Chapter 195: Free Land Grant

Noon that day.

North Point, headquarters of China Motor Bus.

Yan Chengkun, Wu Guangzheng, and Wei Li appeared before the public with smiles, projecting an image of turning hostility into friendship.

Yan Chengkun announced in a calm tone that as China Motor Bus had developed to its current state, there were indeed many problems, and he was willing to step down to make way for the talented; at the same time, the Yan Family had already transferred all their shares to Asia Investment Company.

Once these words were spoken, all the reporters in the audience stared in astonishment.

After the China Motor Bus takeover battle, both sides had been at daggers drawn in the media, spitting at each other—was it really ending so harmoniously, so quickly?

Of course, those in the know had already received news that the Independent Commission Against Corruption's operation against China Motor Bus yesterday had achieved substantial progress, and Yan Jieqiang, led by his lawyer, had also gone to the commission to be investigated.

It seemed that in order to protect his son who had fallen into the vortex, Yan Chengkun had no choice but to quickly cut off his arm to save his life and make a compromise.

Hsin Chong Construction, which had previously strongly supported the Yan Family, was now in an awkward position; after all, the two sides had signed an agreement just two days ago to advance and retreat together.

Unexpectedly, not even two days had passed, and the Yan Family had sold their shares to Asia Investment Company without a word, making no mention of the previous agreement.

Under these circumstances, Ye Gengnian hurriedly made a phone call to Yan Chengkun: "Sir Yan, what is the meaning of this? Aren't you putting our Ye Family in an unrighteous position?"

Ye Gengnian was furious; at the time, Yan Chengkun had looked around and found absolutely no one supporting the Yan Family, and it was his Ye Family that had righteously helped the Yans to hold onto their empire. For this, he had even raised a sum of money over the past two days, preparing to purchase China Motor Bus shares together with the Yan Family.

Now that the Yan Family had just up and left, how were they, the Ye Family, supposed to face Asia Investment Co., Ltd. on the board of directors of China Motor Bus in the future?

"An agreement is an agreement after all, you shouldn't take it too seriously." Yan Chengkun could only smile awkwardly at this.

"F*ck your mother."

Ye Gengnian immediately burst into a torrent of abuse.

In short, the overall situation was settled; the China Motor Bus takeover battle had officially come to an end.

From then on, Hong Xing's Dalao Jun also became the bus tycoon of Hong Kong.

And the first thing Chen Jiajun did after becoming the bus tycoon of Hong Kong was to have China Motor Bus and Bar Group each contribute a sum of capital to jointly establish a non-franchised company named Sunshine Bus.

Once this news broke, it caused a sensation throughout Hong Kong.

Many analysts pointed out directly that the establishment of Sunshine Bus was aimed at the minibus routes in the New Territories.

"Director Yan, this is the bus stop design created by our Bar Group."

At the Bar Group headquarters depot, Lu Yongyu, speaking fluent English, was introducing the bus stops designed by Bar Group to a group led by Transport Department Director Yan Dunli.

"Considering that the demand for bus travel among Hong Kong citizens is very high, we have designed the stops to be 2.5 meters wide and 20 meters long, with the platform height 20 centimeters above the road surface..."

"Additionally, considering the exposure to sun and rain, we have specially designed sun and rain shelters."

"On the left side of the stop, we have designed a convenience center where newspapers and magazines can be sold."

"On the right side of the stop, we have placed simple bus schedule information."

"Here on the sun and rain shelter, we have designed advertising boards and notice boards..."

For the bus stop design, Chen Jiajun had basically referenced the vast majority of stops from the Mainland in his past life, while also adding newsstands.

"Once such stops are implemented in the New Territories and Kowloon, they will not only improve the commuting environment for citizens to a certain extent but also significantly raise the service level of Hong Kong buses, which has been subject to criticism."

"Most importantly, it will enhance Hong Kong's international image."

Lu Yongyu gestured with her fingers while introducing them.

Yan Dunli, who was in front, had listened to the gist of it, but the latter half of the sentence had truly touched his heart.

"Miss Lu, your Bar Group's ideas are excellent; our Transport Department agrees with your stop proposal in principle," Yan Dunli said cautiously after pondering for a moment.

Lu Yongyu laid out Chen Jiajun's original words: "Director Yan, our Bar Group's profits are fully capable of covering the construction costs of the bus stops."

"However, we need the Transport Department to help us communicate with the government, based on the provisions of the Public Omnibus Ordinance regarding patent rights, once a bus company has a need for land..."

"You mean to let the Hong Kong government grant the land for the stops to Bar Group for free based on the ordinance, right?"

Yan Dunli realized what was going on and said meaningfully.

Lu Yongyu nodded and said: "That's right. Although the major shareholder of Kowloon Motor Bus is not the Hong Kong government, according to the ordinance, the annual maximum profit rate cannot exceed 16%. The excess has already been allocated to the development fund account. We, Kowloon Motor Bus and our subsidiary Sunshine Bus, will be purchasing a large quantity of double-decker buses in the near future. Therefore, we are completely unable to bear the cost of the land for the bus stops."

Yan Dunli pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Is this Sir Deng's idea?"

Lu Yongyu explained: "Sir Deng and the group's General Manager, Mr. Deng Yongqiang, have already gone to the Hong Kong government to seek the support of the Governor and the various Legislators."

"I understand. Don't worry, Miss Lu, our Transport Department will definitely resolve this issue for Kowloon Motor Bus."

Since the old Sir Deng had made a move, Yan Dunli naturally agreed readily.

In fact, it wasn't just Sir Deng who had made a move; Sir Bao had also made a move. The two of them led the senior management of Bar and China Motor Bus to meet with Governor Mai Lihao together.

Looking at the design drawings for the bus stops, Mai Lihao pondered for a moment and said: "How many bus stops do your two bus groups intend to build in total?"

"Initially, we plan to set up stops in prosperous areas such as Hong Kong Island, Yau Tsim Mong, and Kowloon, and then gradually promote them. According to our vision, the two bus companies will build a total of 1,000 stops."

Sir Deng stated the facts. Regarding Chen Jiajun's plan, Deng Zhaojian supported it with both hands. Such a measure to improve the service level of buses and improve the travel of Hong Kong citizens was something Deng Zhaojian naturally wanted to take the lead in.

The former Chairman of Kowloon Motor Bus, Lei Juekun, had already realized what was happening by this time. If the two bus companies' vision were really followed, and the Hong Kong government passed this resolution...

One bus stop, about 50 square meters, was equivalent to having 530,000 square feet of land granted to the two bus companies for free.

The price of the land alone was an astronomical figure. For 530,000 square feet of land, even if it were 2,000 dollars per square foot, it would be worth 1 billion.

But the value of these stops could not be measured in money. One had to know that the more crowded the place, the higher the rent. The bus stops had advertising boards, newspapers, and the value they could create...

At the thought of this, Lei Juekun trembled all over.

After pondering for a moment, Governor Mai Lihao looked at Deng Zhaojian with a smile: "Sir Deng, there has never been a precedent for this resolution in Hong Kong. I am very much in favor of it, but it must be approved by the Hong Kong Legislative Council."

"There is basically no problem, but your two bus companies must take on some tasks in remote areas, such as the route from the New Territories to Kowloon."

"Governor Mai Lihao, our two companies have cooperated to establish the non-franchised Sunshine Bus Company precisely to solve the travel problems of New Territories residents. Our two bus companies have decided that even if we operate at a loss, we must improve the service quality of the bus companies," Sir Bao also said with a smile: "Next, we will purchase a large quantity of double-decker buses, and we will invite you to visit and inspect them then."

For Sir Bao, he had long since passed the stage of wealth accumulation; now, he considered more about his legacy.

Some people leave a bad name for thousands of years after they die, while others leave a good name for thousands of years; Sir Bao wanted to do the latter.

"Operate at a loss?"

Lei Juekun, listening from the side, laughed inwardly. As long as Sunshine Bus Company successfully snatched the bus route from the New Territories to Kowloon, it would not lose money at all.

When it comes to doing business, he doesn't admire anyone except Dalao Jun.

Bao Jueshi's flattery made Mai Lihao very satisfied.

The next day, at the Hong Kong government's Legislative Council meeting, after Deng Zhaojian presented the proposal on behalf of the two bus companies.

The head of the Four Great Foreign Firms, the king of foreign firms and Jardine Matheson taipan Niubijian, immediately raised an objection on the spot: "I object. If Bar Group and Zhongba Group want land, then they should pay for it themselves."

Niubijian knew that behind these two bus companies was Hongxing Mad Dragon Dalao Jun. Although he had only come into contact with Dalao Jun once or twice, his hatred for Dalao Jun was monstrous...

Back then, Dalao Jun sold Kowloon Wharf shares to Bao Jueshi, which led to the wings of Jardine Matheson being clipped by Bao Jueshi.

"Exactly, exactly. They want to do big things without spending money, and they even want the Hong Kong government to grant land for free. Does that mean all the good things in the world should be taken by the bus companies? Governor Mai Lihao, why don't you grant a piece of land to our Swire Group sometime?"

The Sassoon family of the Swire Group, one of the Four Great Foreign Firms, also objected.

Governor Mai Lihao smiled: "If you accept the profit margin stipulated by the Hong Kong government and turn over the excess to a special development fund, I will also grant land to your two companies."

"Everyone present has the right to object, but you at Jardine Matheson are not qualified. What are you Jardine Matheson people jumping out and shouting for? You Jardine Matheson people earn so much profit from Hong Kong every year and take it to invest elsewhere, completely disregarding the interests of this territory."

"Exactly, exactly."

A group of Chinese merchant Legislators nodded one after another.

Niubijian shrank his neck and stopped making a sound; he was afraid that the Governor would expose more dark history about Jardine Matheson.

Governor Mai Lihao coughed and said: "Since everyone has already expressed their views, let's have a show of hands to vote."

Niubijian became anxious and immediately looked at HSBC taipan Shen Bi, casting a glance.

"Traitor to the British" Shen Bi raised his hand and shouted: "I support it. The two bus companies building bus stations is a great thing for the citizens of Hong Kong."

As the HSBC taipan, Shen Bi's principle of handling affairs had always been: what Jardine Matheson opposes, HSBC must support; what Jardine Matheson supports, HSBC must oppose...

As for the desperate struggle of Jardine Matheson and Swire on the sidelines, Shen Bi didn't want to pay any attention to it at all. Do you know who is calling the shots in the Hong Kong business world now?

Heh heh.

That day, the Hong Kong government Legislative Council passed this resolution.

Top Chinese merchants such as Li Jiacheng, Guo Desheng, Li Zhaoji, Chan Tsang-hsi, Shao Yifu, Luo Yingshi, and He Xin were simply regretting it so much they were beating their chests and stamping their feet.

Any one of them had the strength to acquire the two bus groups, but their vision just wasn't as fast, ruthless, and accurate as his.

They never thought that Dalao Jun was secretly acquiring the two bus companies, not really because he had his eye on the bus groups' land, but rather to ask the Hong Kong government for land for free.

Fuck your mother.

Damn it.

Screw your mother.

This kind of business operation plan is simply earth-shattering and world-swallowing.

Everyone had to admire it.

After the resolution was published in the newspapers, the stock prices of Bar Group and Zhongba Group rose steadily; Bar rose to 40 dollars per share, and Zhongba rose to 60 dollars per share.

But Dalao Jun indicated that this was only the beginning.

At the end of the month, after the Hongxing general meeting concluded.

Zhongba Vice Chairman of the Board Wu Guangzheng, Bar Chairman of the Board Deng Zhaojian, Deng Yongqiang, Lu Yongyu, Lei Juekun, and others, together with Governor Mai Lihao and Transport Department Director Yan Dunli, were invited to Tuen Mun Butterfly Bay to see the Tesla vehicle.

Tesla is an independent car brand just established by Guojun Group. Chen Jiajun spent quite a lot of Hong Kong dollars for this license, and finally managed to secure it.

When naming it and designing the logo, it consumed quite a few of Chen Jiajun's brain cells. In the end, he decided to plagiarize the Tesla of Silicon Valley's Iron Man Musk.

At this moment, what was displayed before everyone was a 15-meter-long, 4-meter-high Tesla double-decker bus.

With eight pairs of wheels, a metallic chrome green paint finish, and large transparent glass windows, it looked much more high-end than the current Hong Kong buses.

(End of this chapter)