Chapter 710 The Clown

Chapter 710 The Clown

Chapter 710 The Clown
The next thing was very simple. Changxing Group directly invested and bought 32 gas stations. At the same time, China Resources also arranged to load a lot of oil barrels on the train from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Although the oil supply in Hong Kong was still relatively tight, at least it was not so tight that even if you had money you could not buy it.
However, under the emergency supply, the price is still relatively high. We can only wait for more gasoline and diesel to be imported from the mainland in the future, and the market supply and demand will gradually balance, and then the price can slowly return to normal;
As for other industrial oils besides normal fuel oil, Changxing Group did not ask about it. These are very niche in themselves. They do not interfere in these small businesses and let the market take care of itself. The main use of oil is still for important derivatives such as fuel or plastics. It is enough to be able to control these.

By December, Hong Kong's fuel situation had gradually returned to normal, but plastic products were another matter.
Although Changxing Group has been hoarding a large amount of plastic for a long time, the prices of various plastics have risen sharply around the world, so the price that Changxing Group sells at will naturally be similar to the market price;

This naturally makes it unaffordable for many plastic companies.

"Mr. Yang, many plastic companies in Hong Kong have recently fallen into financial difficulties. These companies have also voiced their opinions in Hong Kong newspapers, hoping that our group can appropriately lower the price of plastics. This has led many people to think that we have monopolized the market." Wei Zetao was holding a newspaper and his face was not very good.

Yang Wendong took the newspaper and frowned, "Are you asking us to lower the price? Are you trying to use public opinion to put pressure on us?"

Wei Zetao nodded and said, "Yes, there must be someone behind this. I have arranged for someone to investigate."

"Over the years, we have indeed controlled the plastic supply in Hong Kong with Formosa Plastics." Yang Wendong continued, "But over the years, the prices we offer are cheaper than when the British companies controlled the market. These people probably think everything is normal after a long time."

In its past life, Formosa Plastics was able to become the largest plastic production group in Asia, so it was naturally able to be the strongest in cost management. In addition, Changxing Group's control over transportation and channels almost forced the former British traders out of the market. Naturally, the entire industry was monopolized by Changxing Trading.

However, Yang Wendong did not rely on monopoly to suck the blood of ordinary companies, but adopted the principle of mutual benefit. The prices were in line with international standards and might even be slightly cheaper. This would ensure that many plastic companies in Hong Kong could develop normally, thereby bringing about higher demand.

Wei Zetao nodded and said, "Yes, we are one of the few companies that can monopolize the market without raising prices. However, the oil crisis has broken out and plastic prices are rising around the world. We can only ship at normal prices, but for them, a price increase of several times is still too high."

"If they don't raise the price enough, they will probably sell it overseas. These people usually act pitiful, but if they really have the chance, they will definitely use all means to make a profit." Yang Wendong said with a smile: "They are also bosses, not ordinary people. Don't pay attention to them. If you can't afford it, don't buy it, or go abroad to buy it. It's up to them."

If the end customers are ordinary people, then perhaps you can negotiate with them. When some emergency survival supplies are in serious shortage, you can gain reputation by controlling the price appropriately.

But we are all doing business, the scale is different at most, but we are all the same kind of people. If you give them a discount, they may not be grateful. They may even laugh at you behind your back. This is too common in the business world.

Wei Zetao smiled and said, "I understand. We will also decide the price according to the normal market demand. In addition, I am also preparing to ship a batch of plastics from Hong Kong to Singapore to ensure normal production there."

"Okay, we'll prioritize the needs of our own group and supply chain." Yang Wendong nodded and said, "Also, let Qin Zhiye find out who is behind this."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Wei Zetao said quickly.

Two days later, Qin Zhiye and Wei Zetao from Changxing Media came to the headquarters in Kangle Building together;

Yang Wendong said, "Take a seat. There are some fruits here. Please help yourself or they will go bad."

There are always some fruits in his office, which will go bad if not eaten, so when some subordinates come to discuss things, even if it is not a very serious meeting, they can help to finish some of the fruits.

"Thank you, Mr. Yang." Qin Zhiye and Wei Zetao also sat down, and then Qin Zhiye said: "Mr. Yang, I have already checked the things in the newspapers a few days ago. It was done by several small trading companies. They are also in the plastic business. In the early days, they also monopolized the Hong Kong market, but were later defeated by Changxing Trade.
Taking advantage of the surge in plastic prices during this period, they began to deliberately spread news in newspapers, saying that we had a monopoly on the market, probably hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to grab some market share. "

"These companies are still around? They haven't closed down in all these years?" Yang Wendong asked curiously.
Over the years, Changxing Trading has completely monopolized Hong Kong's plastic industry market. Coupled with Changxing Industrial's absolute position in plastics, it would be difficult for other players to survive.

Qin Zhiye replied: "They don't just deal in plastics. After the plastics trade is gone, they will do some other businesses, so the company is just smaller in scale, but still exists." "So that's how it is." Yang Wendong nodded;
Trading companies are generally shell companies. They do all kinds of business. Some of them may be involved in hundreds of industries. If they lose one of the main ones, they may suffer serious damage, but they usually will not die.

Wei Zetao said: "These people spread the news through other people in the media. If I hadn't arranged for people in the underworld to investigate the news, I'm afraid we might not be able to find out the truth."

"Well, now that we have found out everything, how are we going to deal with them?" Yang Wendong asked again;
"My idea is that we still have to use formal means." Wei Zetao replied: "People in the underworld suggested that we just smash their company, but I rejected it. There is no need for our company to get into such trouble because of such a small matter."

The manufacturing group and real estate company under the Changxing Group often cooperate with some underworld companies at the business level to allow them to also have some legal income. No one would refuse such a benefit. Even if they are from the underworld, they can earn legal money and can also regularly provide their brothers with a normal job. Who wouldn't be happy?

In fact, it is not just the Changxing Group. Other large conglomerates have more or less this kind of thing, because sometimes, some things also need to find these people to handle.

It’s just that Changxing Group is the largest and the manufacturing entity that is most convenient for radiating to other groups, so naturally people in the underworld are very proactive in trying to please it.

Yang Wendong nodded and said, "This is the right thing to do. From a legal perspective, we cannot get involved in these things. The Hong Kong government is also preparing to vigorously improve public security, and we also need to avoid legal risks."

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is about to be established. Although the original intention of establishing this department is to suppress the Chinese community that controls the police department, its power can also govern many private companies and financial groups;
Today, Chinese and British capital in Hong Kong are in a game of chess, and the Hong Kong government has no way to intervene because everyone is doing things within the law. However, once one of them crosses the rules, even if it has nothing to do with business, the Hong Kong government may find an excuse to suppress it desperately. This kind of pigtail cannot be allowed.

Wei Zetao continued, "Yes, so I plan to support some other Chinese-funded trading companies that are in competition with them, give them resources and funds, and let them seize the market of these trading companies;
These companies are all engaged in importing sounds from abroad to Hong Kong, so the total market is limited. As long as the Chinese trading companies become bigger, these British companies will be ready to roll back to the UK. "

"Don't let Changxing Trading do it?" Yang Wendong asked back.

Wei Zetao said: "I have investigated this, they are all small businesses, Changxing Trade is also good at exporting from Hong Kong to overseas, so there is no need to participate, everyone has their own expertise,

To deal with these clowns, it is most convenient and efficient to let those small Chinese trading companies that have been in business for a long time do this."

"Okay, Chinese-owned trading companies should also rise up." Yang Wendong nodded, and then said: "In this way, we can take this opportunity to gradually assist more Chinese-owned trading companies and let them gradually control Hong Kong's import trade. Not only these few companies, but all other ones that can be involved will be involved one by one. It's time for British-owned trading companies to exit the stage of history."

In the early years, Hong Kong relied on the mainland for a large number of materials. After the 50s, for some reasons, it had to switch to overseas imports. In addition, British capital was stronger, so Hong Kong's import and export trade was controlled by British companies.

When Yang Wendong first crossed over, the import and export of most factories in Hong Kong were sandwiched between two types of British-owned companies, and they could only earn a little hard-earned money, which led to ordinary Hong Kong workers hating the Chinese-owned bosses, but the profits were taken away by trading companies that did nothing;
It was actually the same in the mainland in the past. Many companies had no profit margins at all and could only exploit workers. Of course, these bosses were essentially the same. Even if they could make money, it wouldn't be that good.

Later, Changxing Trading Company rose and gradually opened up overseas markets, snatching away part of the export trade from British companies, but only part of it. As for import trade, Changxing Trading did not participate in anything other than what it needed. After all, it was impossible for one company to do everything.

Now it was already the 70s, and he had never thought of doing such a thing, but some British trading houses were actually doing something behind his back, so he had to not be polite.

"Okay, I'll first study which companies to choose. Once I'm sure they're ready, I'll come back to show them to you." Wei Zetao said with a smile.

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(End of this chapter)