Chapter 462: Hong Kong Island Plan and the Match

After some exchanges with Xu Yanni, Vice President of the Economic Development Bureau EDB, Li Xiaofan heard their difficulties and the underlying meaning.

A semiconductor wafer project with a total investment of at least one billion US dollars is very popular from the perspective of pure investment promotion and industry of the Economic Development Bureau EDB.

Throughout 1995, the total amount of foreign investment in manufacturing attracted by Singapore was about US$3 billion, maintaining a high growth rate of 12%, mainly from foreign investment in the two pillar industries of petrochemicals and semiconductors.

If the project planned by Li Xiaofan and others can be implemented, it will directly account for one-third of the total foreign investment introduced in the manufacturing industry last year. Moreover, if this billion US dollars of real money is invested, how much GDP and employment can it boost Singapore's GDP!

However, from the perspective of the industrial layout of Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings, the new wafer foundry project planned by Li Xiaofan and others is obviously contradictory and conflicting with the Singapore Chartered Semiconductor project in which Temasek Holdings has invested heavily. The two companies will become direct competitors.

Forget it, like Taiwan, the two foundries of TSMC and UMC are also surviving quite well, although there are constant "fights" and disputes between the two companies.

But there is currently one of the most critical time points: Singapore will face a general election next year in 1997. Previously, the opposition party has been using the loss-making state-invested chartered semiconductor project to "make a fuss" and attack the ruling party...

Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, the prudent Vice President Xu Yanni did not express support for the wafer foundry project planned by Li Xiaofan.

"Director Li, regarding this wafer foundry project, I will discuss it with my leaders and colleagues, and contact you if there is any news. In any case, thank you for your support of EDB investment promotion work, and thank you for your support of Singapore Great contribution to economic development!”

Li Xiaofan knew that Vice President Xu Yanni was speaking politely. In fact, he was politely refusing to place the wafer foundry project he planned in Singapore.

After coming out of the EDB building of the Economic Development Bureau, Lin Muchiu said to Li Xiaofan:

"Director Li, I heard you mention it last time. Dr. Zhang once suggested that this semiconductor project should be moved to Hong Kong. I think it can be considered. Hong Kong is a free trade port with free entry and exit of funds. It is close to mainland China, and Hong Kong There are no large semiconductor wafer projects, so I think this should be a good choice..."

"Well, Mu Qiu, I am also considering going to Hong Kong to give it a try. However, it seems that it is not the right time now. Hong Kong Island will officially return to the embrace of the motherland on July 1 next year. Now is the busiest time before the handover of Hong Kong Island. Node. It’s probably a bit awkward to go to Hong Kong now. No one will care about our project. We have to wait until Hong Kong Island returns to China on July 1 next year to negotiate with the new SAR government!”

From a geographical point of view, Li Xiaofan sincerely feels that Hong Kong is indeed the best choice for the wafer semiconductor project they are planning. After the return next year, Dr. Zhang will be able to "return to the motherland" to build a factory. He has a special relationship with his old father. Account. Moreover, the import of advanced semiconductor equipment will not be subject to so many restrictions in the future.

Also, if necessary in the future, it will be very easy to transport chips and equipment to the mainland through "special channels."

However, the story of Dr. Zhang’s previous life in which he was full of enthusiasm to invest in Hong Kong Island but was frustrated is still vivid in his mind.

In 1999, Hong Kong Island ambitiously formulated the "Cyberport" plan and proposed the development of Internet technology in a very forward-looking manner. This plan is quite far-sighted, because at that time, Google was still starting a business in a private car garage, and Facebook and Twitter were not yet there; Tencent in China was just a small entrepreneurial team of 10 people, and Alibaba’s Teacher Ma had just started starting a business at home. …

Later, Hong Kong Island proposed the "Silicon Port" plan, hoping to develop the chip industry based on the radio industry.

But it is a pity that due to various complicated reasons, Hong Kong Island's "Cyberport" and "Silicon Port" plans were not implemented. A semiconductor wafer project with huge investment like Dr. Zhang's was inexplicably used by some local people with ulterior motives. The developers were “driven away”.

However, the land that was originally planned to be used as an industrial park was turned into a fake real estate project by some real estate developers like Zhaiguali and his son.

When the project was finally completed, the real estate area in the science and technology park was actually as high as 70%, which greatly violated the original design. Moreover, the floor height and floor area ratio of the project were different from the design. Everything was aimed at making money. The big companies and big projects that were promised were not brought in, only some unknown small companies came. Cyberport ultimately failed to live up to its name, and the Asian Silicon Valley plan ultimately aborted...

Thinking of this, Li Xiaofan suddenly had an idea in his head:

It is now 1996, and next year 1997 will be a very special year that will usher in two major events: the return of Hong Kong Island and the Asian financial crisis.

And two years later, in the summer of 1998, the thrilling "Hong Kong Island Financial Defense War" will take place, and there will be huge opportunities for me!

In his previous life, Dr. Zhang planned the wafer project to be launched on Hong Kong Island in 1999. In the previous 1998 years, because Hong Kong Island received strong support from the mainland, it won the "Hong Kong Island Financial Defense War" and maintained Hong Kong Island's economic stability. Therefore, those developers gained confidence in Hong Kong Island and began to build large-scale projects. Large-scale real estate investment...

Or simply postpone the semiconductor wafer foundry project planned by Dr. Zhang for one year, and immediately negotiate with the new SAR government for settlement matters after Hong Kong Island returns to the motherland on July 1 next year.

The Asian financial crisis that is about to happen next year will have a huge impact on the economy behind Hong Kong Island. House prices have plummeted by half in a few months, and the stock market has almost collapsed. Due to the tightening of money, some Chinese-owned enterprises have failed to get loans and have closed down, and the unemployment rate has been rising. Soaring...

If I and Dr. Zhang go to Hong Kong to invest in a semiconductor wafer project in the second half of next year, it is estimated that it will be more popular and will not encounter the huge resistance in the previous life in 1999.

At the same time, there are a large group of Mingzhou-born bosses on Hong Kong Island who are very powerful, such as the shipping king Bao Jia who returned to his hometown and generously donated money to build "Mingzhou University", and TVB founder Shao who donated money to build "Yifu Building" on various campuses in China. The brothers... wait, by then, I can find a way to do the work for these big Mingzhou families on Hong Kong Island in advance to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

At the same time, if there is a suitable opportunity, I can join forces with the Mingzhou family to participate in the "Cyberport" and "Silicon Port" projects on Hong Kong Island in the future...

Thinking of this, Li Xiaofan, who originally didn't want to step into the murky waters of Hong Kong Island, suddenly became confident: when Dr. Zhang from Deyi received confirmation of his resignation, plus the time to prepare projects, raise investment funds, etc., he would be ready. It takes a year.

It will be a good time to discuss the wafer project implementation plan with the new Hong Kong SAR government in July next year.

Currently, I am still focusing on promoting cooperation with Avant! Pioneer and Cyrix.

Compared with the wafer fab, the two projects of EDA and CPU processor are more important...

Li Xiaofan made up his mind and his mood suddenly became clear again.

Unexpectedly, back at the Science Park office, Li Xiaofan had just sat down and turned on the computer. Before he could take a sip of water, Liu Yanping rushed in:

"Director Li, I have something urgent to report to you. After the launch of our company's listing bonus last night, the effect was very good, reversing the previous decline in book sales. However, the other party Dazhong Online Bookstore has just launched a corresponding membership discount. High discount event, the discount is not inferior to us! ”