Chapter 305: Water Crisis and the Black-and-White Television Production Line
"Alright, then I'll arrange the current work over the next few days and head to Japan," Zheng Yuhua said. "Once I've visited the shipyards and banks there, we can make a final decision."
Yang Wendong nodded. "Good. The main thing depends on the Japanese side. As for HSBC here in Hong Kong, I've already settled things with Saunders. As long as the loan amount isn't too high in proportion to the ship's cost, it shouldn't be a problem."
The Japanese government, in an effort to encourage overseas shipowners to place orders with their shipyards, also provided loan support—typically with low interest rates. However, in most cases, they only covered about 50% of the ship's value. This was part of the Japanese banks' risk control strategy.
But for the shipowners, coming up with the remaining half themselves was often unrealistic. That's why cooperation with banks outside of Japan was still essential. For Hong Kong shipowners, HSBC was naturally the first choice.
That was exactly how Bao Yugang had risen to prominence. Once he secured full backing from HSBC, he only needed to cover less than 10% of a ship's cost himself in some cases. With leverage that high and a rising market—especially after the 1967 Middle East crisis, when demand surged exponentially—Bao Yugang, with his own considerable talent, rose to become the world's shipping king.
At noon, Yang Wendong had lunch in the shipyard's cafeteria, then made his way to a Changxing Water Storage Station in northern Kwai Chung.
At that moment, under the scorching sun, long lines of people were still queuing for water.
"Dong-ge?" Zhao Liming and Lin Haoyu came walking over from inside the water station.
Yang Wendong smiled. "What a coincidence! What are you two doing here?"
Zhao Liming chuckled. "Dong-ge, I knew you went to the shipyard here in Kwai Chung, so I figured you might come to check on the water station too. Since Haoyu and I often run between stations anyway, I came over to take a look."
"Mm." Yang Wendong nodded. "How's the water distribution going lately?"
Lin Haoyu replied, "There are more and more people coming to collect water, but the rate at which we receive water is getting slower. Fortunately, you had us build that 1,000-cubic-meter reservoir back then. Otherwise, there would've been serious interruptions."
Yang Wendong frowned. "Changxing Shipping's water transport tonnage is more than sufficient. There shouldn't be any supply issues here, right?"
Lin Haoyu explained, "Yes, the tonnage is fine. But the water delivered by ship still has to go through the water treatment plants and pipeline systems before it reaches here. Lately, every district in Hong Kong is short on water, and the Water Supplies Department can't allocate much to us."
Yang Wendong's expression hardened. "Push them a bit. The amount of water we're shipping in far exceeds what's needed at this station. This is life-saving water."
Lin Haoyu said cautiously, "Dong-ge, we've brought that up too. But word is this comes from the Hong Kong government—they want to ensure the continued operation of many commercial projects. So the Water Supplies Department is in a tough spot."
"Of course. As long as people don't die, nothing is more important than the economy," Yang Wendong muttered. That was how political figures always were.
Zhao Liming added, "Actually, the situation around the squatter areas has improved. People still have to line up, but within a few hours, most can get their share. Some can even drink a little on the spot. Compared to other places, it's actually not that bad."
"Mm, I'll think more about the overall situation," Yang Wendong said with a nod.
In more affluent areas, the government and water company would naturally prioritize supply. It made sense—the economic heart of Hong Kong lay in those few areas. Any problem there would ripple through the entire economy, potentially causing long-term damage even after the water crisis ended.
For example, if factories had to scale back due to water or power shortages, foreign clients might shift their orders elsewhere. And even if you restored operations later, those clients might have already settled with new suppliers. Workers would lose their jobs regardless.
Meanwhile, in extremely poor areas—like around the squatter zones—Yang Wendong had arranged for special care.
But the areas in between, scattered residential pockets, posed the biggest challenge. They lacked centralized infrastructure, making consistent water supply difficult.
Lin Haoyu said, "Right now, we're letting each station manager adjust the water allocation based on how much is in the reservoir and the number of people lining up. The daily allowance ranges from 3 to 10 liters per person. Just enough for basic survival needs."
"How many people come here for water each day?" Yang Wendong asked.
"About five to six thousand," Lin Haoyu replied. "Though many people queue up multiple times—that's allowed, since we have no real way to control it.
Also, actual water consumption is higher than the distribution figures. People need water while waiting in line too, to avoid heatstroke or fights breaking out. We use part of the supply to keep things orderly."
Yang Wendong asked, "So the only input is via slow, continuous pipeline delivery throughout the day?"
"Exactly," Lin Haoyu said. "Water is pumped in 24/7, and we release it as needed. The key is to maintain a balance.
Right now, the reservoir usually has about 300 tons of water at any given time. If supply is interrupted or drops significantly, this station wouldn't last more than a couple of days."
Yang Wendong nodded. "Alright. Then keep balancing things. As long as people aren't dying of thirst and have enough to cook with, we're good."
People can survive without food for seven or eight days—longer if they're well-fed. They can always find something to eat, even grass.
But without water? It's over in just a few days.
Historically, Hong Kong had never reached the level of a true humanitarian disaster, even during its worst droughts. But many people still suffered tremendously.
"Understood," said Lin Haoyu. "We also have over twenty water trucks on standby. If there's an emergency, we'll send water by truck.
On regular days, we also cooperate with Oriental Daily reporters. If we hear of severe shortages somewhere, we can deliver some supply there too."
"That works. Emergency times call for flexible responses. Even if the cost is a bit higher," Yang Wendong said calmly. To him, this wasn't even worth worrying about financially.
Zhao Liming grinned. "Dong-ge, it's actually not costing us anything. In fact, we're making a profit. This station is the only free one. In other areas, we charge for the water.
After all, we're delivering straight to their doorsteps. And most of the villages we serve have decent buying power."
"That's good," Yang Wendong said with a laugh. "Just don't overcharge."
"We understand," Lin Haoyu added. They both knew this initiative was about reputation for Yang Wendong.
Even if they jacked up prices, they wouldn't make much. And a man like Yang Wendong—the 'Post-it King'—wasn't going to bother squeezing pennies from this.
"Let's go inside and have a look," Yang Wendong said.
"Alright," Lin Haoyu responded quickly, leading the way. After making a circuit around the water station inside and out, Yang Wendong suddenly noticed a box full of electric mosquito swatters on a table nearby. Curious, he asked, "Why are there so many mosquito swatters here?"
Zhao Liming stepped forward, picked one up, and said, "They're just for zapping mosquitoes outside at night."
"At night?" Yang Wendong asked.
Lin Haoyu explained, "Yes, Dong-ge. You might think there are a lot of people lining up during the day, but actually, there are even more at night. The problem is, this area is full of mosquitoes, and they're incredibly annoying. The people in line, the security guards, and those handing out water are all getting bitten non-stop.
At first, we used mosquito coils and smoke repellents, but over time, that became unbearable for the people themselves. So later, we handed out electric mosquito swatters to the security guards and volunteers. They'd actively hunt down mosquitoes and zap them."
"That's not going to wipe out the mosquitoes though, is it?" Yang Wendong questioned.
"It won't eliminate them," Lin Haoyu admitted, "but it definitely reduces their numbers."
"Fair enough. I suppose that's one use for mosquito swatters." Yang Wendong nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, electric mosquito swatters weren't as effective indoors compared to mosquito coils or sprays, but in open areas or large indoor spaces, they worked much better. Especially when you could find the breeding spots—one sweep could zap a bunch.
Of course, in wide open areas, it was practically impossible to wipe out all the mosquitoes. But reducing their numbers was very feasible. Mosquitoes had limited range—usually under a hundred meters. Wiping them out in one spot could lead to a temporary "vacuum zone."
Zhao Liming laughed, "They make good toys for kids too. I've heard a lot of people buy them just to let their kids play with them."
"That's even better," Yang Wendong chuckled. "The toy market is even bigger."
He then turned serious again. "Keep an eye on all the water stations. If any of them run dry, tell me immediately. I'll see what we can do. No matter what, we have to ensure people in the area at least have water to drink and cook with. I'll speak to the Water Supplies Department again."
The drought in Hong Kong was only just beginning. According to historical records, there wouldn't be significant rainfall until the following autumn. There was still a long road ahead.
Fortunately, he had prepared early and had built up a considerable water transport capability. Otherwise, there would've been nothing he could do.
That afternoon, Yang Wendong returned home and unexpectedly saw Bai Yujie, the younger sister of Bai Yushan.
"What brings you here?" Yang Wendong asked with a smile.
"I came to keep my sister company. She hasn't been feeling well lately," Bai Yujie answered. "Not welcome?"
"Of course you're welcome," Yang Wendong replied, smiling. "Come anytime. There are plenty of empty rooms here if you want to stay."
At that moment, Bai Yushan chimed in, "Our home's been having water issues too. Yujie came over partly so she could shower here."
"Your area's got water issues too?" Yang Wendong asked, surprised. "That's a villa district!"
Bai Yujie explained, "It's not completely out of water yet, but the water pressure is really low. Sometimes it cuts off entirely. Nothing too serious, but it takes forever to do anything. Bathing has become a real hassle."
"I see... the situation's clearly worsening," Yang Wendong said, nodding. "Feel free to use the water here—just don't waste it. I've got a separate water supply set up."
Back when he bought the villa, Yang Wendong had the entire water system overhauled by his housekeeper, including the installation of a large water storage tank.
Even though mid-level villa areas generally didn't face water shortages, when the entire city was running low, water pressure was inevitably affected. The storage tank served as a buffer, ensuring that the house would have sufficient pressure and supply when needed.
"Okay," Bai Yujie replied obediently.
Then Bai Yushan asked, "Isn't there a solution to the water shortage in Hong Kong?"
"There's no rain in all of South China—what can be done?" Yang Wendong shook his head. "My ships can transport some water, enough to slightly ease the situation. The water stations can at least ensure people don't go thirsty. But beyond that... we just have to endure."
Until water from the Dongjiang River was brought into Hong Kong, not even a god could solve the issue. And that was a matter of political negotiation—Yang Wendong wasn't going to be involved, nor would it make any difference if he was.
"It's so hard on ordinary people," Bai Yujie sighed. "Thankfully, you've got a lot of ships. Otherwise, it would be a total disaster. I heard the government can't even rent any ships right now—most shipowners aren't willing to take the job."
"You can't blame them," Yang Wendong replied. "All those ships have existing contracts. No one's going to cover their penalties if they break them, not even the government."
In truth, even for shipowners who ran their own operations, it was near impossible to pull vessels off existing jobs to take on emergency water deliveries—unless the government enforced a wartime-style requisition. Yang Wendong had flexibility only because he had recently purchased new ships that weren't yet locked into any long-term business.
"Yeah," Bai Yujie nodded in understanding.
"Don't think too much about it," Yang Wendong added. "The world's full of situations like this. Just focus on living your own life well."
As mid-October arrived, business across Yang Wendong's various ventures was progressing steadily.
The Hong Kong Wendong Museum had begun laying foundations. The Four Seasons Hotel had already completed three floors. Changxing Real Estate had acquired three more plots on Hong Kong Island, intended for development into small commercial buildings centered around Carrefour supermarkets.
On the 16th, Yang Wendong visited the industrial park in Kwun Tong.
After touring the facilities, he said to Wei Zetao, "Old Wei, Changxing Industries needs to roll out new products as soon as possible. Innovation is the key."
"Understood, Mr. Yang," Wei Zetao replied. "So far this year, we've launched over fifty different products. Our revenue has exceeded HK$10 million. But it's still a long way off from hits like the Post-it notes and the rolling luggage."
"That's alright," Yang Wendong said. "Just keep developing. New ideas and R&D are what matter."
Even a company like 3M didn't churn out blockbuster products every year. Hong Kong had an even smaller base to work from. What mattered was constant experimentation and iteration.
Only with sufficient research and development—and strong market testing—could there be hope for the next breakout product.
"We've been continuing to develop new things," said Wei Zetao.
"Good."
After that, they visited the offices of Rongyao Electronics. Wang Zhiqun led everyone on a full tour of the facility.
Yang Wendong smiled and asked, "Looks like our three products are selling pretty well overseas?"
"Yes," Wang Zhiqun said. "Right now, we're mainly exporting to Taiwan and some Southeast Asian countries. Even the electric mosquito swatter has made it to Japan. Sales have been solid across the board."
"Great. Keep expanding in international markets," Yang Wendong said. "Hong Kong is too small. No matter what industry we're in, we have to rely on overseas markets."
"Understood." Wang Zhiqun then added, "Mr. Yang, I've also been in contact with RCA. They have a large black-and-white television production line up for sale. The line is quite substantial—its annual output is around 500,000 units."
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