章節 1067: Chapter 1067: Fifty Billion Pounds
"Please speak!'
Margaret Thatcher remained calm and said, before quietly looking at Xia Yu.
Xia Yu said indifferently, 'It's only half a year anyway, which is not a long time. We can completely re-evaluate the UK's gains and the role of intelligence based on the situation.
'If it really happens, there will be no need to invite a special assessment team. The major media outlets around the world will compete to report on it, and they will be the most impartial third-party assessment team, don't you think so?'
Half a year is still enough time. Although the Governor of Hong Kong will be elected at the end of this year, he will not officially assume office until around May next year. If the Falklands War really breaks out, it will have already happened by then.
Even if a new Governor takes office, as long as the British government gives the order, the new Governor will still have to carry it out, so there is no problem.
Margaret Thatcher looked at Xia Yu for a long time, and slowly nodded and said, 'Yes.'
Xia Yu revealed a smile, but then suddenly thought of something else. He suppressed his smile and said again, 'Right, Ms. Margaret, I still have one more thing to declare.'
'If it is because the British government did not take my information seriously, and this has resulted in relatively heavy losses, then the value of my information cannot be denied.'
Xia Yu was afraid that the arrogant British might be careless, and if, despite his warning, the cruiser was destroyed by French Exocet missiles purchased from Argentina as in his previous life, that would certainly not be an excuse.
It was better to take precautions in advance.
Margaret Thatcher was a little displeased by Xia Yu's obvious distrust, but she didn't say much, simply nodding in agreement: 'Yes.'
Seeing Xia Yu's smile, Margaret Thatcher felt a little uncomfortable inside. She looked at her watch and asked, 'Mr Xia, is there anything else?'
Her meaning was clear: her time was pressing, and if there was nothing else, then the meeting would end there.
Xia Yu knew that Margaret Thatcher must be in a bad mood, so he was not angry with her attitude.
More information will be lost in the face of interests.
He smiled lightly and said, 'Lady Margaret, I do have one more thing. I intend to invest 50 billion pounds in the UK over the next three years.'
Sure enough, upon hearing this huge figure, Margaret Thatcher was shocked, and Prince Philip was also shocked. He looked at Xia Yu with a changed expression.
This amount of capital is already equivalent to about 2% of the UK's gross national product last year.
If all of this money could be invested in the UK, driven by the industrial chain, it would definitely generate tens of billions of pounds in benefits. How many employment problems could be solved? How much contribution could it make to the UK economy?
In an instant, the unpleasantness in her heart was swept away, and a warm smile appeared on her face.
'Mr Xia, on behalf of the UK government, I welcome your investment in the UK. There are many investment opportunities in the country. Do you have a detailed investment plan? Do you need us to make some recommendations?'
Xia Yu looked distressed, shook his head, sighed, and said, 'Margaret, over the past two years, I have cumulatively invested more than 3 billion pounds in the UK. For the time being, I have invested most of what I wanted to invest. The remaining areas are basically state-owned enterprises, and I am not allowed to invest. I am also distressed.'
'I heard that the UK has now reformed the telecommunications market and is preparing to establish a new telecommunications company. The telecommunications industry requires large-scale infrastructure construction, which is relatively capital-intensive. I wonder if this is suitable?'
Margaret Thatcher's gaze sharpened, and her smile faded slightly. She understood Xia Yu's meaning.
But would the new telecommunications company let Xia Yu in?
Facing an investment of 5 billion pounds, she fought fiercely within.
After a long while, she let out a breath and said solemnly to Xia Yu, 'Mr. Xia, I'm not quite sure about the new telecommunications company. I can only give you an answer after I've looked into it.'
'In any case, the UK welcomes your investment.'
'Okay, I'll be waiting for your reply!' Xia Yu said with a smile.
After chatting for a while, Xia Yu took the initiative to bid farewell.
Perhaps it was because of the £5 billion investment that Xia Yu had thrown in at the end, Margaret Thatcher very enthusiastically saw Xia Yu out the door to show the importance she attached to Xia Yu.
Once Xia Yu had left, Margaret Thatcher immediately summoned her close aides for a meeting, while Prince Philip went to Buckingham Palace. He needed to inform his wife about the meeting with Xia Yu.
...
On the way back, Xia Yu felt more relaxed. He had done what he needed to do, and the specific results would need to be continuously striven for in the future.
To be honest, Xia Yu did not have too many concerns about whether Margaret Thatcher would go back on her word.
Although the face of a politician is like the face of a monkey – it changes at will – it still has to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and the key is still the factor of interests.
Hong Kong gained financial autonomy in 1958, and the direct benefit that the British government can obtain is mainly the military expenditure of the Hong Kong government, which is provided to the British garrison in Hong Kong.
Last year, the Hong Kong government spent about 100 million pounds on military expenses for the British garrison.
But Hong Kong is different from a British colony. It is only a leased land, which is due to be returned legally. This income cannot last long.
If the benefits of wrestling with the mainland are greater, there is no doubt that the British government will choose to wrestle.
But in the face of Xia Yu's huge investment and the income that this investment can generate, the direct benefit of 100 million pounds is insignificant.
Not to mention that if Xia Yu really invests 5 billion pounds in the UK, it will definitely provide the British government with 1 billion pounds in tax revenue each year once it is implemented.
Although Xia Yu did not say it explicitly, he mentioned the issue of Hong Kong's stability along with the investment. With Margaret Thatcher's wisdom, she definitely understood the relationship between the two.
In the face of all this, simply lowering the investment threshold for new telecommunications companies for him was just a request that was not required.
Not to mention that Xia Yu had thrown in a huge amount of intelligence before the direct monetary benefits, so he had given enough already.
Under these circumstances, even Margaret Thatcher had to carefully consider the consequences and losses of breaking her promise. After all, Xia Yu's strength and influence in the UK should not be underestimated.
...
In the following days, Xia Yu attended various banquets every day.
As the second in command of the British Chinese Business Consortium and the overlord of Xiangjiang, there were many people who wanted to curry favour with him.
He could refuse invitations from ordinary people, but if someone with some power issued an invitation, Xia Yu would gladly accept it in order to expand and deepen his influence.
On the fourth day after meeting Margaret Thatcher, Xia Yu received a reply from the British government, asking him to send someone to the government to discuss the new telecommunications company.
At Xia Yu's suggestion, George Berkeley, who had already been prepared, personally led the team.
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