Chapter 415: Princess Margaret Visits Hong Kong

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Hardy received a telegram from Victor announcing that Princess Margaret would visit Hong Kong. According to the itinerary, she would tour the Hardy Group and the Industrial Park in ten days.

Hardy smiled softly. This was something he had previously discussed with Margaret.

He instructed his secretary to reply to Victor, stating that he would personally welcome Princess Margaret and oversee the visit to the Hardy Group.

Two days later, Hardy flew to Hong Kong with Han Yezhen and her son, Byrne. The governor's office management team remained in Penang and Malacca. Han Yezhen had returned to Hong Kong to give birth and preferred the environment there.

At the same time, Hardy's super-luxury yacht was dispatched to Hong Kong.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, Victor was there to greet them. The family was driven to their villa, where the housekeeper welcomed them. Hardy saw Chef Zhang and said, "I haven't had your cooking for a long time. Please prepare a special meal today."

"Certainly," Chef Zhang replied promptly.

In the study, Victor updated Hardy on the situation in Hong Kong. He regularly sent reports, but this time he provided a personal briefing.

Both HSBC and Wells Fargo were thriving, and Global Shipping had substantial daily cargo demands. The company had invested its earnings in new freighters and had become the largest shipping firm in Hong Kong.

The Global Times had emerged as the leading newspaper in Hong Kong, and ABC Radio was the most popular radio station. ABC TV, which began broadcasting at the start of the year, had become the first TV station in Hong Kong.

At present, Hong Kong lacked a local TV production company, so television programs were mostly imported from the United States. The limited number of users meant that programming was restricted to eight hours a day, with the remainder of the content imported.

Recently, HD Pictures had established a branch in Hong Kong and acquired a large plot of land for its headquarters and studio.

Hardy Industrial Park was a major component of Hardy's Hong Kong branch, housing over 100 companies that were now well-established and stable. Among these, Hardy Pharmaceuticals had seen the most rapid growth. It had acquired several pharmaceutical companies over the past two years and now produced over 60 types of medicines, including health care and topical products. It had become the largest pharmaceutical company in Hong Kong.

These medicines were sold in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other countries, with raw materials primarily sourced from mainland China and Macau.

Despite the current trade ban, herbal medicines were not restricted, making procurement relatively straightforward. If restrictions were to be imposed, Hardy could easily establish new companies to continue operations.

Victor informed Hardy that the Hong Kong government had sent a notice regarding Princess Margaret's visit to the Hardy Group headquarters and the industrial park. The government was in the process of cleaning and beautifying the sites in preparation.

Hardy agreed to personally welcome Princess Margaret and asked Victor to accompany him and handle the details.

"Victor, how is the investigation into the Hong Kong property market progressing?" Hardy inquired.

Victor reported, "Over the last two years, Hong Kong has stabilized, leading to rapid economic development and significant population growth. According to government statistics, the population has exceeded 2 million, with the actual number closer to 2.4 million due to unreported figures."

"The surge in population has resulted in a housing shortage, with many living in shanty towns in Kowloon. The main issue is affordability, as many people need to apply for loans."

Hardy understood that this period marked the beginning of a property market boom in Hong Kong, expected to last about ten years. Despite future market fluctuations, Hardy planned to enter the property market strategically. The Hardy Group had accumulated significant land holdings, acquired at low prices during the initial crisis. He anticipated these lands would appreciate greatly over time.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, land prices in Hong Kong had increased approximately 200 times, a remarkable figure. Hardy aimed to capitalize on this trend by focusing on office buildings and low-rent apartments, preferring to rent rather than sell.

Building low-rent housing would also stabilize the market. The goal was to accumulate rental income while waiting for land values to rise before selling.

A few days later, Princess Margaret arrived at Hong Kong airport on the royal plane. Governor Grantham and a group of officials greeted her.

This was the highest-ranking royal visit to Hong Kong since Kaifu. Given Hong Kong's delicate social environment, this visit was expected to positively impact the stability of the region.

Hardy, accompanied by Victor, also went to the airport to welcome her, standing just behind Grantham. The two embraced warmly, a scene captured by reporters.

The next day's newspapers reported that Governor Hardy seemed closer to Princess Margaret than Governor Grantham.

"Your Royal Highness, we will take a yacht through Victoria Harbour to Queen's Wharf, where a welcome ceremony will be held," Governor Grantham said.

"Thank you, Mr. Governor," Princess Margaret replied.

At the dock, Hardy's large luxury yacht was waiting. Margaret was familiar with the vessel, as she had spent time with Hardy on it before. She glanced at Hardy briefly.

The team arrived at Queen's Wharf, where thousands of people had gathered to watch, including students holding British flags and plastic flowers.

After a brief speech and a reception, Princess Margaret took an open-top Rolls Royce to tour the city, receiving cheers from the public.

That evening, Princess Margaret stayed in the Presidential Suite of the Peninsula Hotel. Although she could have stayed at Grantham's Governor's Mansion, she chose the hotel for convenience.

A grand reception was held at the hotel, attended by many Hong Kong officials, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, and celebrities.

The following day, Princess Margaret visited the government, parliament, foreign companies, the Hong Kong headquarters of Hardy, and the industrial park.

On the third day, she boarded Hardy's yacht to enjoy the scenic beauty of Hong Kong. The yacht sailed out of Victoria Harbour and did not return until evening. Reporters were eager to hear her impressions.

"How was your visit to Hong Kong?" a reporter asked.

"Very good. The scenery is charming, and I enjoyed it very much," Margaret responded with a smile.

"What did you discuss with Viscount Hardy?"

Margaret hesitated, as most of their communication had been non-verbal. Hardy stepped in to explain, "We discussed the livelihood of Hong Kong. The princess expressed concern about the recent population increase and the lack of adequate housing. We spent the day discussing potential solutions."

"The result is that the princess will propose to the Hong Kong government that they use some of their support funds to build low-rent housing in collaboration with companies. The Hardy Group has been asked to take on this task."

"Mr. Hardy, will you undertake this project?" a reporter inquired.

Hardy smiled and nodded. "The Hardy Group is committed to addressing practical issues in Hong Kong. We have agreed to construct 50,000 low-rent housing units with a 30-year lifespan. These homes will help many families, allowing them to improve their living conditions over time."

The next day, Hong Kong newspapers reported that Princess Margaret's visit had resulted in a partnership between the Hong Kong government and the Hardy Group to build 50,000 low-rent housing units, addressing the needs of 200,000 to 300,000 people.

While the public was more focused on their own lives, they appreciated the new housing initiative. Margaret's efforts were seen as a significant contribution to improving living conditions in Hong Kong.

On the fourth day, Princess Margaret visited the Hong Kong Jockey Club, specifically Hardy's Kowloon venue. The enthusiasm of the public had increased since her arrival, with more people welcoming her warmly.

Margaret learned that Hardy's commitment to building 50,000 low-rent houses had greatly improved public sentiment. During her visit to the Jockey Club, she discussed the housing project with Grantham.

The Hong Kong government acted swiftly to contact Hardy, and negotiations proceeded smoothly. Hardy's company would handle the construction and management of the low-rent housing, with the government providing land and supporting public facilities.

The final agreement included government-provided land and public facilities, with Hardy Real Estate responsible for constructing the housing units and managing them for 30 years. The project would also stimulate the local economy and benefit Hardy's associated industries.

In summary, Princess Margaret's visit not only strengthened diplomatic ties but also paved the way for significant development in Hong Kong's housing sector. The project promised long-term benefits, both for the city and for Hardy's business interests.

As Princess Margaret prepared to leave Hong Kong, thousands gathered to bid her farewell, a testament to her impactful visit and the positive changes it had set in motion.

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