I want to be a giant of Hong Kong Island

Chapter 336 [The container sails out of Asia! ] (Ask for a monthly pass!)

Before 1955, Zuijiu Bay in Kwai Chung was a simple and charming pastoral scenery. As the Universal Group invested in three container terminals here, this formerly peaceful harbor was bustling with activity.

The Kwai Chung area of ​​Hong Kong Island has also become the birthplace of the world's container shipping, and has a great reputation.

As a result, Global Terminals has gained a huge reputation, so it has taken advantage of the trend to invest in container terminals around the world in recent years;
At present, the number of container terminals owned by Global Terminals has reached fifteen, and they are:

Three in Hong Kong Island (Kwai Chung 123), three in Dongying (Tokyo Port, Osaka Port, Yokohama Port), two in Sing Tao, one in Malaysia, two in South Africa, one in the United Kingdom, one in Germany, and two in Brazil.

After years of development, container transportation has begun to trend towards globalization, and container ships have been widely used in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, the United States and other countries.

However, before handling these large rectangular containers, relevant parties must first set up dedicated terminal facilities in order to enjoy the convenience brought by the increased efficiency.

Undoubtedly, Global Terminal has great authority in this regard.

But it is a pity that even container transportation has become popular in the world;
But so far, container shipping has not crossed the Atlantic Ocean, let alone a container ship route from the Far East to Europe and the United States.

This kind of long-distance container navigation not only requires shipping technology, but also needs support from various aspects such as business and terminals.

In 1961, golden autumn October.

The Kwai Chung Container Terminal was crowded with people, and many people were watching the busy scene on the terminal;

Some of them are businessmen on Hong Kong Island, and the containers being lifted at this time contain their goods;

Global Container Transport Service Company, a subsidiary of Global Shipping, has already implemented charging by container instead of by weight;

Of course, in order to consider that it is wasteful for some customers to use a container, Global Container Transport Company allows several companies to rent a container.

After years of operation, Global Container Transport Company has opened up a number of container transport routes, but it has not rushed out of Asia to Europe and the United States.

And just today, the container ship of Universal Group will sail to Europe, opening up a new chapter in the container era.

If it goes well, this will be a real transoceanic voyage of container transportation, and it will truly enter the era of containers in the future.

There were also many reporters in the crowd, they came from Hong Kong Island, Dongying, and even European and American reporters, witnessing this historical moment.

There are also many citizens in the crowd, they are purely here to watch the excitement, they don't even understand what today's voyage means; they are just curious about how such a large cabinet is loaded on the cargo ship.

Watching the 20-foot containers being hoisted onto the cargo ship, this scene still shocked the onlookers.

From the earliest 12-foot container to the current 20-foot container, Global Group has done a lot of experiments, and finally determined the 20-foot container as one of the standards.

Of course, this standard has not been unified in the world, and Global Group will lobby European and American shipping companies for this standard.

What an honor it is to set standards, and Universal Group should have this honor.

"What's in there?" a citizen watching curiously asked.

People around are talking about it, but there is no unified answer.

"I know, the newspaper said that the goods inside include ready-made clothing, textiles, plastic flowers, toys; there are even goods from Japan, such as electrical appliances."

"Why are Dongying's goods on our docks on Hong Kong Island?"

"You are stupid! Hong Kong Island is an entrepot port. Dongying exports goods to Europe and the United States, and Hong Kong Island is the only way for him to pass through."

For a while, everyone was talking about it.

Many executives from British foreign firms also came to Kwai Chung Wharf to observe every move of Universal Group.

"Our British-funded foreign firms should also unite to invest in a container terminal, so as not to fall behind the Chinese merchants in the future." The executive of Jebsen & Co. said.

Jebsen & Co. is not well-known in later generations, but it has indeed always existed on Hong Kong Island, and it is a relatively large foreign firm.

However, Jebsen & Co.'s words did not get everyone's approval.

Keswick, who is Jardine Matheson and the head class of Wharf, should feel anxious at this time. After all, the Kwai Chung container shipping terminal directly affects Wharf.

But on the contrary, Keswick didn't care about the container terminal at this time, even dismissed it.

Keswick believes that container shipping may not be able to occupy a large share, but investment in container terminals requires huge investment.

According to the experience of Global Terminals, a container terminal needs tens of millions of dollars;

After all, in 1955, the start-up capital of the container terminal of the global shipping was 1000 million US dollars.

With the passage of time, the cost of manpower and material resources increases, and the investment of a container terminal may be more than 1200 million US dollars.

This investment is impossible for any foreign firm on Hong Kong Island, even if they unite, they may not be able to get it out.

In later generations, the Container Terminal Committee was established on Hong Kong Island in 1966, but because of too much investment and uncertain prospects, no action has been taken;
It was not until 1969 that the three famous European container shipping companies took the lead, and HSBC, Swire, Jebsen and the Kadoorie family subsequently joined;
As the owner of Wharf, Jardine Matheson refused to join;

This incident has always made Jardine Matheson extremely regretful.

Seeing that no one responded to him, the executives of Jebsen & Co. could not help but be secretly disappointed. The British-owned foreign firms are not united!
HSBC has completely turned to the Chinese businessmen. Whatever Chinese do, HSBC will follow suit;
Of course, it is also driven by profit. HSBC has followed Wu Guangyao these years, and its annual profit is higher than HSBC's original profit.

If you change to another foreign company, you have to choose this way.

At this time, Wu Guangyao was accompanying the governor of Hong Kong, Robert Parker, and other government officials to witness the shipping event.

"Mr. Wu, do you think our Hong Kong government should set up a container committee to study new shipping trends and countermeasures on Hong Kong Island?"

Bai Liji's words shocked Wu Guangyao, this is not a good thing for him!
"Your Excellency, the trend of ocean-going container voyages is not yet clear, and coupled with the huge investment, no one may be willing to join in. My opinion is to observe and observe. Of course, you can ask everyone if they are willing to join!" Wu Guangyao said.

Anyway, Universal Group already has three container terminals in Kwai Chung, and Wu Guangyao is not in a hurry.

And just like what Wu Guangyao said, even Europe and the United States are not popular yet. Do you think these British foreign firms dare to invest?
Bai Liji naturally knew what Wu Guangyao was thinking, but he felt that Wu Guangyao was right!
The reason why Global Shipping dared to take the lead in opening ocean-going container routes is because they already have complete technology, huge financial and resource support.

Other British foreign firms in Hong Kong Island absolutely do not have this strength!
HSBC is rich, but now it has been tied up by Universal Group.

"What you said makes sense! I was too anxious. We should wait for the form to be clarified before our Hong Kong government establishes this committee. At that time, please invite Mr. Wu to serve as the deputy of this committee and give us advice!" Bai Li Ki stepped back and said.

Universal Group has enough experience in container transportation, and the Hong Kong government naturally wants to rely more on it;
However, the Hong Kong government absolutely does not want Universal Group to get involved in the construction of the next container terminal.

You must know that no company in Kwai Chung in later generations can monopolize a single container terminal, while Universal Group has already occupied three.

If the container era comes, Universal Group will be envied and envied by many people;

But Wu Guangyao is not afraid. He has a 99-year lease contract and HSBC as an ally.

Wu Guangyao estimated that after the Global Group opened the route to Europe and the United States, it would attract everyone's attention within five years;

At that time, it will also be the advent of the era of container shipping!

And Kwai Chung has nine container terminals in later generations, which means that six more containers will be built;
However, Wu Guangyao predicted that the Hong Kong government may not allow Universal Group to invest again;

After all, the benefits should be shared with everyone, and investors from the United States, Europe, and Japan will come here to bid.

(End of this chapter)