Chapter 153: Expanding Political Connections
After Qin Zhiye left, Yang Wendong immediately made a call to Zhao Chengguang. "Mr. Zhao, do you happen to know anyone in the upper ranks of the Hong Kong government's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau?"
"Commerce and Economic Development Bureau?" Zhao Chengguang paused for a moment on the other end of the line before replying, "I don't know anyone directly, but I can reach out through a friend of mine who does. What's the matter, Mr. Yang? They don't oversee anything in the industrial sector."
"Well, how about this—are you on Hong Kong Island right now? Let's meet up and talk in person. It's been a while since we last saw each other anyway. Let's catch up over dinner," Yang Wendong suggested after a moment's thought.
Though the matter could be explained over the phone, since he was asking someone for a favor, it was only right to show proper courtesy. Even if Zhao was a long-term business partner, some formality was still appropriate. Sharing a meal was better than nothing and could help deepen their rapport.
Zhao Chengguang chuckled. "Sure, I'm on the island. Let me pick the place—how about Kong Ming Hotel? The food there's really good."
"Sounds good," Yang Wendong agreed easily. Most higher-end hotels had decent cuisine anyway.
When he arrived at Kong Ming Hotel, Zhao was already there. After exchanging pleasantries, the two sat down and started chatting over dinner.
"What? Hong Kong Chinese Daily is yours?" Zhao was startled upon hearing Yang Wendong's words. "I just started reading that paper recently! The color print is so much more pleasant to look at."
Yang Wendong smiled and said, "Yes, it's mine. I only started preparing for it a little over two months ago. I didn't contact you because I acquired the license through standard channels—no need to trouble you for that."
Getting into the newspaper business in Hong Kong was relatively easy. Some small papers started with just a few tens of thousands of dollars and a small team. As long as you followed the proper procedures, you could get certified to operate. The colonial government had very loose control over the industry.
Distribution was handled by a specialized logistics company that served the entire city. They collected the papers and delivered all newspapers together to individual newsstands. It was the most cost-effective method. Otherwise, each paper would have to hire its own delivery team. Even with Hong Kong's relatively low labor costs, the transport expenses would be significant and a huge time-waster.
As long as a problem could be solved with money, Yang Wendong typically didn't bother leveraging personal connections. Making money wasn't the hard part.
Zhao nodded. "So that's how it is. Actually, it's not surprising that you'd start a newspaper. What's surprising is how successful you've been right out of the gate. That's impressive. Plenty of wealthy folks have tried their hand at publishing here, but most of them ended up losing money for years before shutting down."
"Haha, I just happened to catch the opportunity to launch a color newspaper," Yang Wendong replied with a grin. "The big newspapers don't dare switch to color easily. If they do, prices go up, and they risk losing a large number of readers.
And running two separate editions with high-quality content is nearly impossible. You'll either have repeated content across both or you'll need to generate double the material. Either way, the risk is huge."
He had discussed this with Qin Zhiye before. Big newspapers weren't blind—they knew color printing was the future. In the West, color papers were already the norm.
But being the first to "eat the crab" always came with risk. If it worked, you soared. If it didn't, you crashed—like Kodak, Nokia, or Motorola in his previous life. They saw the need for change but failed to adapt in time.
Newcomers, by contrast, had nothing to lose. They could go all in and take market share from others.
"Mr. Yang, that makes a lot of sense. Looks like you'll not only be the Post-it King, but soon also the Newspaper King," Zhao laughed. "Come on, let's drink to that."
"Cheers." Yang raised his glass and took a sip. Thankfully, the alcohol wasn't too strong.
Zhao asked, "So, did you call me out today because of the newspaper? That does fall under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau."
"No, the paper's doing fine. Nothing that needs urgent handling. I'm letting it grow at a steady pace," Yang replied. "The reason I want to connect with that bureau is because I'm interested in bidding for the third commercial radio license that the government is about to release."
"Commercial radio license?" Zhao raised an eyebrow. "I've heard something about that. While radio's definitely valuable, the government's not allowing use of the existing two stations' transmitters. Whoever wins will need to buy land and build a brand-new transmission tower. That's a massive cost. And don't forget, only a small portion of the population owns radios. Financially, it doesn't sound very viable."
"That's not something you need to worry about. I have my own plans," Yang Wendong replied with a faint smile, offering no further explanation.
Looking only at the present, Zhao wasn't wrong. The Hong Kong radio market was limited, and a third station was unlikely to be profitable. That's why many big business players weren't getting involved.
But sometimes in business, you bet on the future—just like in real estate, where people pay high prices for land, gambling that it will become even more valuable later.
As a time traveler, Yang Wendong knew that over the next decade, Hong Kong's economy would explode. Only during 1966–1968 would it experience a short economic crisis.
More importantly, in another year or two, Japanese electronics companies—like Sony—would enter the Hong Kong market to manufacture radios, TVs, home appliances, and more for the British Commonwealth.
This would supercharge Hong Kong's electronics sector and flood the market with affordable products—especially radios.
In other words, within just a few years, the Hong Kong radio market would expand exponentially. With such rapid growth, as long as the new radio station didn't completely screw things up, it would be hard not to succeed.
"True. Given your current situation, that kind of money isn't a big deal," Zhao said, no longer pressing the issue.
Every tycoon had his hobbies, and some were willing to burn money on them. If Yang liked media, then so be it.
"I'll ask around this afternoon. Once I have the details, I'll let you know," Zhao said.
"Thanks." Yang raised his glass again. "But we'll need to move quickly—the bidding is right around the corner."
"Got it." Zhao took a sip, then asked, "Besides you, who else is participating in the bidding—anyone you're close with?"
"Ho Chor-sze. Have you heard of him?" Yang asked. Judging from Zhao's expression, he hadn't. So Yang explained, "He's a descendant of Ho Tung."
"Oh, I see. If he's representing the Ho family, then that could be trouble. They still hold significant influence in Hong Kong. But if it's just him acting independently, then it doesn't matter," Zhao said. "Everyone has their own connections. The rest just comes down to financial strength and name recognition. And Mr. Yang—you, the Post-it King—definitely have an edge."
"Haha," Yang chuckled. "That's exactly why I started the newspaper and want the radio license too. Once my reputation grows, everything else will be easier to do."
Setting aside the jobs he had already created directly and indirectly, if Yang Wendong managed to run a newspaper selling tens of thousands of copies, along with a radio station with hundreds of thousands of listeners, then even the Governor of Hong Kong would have to show him some respect on many matters.
Of course, the ultimate goal was still the TVB television station, which would come a few years later. But for now, that was still too far off.
Zhao Chengguang nodded and said, "Alright, I understand. I'll do everything I can to make this happen."
"Thanks." Yang Wendong smiled. "Changxing Industrial will be launching a few new products soon. Let's continue working together when the time comes."
Changxing Industrial had now entered a self-sustaining, regenerative phase of development. While it remained Yang Wendong's most important asset at present, it no longer required his day-to-day involvement.
That was one of the great advantages of a growing business. With capable professional managers in place, the boss only needed monthly updates and data, along with occasional input on new product ideas.
"No problem. Let's work together for a win-win future," Zhao said with a grin.
Three days later, Yang Wendong received an update. Through one of his contacts, Zhao Chengguang had arranged a meeting with Ms. Luo Wenhui, a legislative councilor, and Mr. Tian Yunjian, a senior officer from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.
The meeting was to be held at a modest, low-key coffee shop.
Before going in, Zhao pulled Yang aside. "Mr. Yang, today's meeting is different from the last one. Don't talk about benefits or profits. Just speak of cooperation."
"Only cooperation?" Yang asked, unsure of what Zhao meant.
Zhao explained, "Mr. Yang, you're a rising star in Hong Kong's business world, with immense potential. You don't have deep ties to the political world yet, so to many in politics, you're seen as someone worth courting."
"Worth courting? What does that entail exactly?" Yang asked.
"Nothing specific right now," Zhao said, shaking his head. "This meeting is just to get acquainted. They'll help you this time, and maybe in the future, if they need something, they'll come to you."
"So there has to be some sort of boundary, right?" Yang asked.
"Haha, don't worry, Mr. Yang. There are unspoken rules in all this," Zhao replied with a laugh. "It's all about tacit exchanges. This time they help you, next time you help them.
The things involved might be big or small, but usually, they're within your capacity. Even if you take a minor loss now, you can make it up later. If they ever ask for something unreasonable, you're free to say no. These things depend on context.
In the political and business worlds, most of the time it's just about mutual cooperation. It's not like they help you once and then send you an invoice."
"That's true." Yang nodded. "So it's more of a mutual interest relationship?"
"Not quite that formal," Zhao replied. "It's more of a network of familiarity—when people know each other, and have the means to help, they do. As long as it doesn't offend others, of course. That's still a far cry from a formal alliance."
"And what if one side keeps making demands?" Yang asked.
"That rarely happens," Zhao said after a pause. "If it does, compensation comes into play. Otherwise, they'd be violating the basic etiquette. People like that don't belong in this sort of network."
"Got it," Yang said with a nod.
While everyone in the world loved money, some didn't see it as the most important thing. Or rather, they understood that other things—like power, influence, and networks—were even more valuable.
Often, those things could easily be converted into money. But the reverse wasn't always true.
"Mr. Yang, you're a smart man. No need to say more. Let's go in," Zhao said with a smile. "This is also a good chance to help you build some political connections. It'll be important for your future business ventures."
"Agreed." Yang definitely shared that view.
Even though most of his profits came from overseas markets, as long as he operated in Hong Kong, he had to maintain a good relationship with the government—or at the very least, avoid a bad one.
Especially now that he was getting involved in local industries—like the newspaper he already owned, the upcoming radio station, and his future plans for the real estate sector.
Following Zhao's lead, Yang entered a private room and met the two government officials.
"Mr. Tian, Ms. Luo, this is Mr. Yang, the famous Post-it King," Zhao introduced. "Mr. Yang, this is Councilor Luo Wenhui and Deputy Director of Commerce Mr. Tian Yunjian."
"Ms. Luo, Mr. Tian, it's a pleasure," Yang said politely, shaking their hands.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Yang," they responded, also shaking hands.
Councilor Luo smiled and said, "I've long heard the story of your rise, Mr. Yang. Starting from a shantytown and building your business into what it is today—that's truly admirable."
Mr. Tian nodded. "Indeed. Everyone I know who's mentioned you has nothing but praise. They all give you a thumbs-up."
"You flatter me," Yang replied with a smile.
In truth, people who rose from nothing did tend to earn admiration. Even in his previous life, Yang respected those who made it through sheer grit.
"Shall we all take our seats?" Zhao suggested.
"Of course."
They sat down. While the waitstaff brought food, no one discussed serious business. They chatted casually until the room cleared.
Once they were alone, Mr. Tian said, "Mr. Yang, we've heard about your interest in bidding for the new radio license. Given your reputation and with a bit of support from us, your chances are looking quite good.
That said, the procedures still need to be followed. You'll have to prepare the necessary documentation."
"Thank you both," Yang said, then hesitated before adding, "But there's one issue—I haven't yet found a professional with experience in running a radio station, and time is running short."
Mr. Tian thought for a moment. "I see. Well, I know some people in that line of work. I'll make some inquiries tomorrow to see if any of them would be interested in working with you.
But to be clear, I can only introduce you. Whether or not you reach a deal is entirely up to you."
"That would be incredibly helpful, Mr. Tian. Thank you," Yang said sincerely.
The benefits of such meetings were immediately obvious. Sure, a headhunting agency might eventually find the right talent, but time was a huge variable—especially given how few people in Hong Kong had real experience with radio.
But Mr. Tian was in charge of this very field in the government. Naturally, he knew people.
Mr. Tian nodded and continued, "As for the bidding process, I'm sure Mr. Yang knows it's not like the real estate market. Each bidder must submit a sealed proposal detailing the bid price and the future operational plan.
We'll conduct an internal review and determine who gets the license. Price is a critical factor—and one of your advantages. Compared to others, your financial capacity is far greater. Most of the big conglomerates aren't interested in a small radio station. So this part is up to you to consider carefully."
"That depends on each person's commercial outlook," Yang said, nodding.
In some auctions, people openly shouted out bids. In others, like this one, participants submitted sealed proposals. This forced everyone to write down the highest number they could realistically commit to—maximizing the benefit for the government.
Mr. Tian said, "Exactly. Bid too low, and you lose the opportunity. Bid too high, and you take a loss. Mr. Yang, you'll have to think it through carefully."
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