History of Hong Kong Island

Chapter 276 Dangerous Brand License

A month later.

In Central, "Miao Shengjin", the general manager of the Chinese Police Fund, sat in the office and said, "He Sheng, the Star Ferry is competing with the Yau Ma Tei Ferry for a license to transport dangerous goods."

"If the Star Ferry obtains the license, there is little hope of acquiring the Star Ferry again."

Miao Shengjin graduated from the University of London with a degree in finance. He has worked in two foreign banks, Citigroup and HSBC. His previous position was the head of the fund department of Hang Seng Bank.Later, under the invitation of Luo Wenhao, he came to serve as the general manager of the Chinese Police Fund, responsible for the specific implementation of commercial projects, and directly reported to He Dingxian, the chairman of the foundation.

He and Mr. Ji Zhengming, chairman of the "Ho Ting Yin Charitable Foundation", can be regarded as Ho Ting Yin's two generals in finance.

He Dingxian raised his legs when he heard the news, and asked solemnly: "Which of the two companies has the greater advantage at present?"

"Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company still has a greater advantage." Miao Shengjin said: "Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company participated in the application for a dangerous goods transportation license two years ago, and specially purchased special types of ships that are competent for dangerous goods transportation services."

"However, last month, the Star Ferry Company urgently acquired three dangerous goods cargo ships from France, invested a large amount of lobbying funds in the Bureau, and now there are two results."

He Dingxian took a puff of cigarette and asked aloud, "Is the dangerous goods transportation license so important?"

"This license is definitely not profitable for passenger transport." Miao Shengjin said with a wry smile: "However, as the fourth line of the ferry industry on the island, there will definitely be some income in the future."

"There is no bridge between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Gases, liquids, and solids that are flammable, explosive, and harmful to humans, such as diesel, oxygen, and oxides, are all included in the ranks of dangerous goods."

"In the past ten years, the Hong Kong Island area used less oil, and it was directly pulled to the port by boat, and then unloaded to the two districts. Now, with the large throughput of Victoria Harbor, many dangerous goods first arrive in Kowloon, and then enter Hong Kong Island. During the period, we need to take a trip across the sea.”

"Hong Kong Island is considering issuing licenses for transporting dangerous goods to ferry companies."

Miao Shengjin didn't get to the point on this matter.The reason why dangerous brand licenses make money is not in the traffic between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, because at the end of the 60s, Hong Kong Island will spend 2000 million to build a 1.8-kilometer undersea tunnel, which will be opened to traffic in 73 to connect the two districts. traffic line.

The ferry industry will usher in the first shock, the opponent is the Hung Hom Tunnel.

Only relying on the transportation of dangerous goods between the two districts, the franchise license can't make money at all.However, the Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company relied on the franchise license for dangerous goods and continued to operate until 2005 under the condition of continuous losses in the passenger transport business.

Under the circumstances of extremely difficult operation, the company sold the exclusive line from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai, but did not sell the dangerous goods transportation license. Why?Because Hong Kong Island also has an outlying island area with more than 20 islands, including the well-known Lamma Island, Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, etc.
There are tens of thousands of people living in these places, and every household will use gas and oil in the future.It is impossible for the Hong Kong government to lay pipelines to every island, so special ships are needed to transport them back and forth. In the future, the gasification and oil products used in the outlying islands will be transported by ships.

Of course, small wheels cannot directly load dangerous goods, such as gasoline is transported in sealed cans, and gas is loaded on the vehicle before boarding.In addition, dangerous goods used by some schools and departments on Hong Kong Island also need to be consigned by ferry companies.

With the gradual development of the Outlying Islands District, the franchise license for dangerous goods is becoming more and more profitable.Although the transportation of dangerous goods will never be as profitable as a good passenger service, getting a license is tantamount to getting a solid job. Currently, Hong Kong Island only issues one exclusive license for dangerous goods, and any fool knows that it can make money.

It is normal for Miao Jinsheng not to think of the residents of the outlying islands, because when it comes to business on Hong Kong Island, everyone only thinks of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, the New Territories are rural areas, and the outlying islands are even more deserted islands.He Dingxian remembered that there were people living in the outlying island area, but he only had eyes on the competition for the license plate, so he said without much thought, "Contest!"

"Whoever the Star Ferry company asks for money, we will give money to their boss. If they give 20, we will give [-]!"

"It's not that you don't have money, do you really think we are here to play the holding?"

Miao Shengjin talked about the richness of the big boss, nodded and said: "I understand, Director He."

He Dingxian picked up the cigarette butt, hummed, and said arrogantly: "Although I can't find out whether I can earn back the money I spent, but we must not give up what the opponent wants to grab. Why did the Yau Ma Tei Ferry prepare early?" The bidding, the Star Ferry Company is indifferent?"

"Heh, they may think that the exclusive license for dangerous goods may not be able to make money, or they think that sooner or later they will be able to squeeze into the Yau Ma Tei Ferry. At that time, the license will be purchased together with the route, and they will make more money."

"Now, they are in a hurry and panic, jumping up to fight for the license plate, they are obviously shocked!"

"Surprise our strength."

Miao Shengjin adjusted his glasses and smiled politely: "The big boss has smart eyes."

Although He Dingxian spoke directly and bluntly, he had to admit that his strategy was correct.

In business, as long as the capital is sufficient, sometimes you really don’t need to think too much. Every field that competitors want to grab will sooner or later squeeze the opponent’s development space to zero.The rival company is overwhelmed everywhere, and there is no prospect at all. Isn't it a matter of time before the acquisition?
"By the way, let's make some more fake moves, find a small official from the Development Department, and ask him to propose building a cross-sea tunnel in Hung Hom." He Dingxian thought of a bad move, and said with a chuckle: "Let the Commercial Daily write a headline Let's see if the Star Ferry Company dares to spend a lot of money to fight."

The emergence of the Hung Hom Cross-Harbour Tunnel will end the bonus period for the ferry industry.Of course, it does not mean that the ferry industry will be unprofitable, whether it is the usual passenger transportation or tourism that can be carried out later.Earnings are still substantial.

After all, the population of Hong Kong Island has grown too rapidly. After the completion of the Hung Hom Tunnel, there were major traffic jams within a few years.Sometimes the speed of crossing the sea is not as good as taking a boat.

"Bao Sheng, I would like to order two new ferries for the operation of the ferry company." Three days later, He Dingxian found the new favorite of the shipping industry, Bao Yugang who had risen to fame.In less than two years, Bao Yugang developed Jin'an Shipping Company, which had only one freighter, into a company with ten freighters, with a total displacement of 20 tons.

Among the new generation of shipowners on Hong Kong Island, Bao Yugang's tonnage increased the most.

Bao Yugang said with a smile: "He Sheng, how much is a ferry? With Mr. He's financial resources, it is no problem to replace all the ferries of the Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company."

However, He Dingxian knew that in order to improve the competitiveness of Yau Ma Tei Ferry, it is useless to just focus on one license plate, and the license plate of a dangerous brand is the icing on the cake.It can help Yau Ma Tei Ferry to make money, but it cannot help Yau Ma Tei Ferry annex the Star Ferry.

The shipping industry needs to get back to its roots.

Those who transport the goods must transport the goods well, and the transporters must transport the people well.The reason why the Star Ferry is able to rule the roost of Hong Kong Island is due to its sufficient funds and rapid development, and another reason is its good service!As a ferry company with an independent terminal, the Star Ferry has the most ships and the most convenient routes, so naturally there will be more patrons.

The Yau Ma Tei Ferry used to have no money to buy new passenger ships, nor did it have the money to build a pier and improve its services.Now Ho Ting-yin wants to give the Yau Ma Tei Ferry a new look and directly compete with the Star Ferry in terms of passenger service. Naturally, he wants to change the ferry.

"I don't want an ordinary ferry." He Dingxian said with a smile: "I want to customize two double-decker ferries, five ferries with a capacity of 500 passengers, and each ferry must be equipped with air conditioning."

Bao Yugang was stunned for a moment, and asked suspiciously: "He Sheng, how much is the ticket price for the air conditioner on the ferry?"

"Losing money and making money." He Dingxian took out a cigarette case in his pocket, took out a cigarette, and handed over the money: "It's okay if the ship costs more, as long as the passenger flow is there, you can make money. After all, the price of air conditioners is dead." , tens of thousands of yuan per set, water and people are alive.”

These days, air conditioners are the top luxury among electrical appliances. In an era when ordinary people can't even bear to use electric lights, who is willing to spend electricity to blow air conditioners?Send an air conditioner to ordinary citizens, and the citizens cannot afford electricity.

If Ho Ting-yin can operate the air-conditioned ferry while keeping the ticket price unchanged, the Yau Ma Tei Ferry will definitely become popular.

Of course, the on-board air conditioner has an advantage, that is, it is powered by the engine, which can burn oil instead of electricity.Although it will lead to increased fuel consumption costs, it is acceptable to dilute the cost by only turning on the air conditioner in summer.Customers can naturally experience the sincerity of Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company through a season of enjoyment.

In addition, the current mainstream ferry on Hong Kong Island has a passenger capacity of 200-300, and the 500-passenger ferry has not yet launched, and the double-decker ferry is a new product in the 80s.

Just as Bao Yu saw that Boss He was going to make a big splash in the ferry industry, he thought about it and said, "In this case, I will contact the shipbuilding company of Ridao for you."

In recent years, Rishima Shipbuilding Industry has been reborn by relying on the dividends of maritime trade. It has the top shipbuilding level in Asia and the largest shipyard.From small ferries to large cruise ships with tens of thousands of tons, we will accept orders and build any ships.

With the current shipbuilding technology, it is actually very simple to build an air-conditioned boat, a double-decker ferry.It's just that the ferry industry has not developed to the point of pursuing service before, so naturally there is no need to take the initiative to increase costs.He Dingxian took the initiative to enter the ferry industry with a huge sum of money, allowing the industry to enter full competition in advance, which will naturally push up the service level of the industry.

Bao Yugang has business dealings with Hishima Mitsui Shipyard, and has two large cruise ships with a displacement of 20 tons, which are being prepared for construction.In the end, Yau Ma Tei Ferry Company signed a contract with the commercial representative of Mitsui Shipyard, and signed a shipbuilding contract at a price of 37 Hong Kong dollars for a single-deck air-conditioned ferry and a price of [-] Hong Kong dollars for a double-deck air-conditioned ferry.And Mitsui Shipyard must guarantee delivery within two years and undertake free maintenance for five years.

(End of this chapter)