Chapter 1493: Chapter 271: Consultant!
The Hong Kong boss has signed the investment agreement, and the land use fees have been transferred to the Ministry of Finance’s account. The city has many expenses, and it is said that several million have already been spent.
To everyone, this seems like a very successful investment attraction project. However, for Han Xiangning, who brought the Hong Kong enterprise into Changzhou, there is still a lot of work ahead.
Land acquisition and demolition are part of the job and must be completed before New Year’s Day.
Water, electricity, and roads must be connected, as previously promised to them, and this must be fulfilled by New Year’s Day.
Additionally, there is a large amount of administrative approval processes to assist with.
At the beginning of discussions, everything was "for the sake of the merchants, for everything of the merchants," spoken with grand promises. Now that they’ve invested real money, you have to deliver on your word.
The management team sent by the Hong Kong boss is not familiar with the environment in Binjiang; they don’t even know where departments like business and tax are located. Making them run around by themselves would be troublesome for them. Moreover, some departments may be difficult to access, unhelpful, unpleasant to deal with, and challenging, leaving a bad impression should be avoided.
This afternoon, Han Xiangning convened a Hong Kong Industrial Park project advancement meeting via the government office, gathering leaders from relevant departments such as the Foreign Economic Committee, Business Bureau, Tax Bureau, Land Bureau, Transportation Bureau, Police Bureau, Power Company, and Water Company at the temporary Bridge Industrial Park Management Committee set up at the Changzhou Maritime Office.
The upcoming work was broken down, with each unit’s leader taking full responsibility.
For instance, when the Hong Kong company invests in the Mainland, the first step is to have the Hong Kong lawyer entrusted by the Mainland to notarize. Notarized documents will be ready by next Tuesday at the latest. The parent company in Hong Kong will assign a person to send them to Changzhou, and the Changzhou Municipal Foreign Economic and Trade Commission must quickly review and confirm them and then promptly forward them to Binjiang City Foreign Economic and Trade Commission for approval.
Business licenses, tax registrations, land use procedures...
Each matter was discussed, and a timeline was set on-site, with responsible department leaders making commitments to meet deadlines.
Since some approvals are beyond their authority, Han Xiangning stated decisively that if they can’t manage it, she’ll handle it personally. If even she can’t solve it, Secretary Wei and Mayor Hou will be called upon to intervene!
After discussing each matter, it was already 5:30 in the afternoon.
Who says Mainland officials are corrupt?
Who says Mainland government departments are inefficient?
The Hong Kong management team members attending the meeting witnessed the resolute and decisive manner of the young female Vice Mayor and were sincerely impressed, gaining strong confidence in their investment prospects in Changzhou.
When Mr. Bao from the Hong Kong management team was about to invite everyone to dinner, Deputy Director Yang from the Police Bureau raised his hand.
"Director Yang, do you have any questions?" Han Xiangning asked with a smile while organizing her documents.
Deputy Director Yang hesitated for a moment, then smiled, "Mayor Han, you haven’t assigned any tasks to our Police Bureau yet; doesn’t this concern us?"
No reason to notify your Police Bureau to send someone for the meeting?
Han Xiangning suddenly realized that in focusing on major issues earlier, she had inadvertently overlooked the Police Bureau. She quickly said, "Director Yang, your Police Bureau has mainly two responsibilities, or rather one task and one mission."
"Mayor Han, just give us the orders, and we guarantee to complete the tasks," Deputy Director Yang promptly said, pen in hand, ready to take notes.
"First, Mr. Bao has purchased three vehicles, which should arrive at the Customs in about half a month. According to regulations, Hong Kong and Macau enterprises investing in the Mainland are not required to pay duties on vehicles brought in from overseas. I will assist Mr. Bao with the Customs regarding the duties. However, once the vehicles clear Customs, they need to be registered, that is, given black plates, and the task of registering these vehicles falls to your Police Bureau."
"Understood!"
The Hong Kong Industrial Park is Changzhou’s largest investment attraction project this year. Both Secretary Wei and Mayor Hou have attached great importance to it.
Deputy Director Yang dared not treat this carelessly and remarked, "Registering with black plates is in accordance with the regulations. I’ll notify the traffic police team to assign a dedicated person to manage this once I return."
"Good."
Han Xiangning nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Next, the land acquisition and demolition work are progressing smoothly. Once the construction land is vacated, construction must commence. Mr. Bao and his team have invested so much money in Changzhou, and infrastructure projects can’t be delayed. Every day’s delay is a loss!
Your Police Bureau needs to ensure security for the upcoming infrastructure projects and assign dedicated personnel, ideally with a police office on the construction site. This is not just my request but also that of the City Committee and Municipal Government."
"Yes, I’ll report to the Director when I return."
...
With the police being so cooperative, it seems there is little to worry about in the days ahead.
Mr. Bao was very pleased and stood up to propose, "Mayor Han, we’ve prepared a little dinner tonight, and I wonder if you and the other leaders would honor us with your presence?"
Han Xiangning smiled and declined courteously, "These are our jobs; there’s no need to be so polite. Save the drinks for when all the procedures are complete, and we’ll join during the commencement ceremony."
"The commencement ceremony is the commencement ceremony; today is today. You’ve helped our company so much, please let us express our appreciation."
"There’s really no need to be so polite; the future is long, and we’ll have plenty of opportunities."
Most of the unit heads attending the meeting have been "tested by alcohol," and not accepting an invitation for a dinner is one thing, but accepting it can lead to forgetting oneself after a few drinks, making all sorts of promises, and potentially drinking to the point of inebriation.
Although Han Xiangning’s tenure is short, she knows these section-level cadres of the bureaus and committees present so well that she doesn’t want to see them embarrass themselves.
Several deputies attending the meeting felt quite disappointed when Mayor Han steadfastly rejected invitations to banquets.
After all, the hosts were Hong Kong businessmen, and such opportunities are too rare!
Moreover, their investments are substantial, with the first phase being an industrial park involving the construction of several standard factory buildings; confirmed to join are a Hong Kong-funded garment manufacturing company, two Hong Kong-funded toy companies, and a Hong Kong company specializing in the production of Christmas trees and gifts.
The second phase is a large-scale building materials wholesale market, which will attract investment upon completion, specifically targeting businesses involved in the wholesale and sale of high-end marble, paint coatings, various boards, and upscale sanitation products.
They are "sublandlords," and will definitely recruit local people to assist with management.
Everyone has family and friends, and everyone wants to seize this opportunity to help idle relatives and friends find jobs, especially as it’s a Hong Kong-funded company with undoubtedly attractive salaries and benefits.
The good opportunity was ruined by Mayor Han, yet they dared not say anything, nor did they dare harbor dissatisfaction in their hearts.
Not only because the official rank suppresses, but also because Mayor Han has a man silently supporting her! The role of "Binjiang Water Army Commander" isn’t very high, but carries various honors and even encountered national leaders, making even Secretary Wei and Mayor Hou show respect; opposing Mayor Han and consequently offending the "Binjiang Water Army Commander" would definitely lead to serious consequences.
The meeting concluded, leaving everyone to return home.
Han Xiangning watched them leave and suddenly remembered something, quickly calling out to Mr. Bao, who was about to get into his car.
"Mayor Han, is there something else?"
"In a few days, a navy missile frigate named after our Binjiang will return here. It’s a significant and meaningful event for us. Mr. Bao, if you’re interested and have time, I’ll find a way to get you some tickets to visit, and perhaps even board the ship."
When Hong Kong returned, Mr. Bao was very pleased and excited, having rushed with his family to witness the parade route of the Hong Kong Garrison’s takeover of Hong Kong’s defense, and experienced the majesty and civilization of the troops.
The Hong Kong Garrison camp later opened to the public several times, but the number of citizens wishing to visit was so large, and with his busy work schedule, he never managed to make a reservation.
Unexpectedly, he now has an opportunity to visit a naval ship while working on the mainland.
Mr. Bao was very interested and couldn’t help but ask, "Mayor Han, my wife will be flying over the day after tomorrow, can I bring her along?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
"No need to thank me; even if Hong Kong hadn’t returned, we’re still one family."
Han Xiangning smiled slightly, then turned the conversation: "Mr. Bao, you saw and heard it all just now. Operating a company on the mainland is different from operating in Hong Kong, with various administrative approvals and procedures; there’s a need to interact with multiple government departments in the future.
You are my invited business guests, and I must be responsible for you, and think as much as possible for you, but my position as Vice Mayor is temporary. Even if it wasn’t temporary, according to the relevant regulations from the superior, the work and even positions in charge will be adjusted after a period."
"Mayor Han, you can’t transfer positions, what will we do if you leave?"
"Mr. Bao, you can rest assured about the overall direction; reform and opening-up is the national policy, just like ’one country, two systems,’ it won’t be shaken. Even if I transfer, the City Committee and Municipal Government will still care for and support you. But considering some specific matters require specific people to handle, I suggest you hire someone familiar with the mainland, especially with party and government departments."
"Hire a public relations manager specifically responsible for matters related to government departments?"
"Yes, but not called a public relations manager, considering our situation isn’t the same as in East Guang. Public relations originally is a neutral term, but in Binjiang, it carries some negative connotations. If it’s called a public relations manager, people might misunderstand it as someone specifically bribing or engaging in shady dealings."
"I understand, then according to mainland regulations, we can call it a consultant?"
"Calling it a consultant is fine too."
"Mayor Han, we are unfamiliar with Binjiang, can you recommend someone to us?"
"Giving recommendations wouldn’t be appropriate; you can recruit through newspapers or visit the talent market, as you’re going to hire many people anyway."
Just now in the meeting, there were so many government department officials present.
Mr. Bao received a stack of business cards, but until now, he still doesn’t know who is who.
Connecting with so many department officials is indeed a headache, as Mayor Han mentioned there’s an urgent need for a "consultant."
But a "consultant" isn’t an ordinary employee; in Binjiang, there must be connections, specifically a government background, which can’t be recruited through newspaper ads or the talent market. Moreover, such an important position can’t be entrusted to someone unfamiliar.
Mr. Bao racked his brain contemplating, and asked: "Mayor Han, do you think Mr. Ge would be willing to take on the role?"
Han Xiangning was waiting for these words; after all, their team truly requires someone to handle affairs related to government departments. Otherwise, they’d frequently rely on her, leaving her no time for other tasks, only focusing on serving them.
"Mr. Bao, you are quite familiar with Mr. Ge; you could call and ask him?"
"Okay, thank you."
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