"So?" Shek Chi-yik picked up a wig with a wavy perm in his hand and looked at Song Tianyao.
"Director Shi, the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office should present some impressive data to the Government House, shouldn't it? And before selling the wigs to the United States, we need to show everyone how popular they are, to stimulate those who still want to continue running factories and making money, to make them realize that they should stop caring about the Nanyang and Middle East markets, and now they should do business with the United States. I think you could consider helping to promote my products, for example, by putting in a good word with the purchasing departments of Lane Crawford, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams —three long-established department stores with chain stores in the Britain." Song Tianyao said to Shek Chi-yik, "Britain department stores should support Hong Kong help it through this difficult time, instead of letting this Far Eastern city gradually fade away while they sell United States products that caused this situation. Hong Kong is now Britain colony, and these wigs in front of you should also be considered Britain goods."
"If the price is lower than United States goods, I can consider arranging a meeting for you. What you said makes sense; Hong Kong is Britain, that's undeniable. Of course, your products are also Britain, although you'll have to label it as a colony." Shek Chi-yik had known Song Tianyao for some time, and there was no need to be so subtle anymore. Nowadays, a portion of Crown Asia Company's monthly profits were transferred to his wife's account, and his relationship with Song Tianyao was very stable.
"I've done my research. Except for extremely rare hair colors and complex styles, most United States wigs sell for around Hong Kong dollars 1400 to Hong Kong dollars 1550 at the three major Britain department stores. The price the United States suppliers pay them is around Hong Kong dollars 1200. That means the department stores make a profit of Hong Kong dollars 300 on each United States- made wig sold. My wigs, on the other hand, are sold from the factory to my Hin Wing Trading Company, for Hong Kong dollars 1000. Hin Wing Trading Company can then sell them to the three major department stores for as low as Hong Kong dollars 1050. Furthermore, I've reserved shares for Mrs. Bess at Xianrong Company. For every wig sold to the three major Britain companies, Mrs. Bess's Oxfam account will receive an extra Hong Kong dollars 50. Do you think this price is low enough?" Since Shek Chi-yik asked directly, Song Tianyao didn't beat around the bush and frankly stated the price and the benefits Shek Chi-yik would receive. "Or do you still prefer United States products?"
"How many wigs can your factory produce each month?" Shek Chi-yik neither nodded nor shook his head, but continued to ask.
He was never worried about how much benefit Song Tianyao would give him; this young China person always thought things through thoroughly.
Song Tianyao picked up a wig from the table. "My factory currently has four sets of equipment. Each set operates 24 hours a day, and depending on the workers' skill level, it can produce six to eight wigs in 24 hours. With four sets of equipment, the production volume of wigs in a month is approximately nine hundred."
Shek Chi-yik mentally estimated that a wig had a factory price of Hong Kong dollars 1,000. If all nine hundred wigs were sold, that would be Hong Kong dollars 900,000. With the current Embargo Order effect, there were very few factories in Hong Kong that could achieve a monthly turnover of Hong Kong dollars 900,000. No wonder Song Tianyao said that when the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office reported to the Government House, the paper figures would look much better. A monthly increase of Hong Kong dollars 900,000 might not have been much in the early post-war period, but during the time that the Embargo Order raging in Hong Kong, it could already show a fairly nice upward trend on paper.
"After that, how do you plan to open up the United States market?" Shek Chi-yik looked at Song Tianyao: "I've always been skeptical of your insistence on driving the entire Hong Kong wig production industry. Song, you're hardly a kind person at heart. Would you be willing to share a monthly turnover of 900,000 with others?"
"Just like I wrote in my notebook, I will do it. If you don't believe me, Director Shi, just keep reading. By the way, what about the HSBC loan I asked you about at dinner last time?" Song Tianyao smiled at Shek Chi-yik, not dwelling on the question Shek Chi-yik had raised, and smoothly changed the subject.
Shek Chi-yik didn't press further. He nodded and said, "Of course, as long as you're sure the guarantor is legitimate and the loan will appear in the accounts of the company registered by Miss Pellis. Angie Perlis, there won't be any problems. Considering the special relationship between Angie Perlis and you, HSBC even specially assigned a business manager named Michael Sandberg, whose Chinese name is Michael Sandberg, to handle this matter."
"Who?" Song Tianyao paused for a moment upon hearing the name, and unusually asked a second question.
"Michael Sandberg, Michael Sandberg, do you know him? He was just transferred from the HSBC branch in Japan to Hong Kong. He's a very capable and diligent young man. Most importantly, he also graduated from University of Oxford," Shek Chi-yik said, looking at Song Tianyao's expression with some surprise.
Song Tianyao shook his head slightly and explained with a smile, "It's nothing, it's just that this Mr. Michael Sandberg's Chinese name is the same as a friend of mine."
Shek Chi-yik didn't pay attention to Song Tianyao's performance just now. In his opinion, Song Tianyao and the business manager of HSBC should not have any interaction. It was very likely that he was surprised because of the same name.
However, when Song Tianyao heard the name Michael Sandberg, his first reaction was not because Michael Sandberg was the future chairman of HSBC, a century-old financial empire, but rather because he thought of Li Chaoren, who was probably still in the early stages of his career. In his previous life, there were many rumors that Li Chaoren was able to truly establish himself as a Hong Kong real estate tycoon because his wife, Chung Yuet-ming, helped him get in touch with Michael Sandberg. There were even rumors that Li Chaoren Chung Yuet-ming was Michael Sandberg's mistress. Of course, the truth of these rumors was unknown.
However, it's true that Li Chaoren met Michael Sandberg through his wife. Furthermore, during Michael Sandberg's tenure as chairman of HSBC, he acquired a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa for a price lower than a supermarket clearance sale, without bidding, and even allowed Sandberg to defer payment. After this news broke, many people commented that even a father's favoritism towards his son wouldn't exceed this level. Hutchison Whampoa was worth at least Hong Kong dollars 1.5 billion at the time, yet Michael Sandberg sold it to Li Chaoren for only Hong Kong dollars 639 million. Therefore, it's not surprising that such rumors circulate.