eurekapd Chapter 323, Step 1: Making Money
Chapter 323, Step 1: Making Money
Chapter 323, Step One: Making Money
Hong Kong in the 1950s and 60s had not yet returned to China, so it cannot be compared with Hong Kong a decade or two later.
However, due to Hong Kong's unique geographical advantages, it is still developing faster than the mainland.
By 1960, Hong Kong had begun to rise as one of the "Four Asian Tigers" and rapidly developed into a modern city.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has also become one of the world's third largest financial centers.
However, no matter where you are, there is light and there is darkness.
Although some areas of Hong Kong are indeed far more developed than the mainland, slums still exist.
For example, Kowloon is an area where poor citizens of Hong Kong are concentrated.
Because Hong Kong is now a British colony, it still practices capitalism.
Therefore, the gap between the rich and the poor is even greater.
The disparities are not only in wealth, but also in social status.
The most obvious example is in Hong Kong, where foreigners have a far higher status than Chinese.
Although Li Qin was already used to the development of modern cities, he still wanted to see Hong Kong during this period.
Using Apparition, Li Qin appeared directly in an inconspicuous alleyway on the shore of Victoria Harbour.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Li Qin immediately dispelled the illusion curse on his body.
He then began to wander around.
Compared to the backwardness of the mainland at that time, the two sides of Victoria Harbour seemed like a dreamlike place.
This is one of the most prosperous areas in Hong Kong today.
Almost everything in sight is a high-rise building and a modern building.
The roads were bustling with traffic and very lively.
Buses and cars were coming and going, and most pedestrians were dressed appropriately.
Li Qin walked and looked around, his eyes filled with emotion.
Fortunately, Li Qin's attire was very fashionable even by Hong Kong standards at that time, thanks to the high-quality fabrics and avant-garde designs.
That's why Li Qin didn't seem like an old-fashioned bumpkin.
After looking around for a while, Li Qin's initial excitement wore off, and he gradually lost interest in continuing to browse.
"It seems I need to get my identity document sorted out first so that it will be easier for me to come to Hong Kong in the future."
Li Qin strolled leisurely along the seaside road, thinking to himself.
Prior to 1949, the Hong Kong government allowed mainland residents to immigrate to Hong Kong without restriction.
Ordinary people can freely travel between Hong Kong and the mainland, and Hong Kong does not conduct personnel registration for mainland residents.
However, after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, a large number of refugees poured into Hong Kong.
In order to control Hong Kong's population, the Hong Kong government, which was controlled by foreigners, began to implement border controls, restricting the entry of mainland residents.
They also began registering Hong Kong citizens and issuing identity cards.
The first registration began in 1949, and the identity cards issued at that time were simply a piece of paper with information filled in by hand and a photo attached.
Li Qin will continue to visit Hong Kong from time to time, so the issue of his identity must be resolved.
Otherwise it would be too troublesome.
"Fortunately, although identity registration began during this period, the management was not very strict, and Hong Kong was still practicing capitalism."
Therefore, resolving the immigration issue isn't difficult; it can be done simply by paying enough money.
Since 1952, Britain has removed the pound sterling from Hong Kong's legal tender status and designated the Hong Kong dollar as the sole legal currency in Hong Kong.
In other words, Hong Kong began using the Hong Kong dollar as its official currency in 1952.
In 56, the exchange rate between the Hong Kong dollar and the RMB was approximately 1 Hong Kong dollar = 0.8859 RMB. Based on the exchange rate, the RMB and the Hong Kong dollar were actually of roughly the same value at that time.
However, if you actually try to use RMB in Hong Kong, almost no merchants will accept it.
In other words, at this time, the RMB could not be used in Hong Kong.
You need to exchange it for Hong Kong dollars at a bank first.
Although Li Qin had a considerable amount of RMB, he did not intend to exchange it.
Li Qin had his own ideas about how to get money:
"With my current net worth, even if I were to exchange my money for Hong Kong dollars, how much could I get? If I want money, I'll have to use other methods."
A glint of light flashed in Li Qin's eyes.
He plans to find some kind-hearted people in Hong Kong to provide financial assistance.
As for the target, it was of course those foreigners.
Nowadays, whether it's the legitimate or criminal world in Hong Kong, everyone ultimately has to pay tribute to the foreigners.
Especially those foreigners in power, they are all incredibly wealthy.
In Li Qin's eyes, these people were all fat pigs waiting to be slaughtered.
The key issue is that the money these people brought back was mostly from shady sources, and these foreigners weren't exactly good people either. Li Qin felt no remorse whatsoever when he tried to take advantage of them.
On the contrary, I felt very happy.
After making the decision, Li Qin immediately used a spell;
"Flocks of birds!"
Suddenly a flock of birds appeared, and under Li Qin's control, these birds immediately flew in certain directions.
Next, these birds will target high-ranking foreigners and keep monitoring them until they find their residences.
When night fell, it was time for Li Qin to make his move.
"Besides resolving the identity issue, we also need to settle the accommodation issue, which will likely require a significant amount of money."
"In that case, we should find a few more foreigners to help us."
If Li Qin chooses to live in those slums or relatively underdeveloped areas, then naturally he won't need to spend too much money.
Li Qin, however, was not used to those areas.
He naturally chose a bustling and convenient area.
According to Li Qin, the best residential areas in Hong Kong now mainly include high-end residential areas such as Deep Water Bay Road, Mid-Levels, and Central.
These areas are known for their luxurious residences and prime locations.
Deep Water Bay Road;
Deep Water Bay Road is one of the best residential areas available today.
Li Ka-shing once bought a mansion here. This mansion not only showcased the high-end interior design of Hong Kong's luxury homes at the time, but also symbolized the status and wealth of Hong Kong's elite families.
semi-mountainous area;
The Mid-Levels area is also a high-end residential area in the region, attracting many wealthy businessmen and celebrities with its luxurious villas and beautiful environment.
The residences in these areas typically featured large gardens and luxurious interiors, reflecting the highest standards of living in Hong Kong at the time.
Central;
Central is Hong Kong's commercial and financial center. Although it is mainly composed of office buildings, some of the high-end apartments and villas in Central are also among the best residential options.
These residences not only boast excellent locations, but also offer top-notch living facilities and services.
Besides these famous places, there are also some other places with good living environments.
Li Qin found it troublesome, so he decided to choose one of the three areas.
After comparing several options, Li Qin finally decided to find a high-end apartment in Central as his residence in Hong Kong for the time being.
As for the future, Li Qin will definitely have to move to another place.
Li Qin had done some preliminary research and found that at that time, the average price of a relatively high-end apartment in the Central area was around HK$200,000.
However, Li Qin has high requirements for the environment and the house, so the price will definitely be higher than that.
According to his estimate, he would need to prepare at least HK$500,000 to secure a house.
Adding in the costs of obtaining identification and other related matters, Li Qin gradually realized what his target was for tonight.