I Want To Be a Rich Man on Hong Kong Island

Wearing a helmet, Wu Guangyao shuttled around the construction site of the Universal Building, his face was full of pride.

Although the building has not yet been completed, its reputation has already resounded throughout Hong Kong Island and overseas;

It is natural to feel extremely proud to own this building.

Chen Cheng, the person in charge of Hong Kong Island First Construction, followed Wu Guangyao and accompanied the boss to inspect;

Chen Cheng watched a steel casting being installed, and couldn't help sighing. "Boss, I can say that in Hong Kong Island for at least 20 years, there will not be a building with such a high construction cost!"

Chen Cheng's words should be correct. Within 20 years, the construction cost of no building on Hong Kong Island can exceed that of Universal Building;

Because the construction cost of the entire Universal Building is as high as 80 million Hong Kong dollars, which is higher than the construction cost of the entire Yangtze River Center;

Of course, it may be due to the time difference, which may lead to rising prices and artificial labor;

However, this increase in purchasing power will never exceed 30%.

Don't forget, the Universal Building is a building, and the Yangtze River Center is a commercial complex with seven large buildings.

The reason why the Universal Building is expensive, the most in Southeast Asia, is because the entire project is not poured with cement, but is made of huge steel pipes;

The steel components are all prefabricated in the United States, and then pulled back to Hong Kong Island by freighter for on-site installation.

Moreover, the exterior of the entire building is all made of aluminum panels and glass, and the interior decoration is also luxuriously designed.

"Do you know why I spent such a large sum of money to build Universal Building?" Wu Guangyao turned around, intending to test this subordinate.

Chen Cheng lowered his head, pondered for a moment, raised his head and said, "Reputation, the boss is for reputation! If Universal Tower is built, there will be no buildings in Asia or Europe, and there are not many buildings like this in the United States. At that time, Universal Tower will definitely become world-famous, while Global Shipping and Global Terminal will ride the wind and waves to reach a higher level!"

The joy on Wu Guangyao's face was even greater, he patted Chen Cheng's shoulder with his hand, and said gratifiedly: "You are very smart and easy to learn! I hope that one day, you can lead Hong Kong Island One Construction to build landmark buildings all over the world. , when the time comes, you will find that wealth is not our only pursuit!"

Chen Cheng said excitedly: "There will be such a day, our Hong Kong Island First Construction will definitely be like the Universal Building, and it will resound at home and abroad.

"

Wu Guangyao nodded, as long as people have ideals, they will have infinite motivation;

Hong Kong Island First Construction is in good condition in all aspects, and it is planning to acquire a construction company in the United States recently to completely make up for its own shortcomings;

Maybe in the future American builders will have to admit that this apprentice is better than the master.

The construction cost of Universal Building is 80 million Hong Kong dollars, which is comparable to the construction of HSBC Building in the 1980s by HSBC Bank, so Chen Cheng is not wrong, and Universal Building can indeed be proud of more than 20 years.

The later HSBC Building was completed in 1986 at a cost of 5.5 billion Hong Kong dollars. It was listed on the Gold List of the Five Outstanding Buildings on Hong Kong Island in the 1980s; the HSBC Building was even listed as one of the top ten modern buildings of this century.

The Bank of China Tower, completed in 1989, was the tallest building (70 floors) on Hong Kong Island, but the construction cost was only HK$1.3 billion.

One can imagine how extravagant HSBC was at that time.

In this era, Universal Tower is undoubtedly a luxury building for industry professionals on Hong Kong Island.

The land price is more than 30 million, and the construction cost is more than 80 million, which means that the Universal Building will cost a total of 110 million Hong Kong dollars.

This was only in 1961, and the purchasing power of the 1980s would be at least four billion or more.

The value of Universal Building cannot be reflected just by purchasing power. If Wu Guangyao invests this one billion yuan, it will at least appreciate in value by more than ten billion yuan in the 1980s.

A friend said in front of Wu Guangyao: "Guangyao, with such a high construction cost, you can build four or five beautiful buildings. Why bother?"

Wu Guangyao would not be angry when facing his friends, he just explained:

"With the world's architectural technology, it is no problem to build a 100-story building; even if it is Hong Kong Island, there is technology to build a 50-60-story building. Today you are taller than me, and tomorrow I will be taller than you. What is there to compare with?" of?"

"But my Universal Building, which uses the most expensive building materials and construction techniques in the world, will not be interested in."

"As you think, it's not cost-effective! The construction cost is so high, but the rent can't be raised too high, so you can't lose money!"

"The Universal Building is different, it is for my own use! Of course I don't care about the cost, what I want is the reputation of the Universal Group!"

"Just like the 'Jeddah Agreement' at the beginning, in the eyes of outsiders, I have lost all my underwear; only insiders know that I have made a lot of money."

This friend of Wu Guangyao is Guan Yi!

After listening to Wu Guangyao's explanation, Guan Yi suddenly realized;

No wonder, I can only become a middle-class rich man on Hong Kong Island, but this is a world-class rich man, sooner or later even Hong Kong Island will not be able to accommodate a rich man.

Wu Guangyao carefully inspected the progress of the construction. At present, the construction of Universal Building has only just started;

The land was auctioned in the spring of 1959, and the blueprint and construction plan were determined in the second half of the year, and the construction was less than a year old;

The entire construction period is five years, that is, around the second half of 1964, before it will be completed.

"Chen Cheng, after Hong Kong Island First Construction has acquired the American Darling Construction Company, it has to add another burden!" Wu Guangyao reminded Chen Chengdao.

Chen Cheng said confidently: "Boss, please rest assured that Hong Kong Island First Construction has been able to rely on your talent reserve plan since its establishment; the company will always be able to undertake upcoming tasks and be ready at any time!"

Chen Cheng's words are not flattery, because Wu Guangyao knows the future, so he will always let his company raise more "idle people"; in the upcoming expansion, there will always be someone who will step forward at any time, and they are all elites.

In the twelve years since Hong Kong Island One was established, it has made great efforts to reserve talents and technologies;

The reason why we bought American construction companies was not because we couldn’t build beautiful buildings or landmarks;

Instead, I want to use this construction company as a bridge to learn from the strengths of the American construction technology at any time.

Even the Yangtze River Design Institute is considering acquiring a British design institute while it is looking for design talents in Europe and the United States.

"It's good that you have confidence!" Wu Guangyao said.

After inspecting the newly built Universal Building, Wu Guangyao and Chen Cheng came to the former site of the old Universal Building again;

This building was originally called Yatai Building. After Wu Guangyao bought it, he immediately changed it to Universal Building (old);

At the end of 1958, Changshi Real Estate (personally owned) was bought from Cheung Kong Industries and became Wu Guangyao's private property.

In 1959, Cheung Kong Real Estate was demolished, and part of the surrounding land was purchased to prepare for the construction of the Changjiang Building.

The Yangtze River Building is naturally the future headquarters of all the companies in the Yangtze River Group. The so-called Yangtze River Group includes Changjiang Industry, Hong Kong Island First Construction, Yangtze River Design Institute, Changshi Real Estate, and the headquarters of the thirty-eight subsidiaries of the Yangtze River Group.

Looking at the Changjiang Tower under construction, Chen Cheng felt more excited than seeing the Universal Tower;

Because I will have an office on it in the future;

Moreover, with the strength of Hong Kong Island First Construction, it will naturally occupy several floors of office buildings.

The construction cost of this building has returned to a reasonable level, but it is still considered luxurious in Hong Kong Island.

Take the Hang Seng Bank Building normally under construction by Hong Kong Island One Construction as an example. The Hang Seng Building is 22 stories high and the construction cost is 16 million Hong Kong dollars;

The Yangtze River Tower is 28 stories high, and the construction cost is as high as 25 million Hong Kong dollars, which can be said to be another level of expensive.

Looking at the busy workers, Wu Guangyao asked with a throbbing heart. "How many workers are there in Hong Kong Island No. 1 Construction Company?"

"More than 2,100 people! Because we have more contractors, the company has fewer workers." Chen Cheng said that the outsourcing policy of Hong Kong Island First Construction was proposed by the boss from the very beginning. Over the years, the effect is still very good of.

Although the company has few workers, it does not mean that there are few workers who can be mobilized;

Hong Kong Island First Construction has supported many contractors over the years, and the checkout is quick, so they can recruit as many workers as they want.

"Well, a lot of people have come across recently, and they may be sent back by the Hong Kong government. Remembering that fifteen years ago, I also ran to Hong Kong Island to make a living, and I have a deep understanding of it. So, you organize Some managers, go to those refugees to recruit some coolies. Don’t think there are too many people, because there are many construction sites behind, and there is no problem in digesting 1,000 people.” Wu Guangyao has a soft heart, and he has always done this kind of thing in recent years.

Companies such as PG Zipper, Uniqlo, and Global Shipping have taken in those people in recent years;

The so-called shelter is not just giving them a job;

Instead, these companies led these people directly to the factory from under the nose of the British army.

In other words, the original history of these people should all be sent back.

Over the past few years, Wu Guangyao's company has taken in at least 3,000 people.

Of course, there are also many people who arrived on Hong Kong Island without being caught by the British army. These people are undoubtedly lucky.

The population of Hong Kong Island has exceeded 3 million, which is the best proof!

From 1959 to 1962, the population of Hong Kong Island increased by at least 200,000 people, all of whom came from the starving people on the opposite side.

As for transporting grain to the other side, because Dong Yunhao was in this business, it was impossible for Wu Guangyao to lower the price too much, so as not to make others lose money.

In addition, the finances on the other side are not rich, and Global Shipping only sent 50,000-ton cargo ships to help purchase in Canada, Brazil and other countries.