blogombal Chapter 23 Preparing to Buy a Plot of Land
Chapter 23 Preparing to Buy a Plot of Land
In late January 1967, Hong Kong showed no signs of cooling down, and the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui were still bustling with traffic. The afternoon sun slanted through the glass windows of the apartment building, casting dappled shadows on the living room floor.
Lin Zhou sat beside a golden nanmu tea table, which he had released from his spatial storage; this type of wood was extremely rare here. On the table sat a cup of still-warm black tea, its wisps of steam rising gently, mingling with the faint clanging of trams coming from outside the window.
Lin Zhou leaned back on the sofa, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his gaze fixed on the buildings outside the window. He had just ended a phone call with Old Chen, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper. The serialization of "A Step into the Past" was nearing its end, and the newspaper's circulation had hovered around 100,000 copies for two consecutive months. Even the Chinese communities in neighboring Macau and Southeast Asia were calling to request reprints, and the newspaper's profits were snowballing. But this dazzling achievement did not make Lin Zhou feel much more relaxed; on the contrary, it made him even more vigilant.
He recalled the embarrassing situation he had faced not long ago when all the newspapers in Hong Kong joined forces to smear him. The first time was when "A Step into the Past" first gained popularity, and his peers joined forces to suppress him, fabricating rumors that his "content was vulgar and misleading to young people." The second time was even worse, when several established newspapers took the lead, joining forces with distributors and printing plants to blacklist him, claiming to "purify the Hong Kong newspaper industry environment." If he hadn't also acquired a printing plant at the time, he would have been helpless. If it weren't for the spontaneous support of the people of Hong Kong, he would probably have been squeezed out of the newspaper industry by now.
These two incidents made Lin Zhou deeply realize the passivity of being "under someone else's roof." Hong Kong, on the surface, is prosperous, but in reality, it is a complex and intertwined place, where British conglomerates, local tycoons, and triad forces are all intertwined. Without sufficient connections and a solid foundation, even the greatest achievements can be brought down overnight. Connections take time to build, and as a newcomer, he would find it difficult to integrate into the core circle in the short term. However, as for establishing a solid foundation, perhaps he could find another way.
As a time traveler, Lin Zhou knew better than anyone that Hong Kong's economy would enter a period of rapid growth in the coming decades. A booming manufacturing sector, soaring property prices, and volatile financial markets—it was an era of abundant opportunities.
Many people stare at stocks and futures, hoping to make quick money, but Lin Zhou knows that the ever-changing capital market is too risky without precise timing and data support. He only vaguely remembers a few major events that have far-reaching impact, but he can't remember the specific points of rise and fall. Entering the market rashly is no different from gambling. Although it is a shortcut, the risk is too great.
In contrast, manufacturing was the most secure foundation. Lin Zhou envisioned the household appliances that would later sweep the globe: small, portable radios, easy-to-use rice cookers, and tape recorders… These objects, commonplace in the future, were nonexistent in Hong Kong in 1967. If they could be the first to develop these products, register global patents, and establish factories for mass production, their advanced design and practical functions would undoubtedly make them bestsellers worldwide.
More importantly, industry brings irreplaceable influence. In Hong Kong, as long as a factory is large enough to provide employment for tens of thousands of people, it's like holding a "protective charm." One hundred thousand people depend on factories for their livelihood, representing one hundred thousand families. Such a scale is such that not only would petty newspapers dare not easily provoke him, but even the Governor of Hong Kong would have to consider the stability of the people and dare not rashly touch him. Only then could he truly establish himself in Hong Kong, no longer a "foreigner" at the mercy of others.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhou sat up straight, threw the cigarette into the ashtray, and got up to walk to his desk. He opened a drawer, took out a map of Hong Kong, and laid it flat on the table. The map was somewhat old, with slightly curled edges, but the streets and areas on it were clearly marked. He picked up a pen and began to circle and mark on the map, carefully planning the location for the factory.
The first area to be ruled out is the city center. Land in places like Tsim Sha Tsui and Central is incredibly expensive, with exorbitant prices and limited space, making factory expansion difficult. More importantly, these areas are home to British conglomerates and wealthy families; rushing in would inevitably lead to unnecessary conflicts. What he needs is a plot of land that is inexpensive, easily accessible, and has room for development.
Lin Zhou's gaze fell upon the northwest of the Kowloon Peninsula. It was close to the cargo terminals of Victoria Harbour, facilitating the import and export of goods. Moreover, it was still an undeveloped area at the time, making land prices relatively cheap. More importantly, the surrounding area had numerous villages and shantytowns, providing abundant labor resources and making recruitment relatively easy. He circled the Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi Island area on the map; this area would later develop into Hong Kong's heavy industrial base, but it was currently quite desolate, presenting a good opportunity to acquire land at low prices.
However, he quickly frowned again. Although Kwai Chung has a superior geographical location, it is close to the dock with a lot of cargo ships coming and going. Noise and pollution may affect the factory's production environment. Moreover, in future urban planning, it will be included in the port logistics zone, and the factory may face the risk of relocation.
He turned his attention to the New Territories. The New Territories were vast, land prices were lower, and there were many flat plots of land suitable for building large factories. However, the New Territories lacked convenient transportation, were far from cargo terminals, which would increase the cost of transporting goods. Moreover, the New Territories had a relatively complex security situation at the time, with frequent activities by triads, which could potentially cause trouble for the factories.
Lin Zhou repeatedly compared the advantages and disadvantages of several areas, his pen tracing lines on the map. He recalled the development trajectory of Hong Kong in later years, how Tuen Mun and Yuen Long would later become manufacturing centers, and how the government would gradually improve transportation infrastructure, building highways and railways to connect the city center and the port.
If you buy land in Tuen Mun now, not only will the land price be cheap, but the future appreciation potential will also be huge. More importantly, it is far away from the turmoil of the city center, with enough space to build factories, dormitories, R&D centers, and even create a complete industrial park.
He drew a deep circle around Tuen Mun, his gaze hardening. It's close to Shenzhen, and with the future reforms and opening up of mainland China, sourcing raw materials and replenishing the workforce will be much easier. Moreover, Tuen Mun has its own small port; although it can't accommodate large cargo ships, goods can be transferred to Victoria Harbour via barges, keeping transportation costs relatively low.
More importantly, Tuen Mun had not yet been targeted by large conglomerates at the time, so the competition was relatively less and it was easier to acquire large areas of land.
Having determined the general area, Lin Zhou began to consider the specific requirements for the land. He needed land of at least one hundred acres, and it had to be flat, without requiring large-scale earthwork, in order to save on construction costs and time.
Ideally, the site should be close to a highway to facilitate the transportation of raw materials and finished products. At the same time, there should be sufficient water and electricity supply, which are the basic guarantees for factory production.
In addition, he also needed to consider policy factors. Hong Kong in 1967 was undergoing economic transformation, and the government was supportive of the manufacturing industry, especially companies that could generate significant employment and foreign exchange earnings, which might receive tax breaks and policy incentives. Lin Zhou planned to proactively contact relevant Hong Kong government departments after purchasing the land to seek policy support, which could further reduce the cost of building the factory.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhou picked up the phone and dialed Li Wangcai's number at the newspaper. "Brother Li, could you help me check the land transfer information in the Tuen Mun area, especially plots of land larger than 100 acres, that are flat and close to the highway? Also, could you inquire about any preferential policies the government offers for newly built manufacturing plants? The sooner the better."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhou looked at Tuen Mun on the map again, his heart filled with anticipation. He knew that buying land and building a factory was only the first step. Next, he would need to assemble a research and development team, apply for patents, recruit and train employees, and establish sales channels—each step fraught with challenges. But he was not afraid. His advantage as a transmigrator gave him foresight and confidence, and the two newspaper scandals had taught him how to survive in adversity.
He walked to the window, gazing at the distant sea, where sunlight shimmered on the surface. Hong Kong was full of opportunities and challenges, and he was about to build his own factory here, creating a global home appliance brand. This was not only to gain a foothold, but also to realize his own value.
Lin Zhou clenched his fist, silently making a resolution in his heart. No matter how many difficulties lay ahead, he would rise to the challenge. He believed that with his wisdom and hard work, coupled with the foresight of a transmigrator, he would surely be able to carve out his own empire in Hong Kong and make the whole world remember his name.
The black tea on the coffee table had gone cold, but Lin Zhou's heart was filled with excitement. He drew the curtains, entered the room, went to his desk, opened his laptop, and began to draft a factory construction plan, meticulously recording everything from factory layout and equipment procurement to product development and marketing.