The year 1982 was a troubled year for Hong Kong. On the one hand, the property market continued to plummet, and on the other hand, the labor costs continued to increase. In addition, the shipping winter began to approach, and several pillar industries in Hong Kong faced tremendous pressure.
In particular, labor-intensive industries represented by textiles and clothing are accelerating their transfer to Pengcheng and the East India, Malaysia, and Thailand markets in order to reduce production costs.
The serious consequence of this is that the unemployment rate is high, especially in Sham Shui Po, which is centered on textile and garment production. The large number of unemployed citizens has become a headache for the Bryan government.
How to change Sham Shui Po so that it can transform its functions and reduce the unemployment rate in Sham Shui Po District? At 3 pm on February 10, Brian specially held an Executive Council meeting to discuss. The meeting was attended by not only official members, but also
Unofficial member of parliament.
In the conference room of the Government House, Chief Executive Kessos introduced the current situation in Sham Shui Po to the members present after the meeting began. He then asked those present to speak freely on how to change the current situation in Sham Shui Po and provide feasible suggestions to the government.
Li Jianhui, who is sitting in his seat, knows very well that since the outcome of the negotiations is still unclear, the Bryan government still attaches great importance to Hong Kong's economic development and social stability for the sake of public support and reputation.
But the secret negotiations between the two parties have reached a critical moment, and the change in Sham Shui Po is a long-term issue. Even if he has some ideas in his heart, he has a big question mark as to whether it can be implemented in the future. Therefore, he has not made the first move and plans to first
Hear what other people think about this.
Bao Yugang is different from Li Jianhui and others. Compared with Li Jianhui and others who are more concerned about family interests, he stands at the level of the country and the nation.
Seeing that the meeting place fell into silence for a moment without saying a word, he spoke up: "Due to the large number of people in our small town in Xiangjiang, and the rising labor costs in recent years, the low value-added labor-intensive industries in the Sham Shui Po Industrial Center are no longer available.
It is suitable for development in Xiangjiang, and major enterprises have no choice but to relocate. Otherwise, they will be trapped in Xiangjiang and will only go bankrupt.
The most important thing now is how to change the economic structure of Sham Shui Po and what industries will be used to fill the vacancies left after the relocation of the textile and garment industry.
I think we can start from three aspects. One is the residential industry. Although the property market in Xiangjiang is currently in a downturn, it is only due to the current situation. Currently, there are still many citizens in Xiangjiang who do not have a home for themselves to live in.
Moreover, the population density of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is extremely high. The development of Sham Shui Po is adjacent to Kowloon and not far from Hong Kong Island. It can completely divert some of the people from these two areas.
The second is to build Sham Shui Po into a new commercial and consumption center in Hong Kong and introduce a number of strong commercial complexes so that it can become the five major commercial and consumption centers in Hong Kong together with Central, Mong Kok, Tin Shui Wai and Tseung Kwan O.
The third is to rely on Sun Hung Kai Technology Group in Sham Shui Po to introduce a number of electronic semiconductor manufacturing R&D industries, making it another high-tech R&D and manufacturing industrial zone in Hong Kong after Tseung Kwan O and North District."
I have to say that the Charter King is indeed insightful. If these three things can be implemented, the development of Sham Shui Po will not be a problem at all.
It's just that many developments can't just be done on a pie-in-the-sky basis. They also need funds and enterprises to come in. Under the current situation, there are very few enterprises to take over even the land in Kowloon, let alone Sham Shui Po.
As for the electronics and semiconductor industry, Sun Hung Kai Technology Company in Sham Shui Po currently assembles IBM as an OEM. The main components are produced by major American companies, and it does not have much technology of its own.
In addition, Xiangjiang Capital currently invests mainly in finance and real estate, except for members of the Donghua Group who are enthusiastic about this industry, and does not pay much attention to the electronics and semiconductor industry.
Even if the Tung Wah Consortium expands production and capacity in the future, it will only choose Phoenix Industrial Park in North District and Xiangjiang High-tech Industrial Park in Dapu, not Sham Shui Po.
"Mr. Bao's proposal is indeed an idea. I also ask all members to express their opinions. Today we mainly want to listen to everyone's opinions. You are all members of the Executive Council and have the right to express your opinions on the development of Hong Kong."
After Brian finished speaking, Shen Bi and Li Zhaoji also spoke one after another, putting forward some of their own opinions on the future development of Sham Shui Po.
The emphasis is different, but they are consistent in developing residential communities to divert the residential population in Kowloon Island.
“I agree with the opinions of Mr. Bao Sheng, Li Sheng and Mr. Kadoorie on the construction of residential communities to separate the residents of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
In terms of establishing a commercial consumption center, our subsidiary Wheelock Group is willing to build the third Wheelock Plaza in Hong Kong in Sham Shui Po to contribute to the development of Sham Shui Po.
As for the industry in Sham Shui Po, I think it should be more focused on the R&D and production of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, which are currently relatively weak industries in Hong Kong. If possible, I suggest establishing a Heung Kong Medical University in Sham Shui Po to improve Hong Kong's capabilities in this area. Weakness, in this regard, my subsidiary Heung Kong Medical Group is willing to make some investments in Sham Shui Po."
Li Guobao also spoke out after Li Jianhui's speech: "Our Xiangjiang area is limited, and the development of various places should have clear positioning. At present, the government is focusing on supporting the development of Dapu Xiangjiang High-tech Industrial Park. At this time, Sham Shui Po will be positioned as an electronic semiconductor high-tech Industrial development zones are not conducive to the concentrated development of industries in Xiangjiang.
As for making every effort to build a commercial and consumer center, this aspect is not easy. The commercial and consumer centers in Xiangjiang are mainly in Central and Mong Kok. Tin Shui Wai and Tseung Kwan O are also far away from these two centers, so they have good markets. Sham Shui Po is close to these two centers. The two major centers are too close and are not easy to develop.
We compare ourselves to ordinary citizens. The distance is not much different. I believe you are more willing to go to Central and Mong Kok for consumption instead of Sham Shui Po business district.
Sham Shui Po needs businesses, but more of them should meet the needs of local residents in Sham Shui Po. Large-scale commercial development will only waste resources.
I support Jianhui's opinion, focusing on the development of medical equipment and pharmaceutical industries in Sham Shui Po, and even the R&D and production of physical exercise equipment. Our East Asia Holdings Group is willing to invest HK$500 million in Sham Shui Po to establish East Asia Pharmaceutical Group, which is mainly engaged in Research, development and production of Chinese herbal medicine.”
Compared with the previous few who just expressed their opinions, Li Jianhui and Li Guobao not only proposed development ideas, but also directly brought projects. As long as the government is willing to build Sham Shui Po into a medical device and pharmaceutical R&D and production center, and is willing to establish Heung Kong Medical University in Sham Shui Po. , they are willing to invest here.
Of course, the Bryan government must show sincerity in this regard, especially in terms of land transfer prices. Li Jianhui and others will not be taken advantage of.
Although Li Jianhui's opinion was more practical and feasible, it was not decided at the meeting that day. As for the positioning of the development of Sham Shui Po, I am afraid that it will still need to be discussed by Brian and Xosos before it can be decided.