History of Hong Kong Island

Chapter 412 Have a holiday?
"Ming Tsai, why is there not even a rickshaw?" The shop owner called his staff.The man just ran to the end of the street, but still couldn't find the car. He was sweating profusely and bowed repeatedly: "Boss, I just asked someone to inquire. The rickshaw union opposes the ferry price increase, and no car comes to Wanchai Ferry Terminal."

"Take a taxi."

The boss frowned, a rare extravagance.The clerk quickly agreed, called a taxi, and respectfully asked the boss to get in the car.

"Pounce on your mother, it's a waste of money." The boss was a little upset.But since rickshaws all go to North Point, the traffic market in North Point will naturally be crowded out, and taxis can't get business in North Point, but they all converge in Wan Chai.

The current starting price of a taxi on Hong Kong Island is 3 cents, which is more expensive than a third-class ferry ticket.Ordinary small factory owners and shop owners are reluctant to take a taxi, let alone ordinary citizens, the taxi price will not be reduced because of the ferry company.

Many salaried workers who come to Wan Chai by ferry every day and take rickshaws to go to work in the company have found that the rickshaws waiting at the pier in the past have disappeared.In order to hurry up, I had to grit my teeth and take a taxi, and my heart ached to death.

"We won't reach North Point tomorrow."

Many customers swear secretly in the taxi that the taxi driver's business is much better.

For most people who are eligible to find a job on Hong Kong Island, time is very important, but it is not that expensive. I would rather get up half an hour early and doze off in a rickshaw than take a taxi every 3 cents fee.

You must know that there are a large number of natural passenger flows every day on the Kowloon City-North Point Line and the Tsim Sha Tsui East-Wan Chai Line.Regarding the rise in ferry fares, they take it easy and just read the newspapers. Anyway, they don’t buy premium tickets.

In public opinion, they resolutely resist price increases, but they can run around all day long for their livelihoods, and they will not protest like the bottom-level citizens.Not to mention changing to the Yau Ma Tei Ferry just because the Star Ferry Company has increased the price.

The premise is not to affect their working life.

This time the rickshaw association's 5 cents stepped on the whole of Hong Kong, but it directly affected their interests. Citizens will make choices with their feet. Whoever has the lowest transportation cost will choose whose ferry.At noon, several afternoon newspapers on Hong Kong Island published the news of the Rickshaw Association's "Five Immortals Stepping on the Whole Hong Kong".

Ms. Ye Xien, a member of the Transportation Advisory Committee, once again submitted a letter of objection to the Hong Kong government, and at the same time presented a letter of objection signed by [-] citizens.

"Boss, people from the Star Ferry Company called to see you." At 10:[-] in the afternoon, Zhu Youzai knocked on the door of the chief's office and said, "They have reserved tea at the Peninsula Hotel. We can talk in person."

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop the Rickshaw Association." He Dingxian smiled.

Zhu Youzai looked smug: "It must be to seek peace."

"Save your energy." He Dingxian shook his head and said, "I'm very busy and don't have time."

"Understood, boss." Lard Boy opened his mouth and agreed. He had expected it, and he washed his eyes last night, and he felt much better.

This time, the boss is fighting a business war for the police force, and he is not trying to acquire the Star Ferry. Therefore, the Star Ferry Company has no chance of peace.The Board of Directors of Star Ferry received the news in the morning and immediately realized that something was wrong. First, public opinion would impact Star Ferry's reputation. Second, the actions of the rickshaw association immediately caused the stock price of Star Ferry to plummet.

If the Star Ferry has a poor reputation, it doesn't matter, since it has exclusive routes in its hands, the guests can't escape.This is also the reason why the Star Ferry took the lead in raising prices.However, the rickshaw association has caused the transportation cost of customers to rise, so it is not just a matter of reputation.

Yi Migao, chairman of Star Ferry, is a handsome man in his early forties, with senior management experience. Tube.

The 80-year history of Star Ferry’s development has also made the capital cost behind it very complicated. Among the shareholders are foreign firms such as Jardine Matheson, HSBC, and Swire, as well as Chinese compradors and congressmen. equity.

With 30.00% of the shares held by Wharf, it became the largest shareholder of Star Ferry, which made Emigao eligible to take the position of chairman, and the group of directors in front of him were all representatives of foreign firms and compradors.This kind of cash cow-like company is actually very simple to operate, so major foreign firms seldom intervene in Yimigao's decision-making. I did not expect that because of a price increase application that has been passed, the matter will become so big.

At this time, the secretary pushed open the door and shook his head slightly at the door: "Boss, Sir He rejected the meeting request."

"Can Councilor Jian come forward to help communicate?" Yi Migao frowned, looked at a non-voting director and said, "Mr. Jian has a good relationship with the Guangdong Provincial Chamber of Commerce, and he can easily meet Mr. He. As long as the two parties can strike up a conversation We can negotiate."

"Although there is competition between the Yau Ma Tei Ferry and the Star Ferry, they should help each other when the ferry industry is facing a crisis."

"It's good for both parties."

Councilor Jian's representative already had an answer, shook his head and said, "No, Councilor Jian is only responsible for helping to pass the bill. Now, the bill on the price increase application has been passed with the efforts of Councilor Jian, and what happens after that is none of Councilor Jian's business. .”

"Mr. Jane is very busy during this time, so I don't have time to wipe your butt for you."

Emigao's teeth itch with hatred in his heart, he only thinks that the Chinese are cunning and cunning, and they must not be trusted in business, only in nightclubs.

A director asked: "Sir Yi, didn't you say that you have already communicated with the taipan of the Eastern Group, and the two companies will raise prices together? What is going on now! If this matter is not handled properly, we will initiate The board of directors dismissed you from office!"

"I've already made an appointment with Mr. Qiu to meet and talk again. Before tomorrow morning, you will definitely see the stock price recover." Yi Migao glanced at the director of HSBC and said coldly: "The company will take the most powerful measures to deal with it!"

In fact, there is no need for the board of directors to recall him at all. If this matter is not handled properly, Wharf will dismiss him.Because, when public opinion is at its most critical, dismissing executives and apologizing to the public is the simplest and most effective way.

Yi Migao accidentally reached a critical juncture, he didn't have the heart to flirt with the directors, picked up the documents on the desktop, got up and left.In fact, Qiu Taipan of Eastern Bank didn't agree to meet him at all, he just took it out to deal with the directors casually, but, as a professional manager, he couldn't sit still and lose his job.

Qiu De would never have imagined that a chairman of a British-funded company would personally drive to block him at the door of the office, and lead people to stand in the corridor for more than an hour, becoming a sight in the Eastern Bank.He had to ask his assistant to invite him into the office, make a cup of hot tea, and apologize with a wry smile: "Sorry, Mr. Yi, there are some urgent documents to be processed ahead, and there is no time."

"These are not important, Mr. Qiu." Yi Migao didn't bother to entangle with him about the previous matter at all, but straight to the point: "The Red Tunnel project has been approved and will start next year, and there is not much time left for the ferry industry. "

"And the price increase application has been approved. Yau Ma Tei Ferry not only refused to follow the price increase, but also launched a campaign for the Rickshaw Association. As far as I know, it has to invest tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars every day. Your company has money but does not make money, and you still have to pay money. Is it true? Is it just for fame?"

His eyes showed disdain: "If you want to take the opportunity to lower the stock price of Star Ferry and buy Star Ferry Company, that is wishful thinking. Your company's power is simply unable to fight the acquisition war with Wharf, not to mention, the behind the scenes of Star Ferry There are many shareholders in foreign firms."

"Mr. Yi, I misunderstood."

Qiu De was even more distressed, because the behavior of the Yau Ma Tei Ferry was indeed contrary to commercial common sense, but from another perspective, it was reasonable from a political point of view.It was impossible for him to tell the big brother's political goals, so he had to explain weakly: "Yau Ma Tei Ferry has neither the idea of ​​acquiring the Star Ferry nor the intention of grabbing customers. initiated by our company."

"It was an activity jointly initiated by the Rickshaw Association and the citizens, and the public opinion was raging. We didn't dare to raise the price even if we wanted to."

"Can you take me to see Mr. He?"

Emigao only has this one appeal, because he knows that if he can't see Mr. He, all his words will be in vain, and no one dares to make a decision privately.

Qiu Degeng shook his head: "No."

"Business matters are the same with me."

Yi Migao stared at him for a while, and suddenly asked: "Qiu Sheng, I have nothing against you, right?"

"Yi sir, you are joking."

Qiu De even laughed and said, "I haven't met you a few times, so what's the festival?"

Yi Migao nodded knowingly: "That's right, I have no holidays with you. Although the Star Ferry and Yau Ma Tei Company used to compete with each other, it is already an old calendar, so it is still not a holiday. Who has a holiday with whom? Woolen cloth?"

"Can you tell me?"

Qiu Degeng didn't change his face, and shook his head: "Sir Yi, you're overthinking it. If you want me to tell you, it's better to lower the price back to the original price as soon as possible to calm public opinion."

"Understood, Qiu Daban." As expected of a veteran in the business world, Yi Migao met Qiu Degeng once, and immediately judged that there was an inside story about this incident, and it was an inside story that he didn't know. The key to solving the problem was to find out where the problem lies. where.

If he couldn't find it, he could only try one by one.

Yi Migao walked out of the gate of Dongfang Group, and before he got into the car, his expression suddenly changed, and he said viciously: "Since you don't want to make money together, then let's finish playing together, and we won't make any money. Let's see who can stand it!"

As a professional manager, he cannot veto his price increase policy, otherwise, even if he calms down the public opinion, it will be useless.Because the fare increase is the unanimous decision of the board of directors and Wharf.Price increases must be placed before public opinion. If you can't tell the priority, you will appear to be mindless in doing things.

He still has a card.

It's the last one. I thought I didn't need to play it, but it seems that I have to play it now.

(End of this chapter)