temperature freezing unit." Director Shi gestured, "You know, seafood is divided into ultra-low temperature fresh, chilled, and frozen. Many high-end seafood will be worthless if frozen like this."

"Ah? Is there still such a saying?" Wang Yaotang smiled and shook his head. "Don't be surprised. A year ago, I couldn't even take out a few hundred dollars from my pocket. How could I have come into contact with such high-end seafood in a housing estate? Of course I didn't know."

Wang Yaotang looked at the sea and suddenly raised his hand to the air and drew a line. "Large ultra-low temperature refrigeration unit. OK, I remember it. I don't ask what military or scientific research value this thing has besides deep-sea fishing. Although I am not a good person, I am also willing to contribute to national construction."

Director Shi took a deep breath, looked at Wang Yaotang and said solemnly: "On behalf of the country and the people, thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm Chinese too. After all, the roots of Chinese people are in China. As our country becomes stronger, I can speak louder when I'm out there trying to gain territory."

Director Shi's expression froze instantly, and Wang Yaotang burst into laughter.

After staying for a few more days, Wang Yaotang returned to Hong Kong Island. This time when he went through customs, there was no one to check his package.

It turns out that the harder you talk to others, the easier it is for them to talk to you!
After leaving customs, I went straight to my home in Kowloon. Although I was treated very well in the north, how should I put it? A nest of gold or silver is not as good as one's own doghouse. Living there is no way it is as comfortable as my own home.

After hugging Guan Jiahui for a whole day, I relaxed and felt refreshed the next day.

At around ten o'clock in the morning, the brothers went out to the company together. On the way, Wang Yaotang suddenly said, "I want to buy a few more houses."

"Ah?" The four of them looked at Wang Yaotang. Ah Wei frowned and asked, "What are you doing? Are you unhappy living with us?"

"I know!" Ajie smiled obscenely, "Siyanzi is here, so you can't let go when playing with Jiahui?"

Wang Yaotang was speechless.

Bespectacled looked at Ajie sideways.

"Wow, no way, was I right?" Ajie laughed.

"It's the old man who's here. Sometimes he can't let go. Fuck you!" Wang Yaotang punched Ajie. "Besides, this villa is too small."

"No way, the building area is more than 4000 square feet, it's still small?" Awei widened his eyes.

"It is very small. There is no big lawn, no rockery, no pond, no woods, not even a swimming pool. There is only one house, and they are all crowded together. There is no private space at all." Wang Yaotang shook his head.

"How big do you want it?" the bespectacled boy asked curiously.

"It should be at least 60000 square feet. The courtyard should have at least three entrances, with pools, rockeries, pavilions, and towers all connected by corridors. The house should have at least 20 rooms, so the owner, guests, nanny, and bodyguards all need to have places to live."

Four Eyes pushed up his glasses. "The largest residential garden in Hong Kong Island is the Huo family's Stone Manor, located at 33 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam. It was purchased in 70 for 143. The total area of the manor is about 3 square feet. The main building has three floors and covers an area of more than 3 square feet."

"I choose, Brother Yao, if you build such a big manor, neither Hong Kong Island nor the Huo family will be as powerful as you!" A Wei said exaggeratedly.

Wang Yaotang curled his lips and said, "Hong Kong Island is too small. In the mainland, there are many private estates of more than 10 acres or 20 acres. It would be no problem for me to build a horse farm and a hunting forest farm!"

"This house now looks very much like a small rural building in the north."

"Well, Four Eyes, ask a few nearby houses, buy some of the surrounding ones, and then rebuild a big one."

"Well, ask Kadoorie Road too, and if there's anything suitable you can buy it."

"The houses in Whampoa Garden in Hung Hom are also good. Buy a few, preferably on the same floor."

"Why do you suddenly want to buy a house?" Four Eyes asked in surprise, "Don't you still need to invest in building a recording factory? Smuggling edible oil also requires a large amount of capital investment. You also need to make a movie. You don't have that much money, right?"

"Investment. Investing money in real estate and then using the real estate as collateral for mortgage loans is also an investment."

"Won't it be a lot more loan interest if we do this?" Ajie frowned and asked, "I heard someone say that the house will drop in value."

"It's to improve the utilization rate of funds. It's just a little bit of interest, not much." Wang Yaotang smiled and looked at Ajie, "Who told you that the value of real estate will drop?"

"Once when we were drinking, there were a few guys working in construction."

"He is well-informed." Wang Yaotang laughed. "On March 79, 3, the old man met with Murray MacLehose and his delegation in the XJ Hall of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The old man clearly pointed out that Hong Kong is a part of China and its sovereignty belongs to China. He also stated that he would respect Hong Kong's special status, which reassured Hong Kong investors."

"Originally, the 'Home Ownership Scheme' in 78 put Hong Kong's housing prices on the fast track, but the results of MacLehose's move to the north were not ideal. The phrase 'Hong Kong investors can rest assured' made the Hong Kong government, British capital and Chinese capital very uneasy. British capital began to flee, and that's when the Pao and Li families acquired British capital."

"Ah, Hong Kong Island went north? Two years ago?" Ah Wei looked at Ah Jie, "Did you know?"

Ah Jie shook his head, "I know where the girls are. Ask me the Governor of Hong Kong. Who is he?"

"What about you?" Ah Wei looked at Bespectacled.

"do not know."

"You definitely don't know. The news came too suddenly. Many real estate projects are under construction. If the news spreads to the public, it will inevitably cause panic. Who will buy those houses that are still under construction?" Wang Yaotang sneered. "Oxen and horses only need to keep their heads down and make money. There is no need for them to know so much about such national affairs."

"Damn it!" Ajie cursed, "The public has the right to know. What are those reporters doing?"

"You, a commoner, have no right to know. It's just a pretext for you to make trouble when needed. Can you understand it if it's written in an English newspaper?" Wang Yaotang said sarcastically.

"You should pay more attention to your girlfriend." The bespectacled man pushed Ajie down and then looked at Wang Yaotang, "Brother Yao, this kind of news can't be kept secret forever. When Downing Street officially goes north to negotiate, the news will definitely spread. Wouldn't the housing prices collapse?"

"Of course. I estimate that housing prices will fall this year, and will fall even more sharply in the next two years until a clear result is reached." Wang Yaotang nodded.

“How much do you estimate it will fall compared to this year?”

"It would be good enough if half of it could be left." Wang Yaotang was quite gloating.

"So, why should we buy a house now?" the bespectacled man asked back with a frown.

Including Aji who was driving, everyone looked at Wang Yaotang——

Wang Yaotang’s expression froze. Yes, why?
pick!
(End of this chapter)