MacLehose smiled, picked up his teacup again, and regained his composure. "No wonder he lost his composure. His mind was full of how to preserve Jardine Matheson's shrinking overseas assets and how to maintain his pitiful dignity. How could he understand our plan?"
Of course, he couldn't understand that Kobayashi Tenwang's "close" contact with the mainland was part of the chess game.
However, this Shekou Industrial Park is said to primarily produce household appliances? Kobayashi Tenwang's choice of this sector... his industrial investment capabilities, or rather, his assessment of the global appliance market, seems a bit overly aggressive. I'm afraid the mainland will be... ripped off by his enthusiasm this time."
Upon hearing this, Shen Bi frowned in confusion, revealing a thoughtful expression as he said, "I have the same concerns. Sir, you know that more than 70% of the global electrical appliance market, especially home appliances, is firmly occupied by Japanese companies.
Their technological evolution is incredibly rapid, and their pricing is competitive, forcing European and American giants to retreat. This year, Japanese companies have been aggressively attacking. Kobayashi Tenmo is now heavily investing in mainland China's electrical appliance factories, coaxing the mainland government into developing industrial parks...
How can he compete with Japanese companies? Relying on mainland China's backward technology and closed market? The risk is too great, and he may lose everything.
"Export?"
MacLehose scoffed and said, "I think there's little hope. The Japanese barrier is not so easy to break.
However, the mainland itself is a huge market with hundreds of millions of people. Although its purchasing power is currently limited, it has considerable potential.
Ultimately, Kobayashi Tenmo's electrical appliance factory will probably have to rely on slow digestion within mainland China. Losses may not be in the cards, but hoping for a big profit in the short term is wishful thinking.
“But this is exactly the situation we need most!”
Shen Bi immediately understood MacLehose's meaning, and a smile of approval appeared on his face. He said, "As long as he is trapped in the mainland market, he must establish deeper and more stable ties with the mainland.
The connections and status that the Huo family has built up over the years on the mainland will be gradually squeezed out and eroded by this Xiao Lin Tianwang!
"A person who controls powerful media outlets like the Asia Daily and Asia Television, and who also owns significant industrial investments in mainland China, is clearly far more valuable to the mainland than someone like Huo Yingdong, who only deals in shipping and real estate! Ultimately, we are the ones who benefit!"
“Absolutely!”
MacLehose raised his teacup happily, "The more he invests in the mainland, the deeper he becomes involved, and the more he depends on Hong Kong Island as a springboard and our 'support'.
His self-proclaimed cleverness in playing both sides is merely weaving a stronger net for us. This chess piece is becoming increasingly more effective."
Mainland China, Baoan, Shekou.
The place, which was a wasteland and wilderness a year ago, has now begun to take shape as an industrial park.
Neat factory buildings are rising from the ground, roads are being paved, and the roar of machines is endless.
Lin Huowang was wearing an ordinary work jacket and walking side by side with Liao Gong on the newly paved main road.
Mr. Liao looked at the busy scene in front of him with a look of relief on his face, but there was a lingering worry between his brows.
Mr. Liao stopped and looked at the electrical assembly workshop under construction in the distance. He said in a serious tone: "Comrade Lin Huowang! The move made by the Shekou Industrial Park is both important and fast.
It's almost ready for production. But with your high profile, things will get out of hand back in Hong Kong... Jardine Matheson, HSBC, the Hong Kong government—they have spies everywhere.
Once they confirm that you have invested heavily here, they will definitely regard you as a serious threat and suppress you and set up checkpoints everywhere just like they did to the Huo family.
HSBC's huge loan and the TV license approved by the Hong Kong government are all in their hands! Are you...really not worried at all?"
Lin Huowang also stopped, with a playful smile on his face: "Mr. Liao, you worry too much. What we are doing is an open conspiracy. The thing we are most afraid of is being exposed..."
"Open conspiracy? Why?" Mr. Liao was a little puzzled.
Lin Huowang turned around, looked at Mr. Liao, and said eloquently: "Have you forgotten who I am now? I am Xiaolin Tianwang! A cutting-edge Chinese businessman who grew up under the 'careful cultivation' of the Hong Kong government and HSBC.
A 'new darling' who they have high hopes for, to be used to divide Chinese capital, penetrate into the mainland, and even eventually... replace Mr. Huo's position!
Approaching the mainland? Investing in the mainland? This was the 'mission' they had given me! It was the necessary means for me to 'gain' the trust' of the mainland!
I even regularly sent some "work progress reports" to Governor Murray MacLehose and Stephen Simpson.
They might be holding my "report card" for investing in Shekou right now, toasting in the Governor's House, praising me for using this chess piece so well, successfully squeezing out the Huo family's position, and doing a great service for them! "
Mr. Liao was stunned at first, then he suddenly realized. The worry on his face was instantly replaced by a huge sense of absurdity and the subsequent joy.
He couldn't help but burst out laughing. His laughter was particularly loud and cheerful amid the clamor of the construction site: "Hahaha! Great! What a great scheme! Brilliant! Wonderful! Comrade Lin Huowang! You're really good at 'borrowing someone's strength to defeat them' and 'laying eggs with someone else'! We're using the foreigners' money and their trust to strengthen our own industry!"
They're... they're digging their own graves and jumping into them, and then they're happily helping you fill them up! Hahaha! They're not only losing the money, they're also going to lose all their capital!
Lin Huowang's gaze passed the busy construction site and headed towards the vaguely visible Hong Kong Island in the south. His eyes became deep and cold, as if penetrating the barriers of time and space.
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