Hong Kong variety show: I Am a Tycoon

Chapter 223 Don’t care about your deeds

A brand-new Toyota slowly pulled up in the parking lot of the Mandarin Oriental Central Hotel.

A middle-aged foreigner with gray hair, wearing a gray-white suit, got out of the car and strode towards the coffee shop on the first floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

The high-ranking foreign ICAC commissioner, Ben Nai-xin, had been waiting there. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and smiled, saying, "Henry, over here."

"Thomas."

The middle-aged foreigner strode up to Ban Naixin and shook his hand.

"sit."

"Please take a seat."

"Sir, would you like something to drink?"

The waitress walked over gracefully with the menu in her hand.

"An Americano, please."

"Give him an Americano."

Ban Naixin knew his friend's tastes, and the two spoke almost in unison.

"After all these years, you haven't forgotten my taste."

The middle-aged foreigner smiled and looked at Ban Naixin: "Thomas, speaking of which, it's been a full five years since we last met."

Yes, I still remember.
That year, we joined forces to arrest 140 police officers in Kowloon, triggering Hong Kong's first police-anti-corruption conflict...

In the end, it was Sir Michael Meryl Streep who, in order to appease the police force, issued a partial amnesty, which finally quelled the first police-ICAC clash. So, how does it feel after all these years away from Hong Kong?

Ban Naixin took out a pack of white Marlboro cigarettes, lit one by himself, and spoke with a hint of reminiscence in his voice.

The middle-aged man took out his wallet, pulled out a cheap pipe made from a corncob, put some tobacco inside, then lit it with a lighter and took a few deep drags.

"It's become more prosperous, but the streets are still as narrow as before, and there are fewer fellow Daoists on the streets. However, there are always some pests in this city that people avoid at all costs."

“As the Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, you’re here to meet with me, the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Aren’t you afraid that the officers will have something to say to you?” Ban Nai-xin said with a smile.

correct.

The middle-aged man was Yan Liguo, the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations.

Taking a drag of his cigarette and savoring the aroma, Yan Liguo slowly said, "Back then, I was commissioned by Sir Mark, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, to investigate corruption within Scotland Yard. Within six months, we received a complaint. That year, I investigated all the officers at Scotland Yard, and ultimately 60 officers were dismissed. Because of this, the officers at Scotland Yard privately called me a 'vulture.'"

"In order to quell the turmoil at the time, I was seconded to Hong Kong by Sir Mark to provide advice on the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)... As it turns out, I did the right thing; squeezing out some pustules was more beneficial to the development of the city."

"You know my personality. Just because the police officers have a problem with me, does that mean I should stop doing my job?"

At this point, Yan Liguo thanked the waitress who brought him the coffee:

"Thank you."

Ban Naixin nodded, quite agreeing, "You're right, so this time you're going to pop those boils?"

"Special Branch, in my first month in Hong Kong, I received an anonymous tip from the police force. Special Branch Secretary Ho Kwok-wing has been in frequent private contact with Sir Chan Ka-chun, Chairman of Hung Hing Group."

"I'll never rest until I say something shocking," Yan Liguo said slowly.

“This is a major case, very tricky.” Ban Naixin’s expression immediately turned grim.

"That's right, the contents of the whistleblower letter are astonishing. In addition, the two parties also cooperated in casinos in Macau, which is a scandal of the century."

Yan Liguo said firmly, "I don't understand why the leader of a criminal gang would appear so openly on Her Majesty's New Year's honors list, especially since he was recommended by the Minister of Political Affairs. It seems that the elites of MI5 are having such a good time in Hong Kong that they've forgotten all about home."

“In addition to the Special Branch, officers from the Anti-Triad Unit will also be subject to investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

“I hope your ICAC can help me drain the pus.”

Ban Naixin said: "Anti-Black Group?"

"Yes. I strongly suspect that the Hung Hing triad is using the police force to eliminate dissidents."

Yan Liguo took a small sip of coffee, took out a letter from the lining of his suit, and placed it in front of Ban Naixin: "This is a whistleblower letter. Your ICAC needs to act quickly."

"understood."

Ban Naixin put the letter into his suit pocket.

Yan Liguo added, "The relevant actions have already been planned in secret. Only by eliminating these protective umbrellas can my actions gradually unfold."

Ban Nai-xin raised his coffee and said, "Then, let's celebrate this first collaboration between the police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption."

"Pleasant to work with."

……

The Mercedes-Benz slowly pulled up in front of the Chen Family Manor.

"Officer, we've arrived," Special Branch Detective Yang Jinrong said softly.

"Wait for me outside. If I haven't come out after half an hour, then you should go back first."

He Guorong opened his eyes and tossed a packet of Red Wan to the young Yang Jinrong.

"Understood, Sir." Yang Jinrong took the cigarette and nodded.

He Guorong picked up his briefcase, opened the car door, tidied his makeup, walked to the manor gate, and pressed the doorbell.

Upon seeing that it was He Guorong, the butler Carson immediately opened the car door: "Mr. He, our young master has been waiting for you."

"Sorry, I had some official business to attend to today."

He Guorong nodded to the butler and walked into the manor alone.

Upon entering the living room, Chen Jiajun was smoking a cigar and chatting with a middle-aged man in a suit. Hearing footsteps, Chen Jiajun turned around and saw that it was He Guorong. He called out, "Arong, why don't you sit down for a while and have some coffee? I have something to take care of here."

"Yes."

He Guorong looked obedient and nodded to Chen Jiajun.

Attorney Huang Dawen, standing nearby, slightly contracted his pupils upon seeing the newcomer.

Chen Jiajun put down the heavy "Imperial Edict" in his hand, took a sip of Pu'er tea, and asked, "Huang Dawen, I've been reading a lot of legal documents these past two days, but there's one question I still haven't found the answer to."

“Sir Chen, you can speak up, and I’ll offer some ideas.” Huang Dawen looked at Chen Jiajun, who had his hair slicked back, and for some reason, he felt that Chen Jiajun seemed like a completely different person these past two days.

When I interacted with Chen Jiajun before, this young man always gave people a kind and approachable feeling.

But the sight of Chen Jiajun sitting in front of him at this moment sent a chill down Huang Dawen's spine.

"If someone tries to use infringement issues to attack our Hung Hing properties on Sneaker Street and Ladies' Market, how can I circumvent this, or how can my opponents counter it?"

In the past few days, Chen Jiajun has been reading through all the law books.

This explains why copyright infringement was so serious in Hong Kong during the 1980s and 90s: simply put, there were no relevant copyright laws to rely on.

"Sir Chen, I'd like to ask whether the related industries on Ladies' Street and Sneaker Street are registered under the name of Guojun Garment Factory." Huang Dawen was slightly taken aback when he heard Chen Jiajun's question.

Chen Jiajun briefly summarized: "We had business dealings before, but starting last year, after Guojun Garment Factory received authorization from relevant brands and foreign trade business, I cut off that part of the business. I've already cleared the names of the legal representatives of these factories..."

After removing all the New Territories youths, including Lo Wing-chau, from the Hung Hing Undersea List, Chan Ka-chun removed Kwok Chun Garment Factory and its related counterfeit goods business. Based on different processes, he divided them into 100 factories of varying sizes. The legal representatives of these factories were all New Territories youths who had previously worked for Hung Hing.

With these factories, the New Territories youths associated with Hung Hing can recruit workers in walled villages, providing them with jobs and enhancing their voice within their clans.

Of the New Territories youths sent out initially, Law Wing has already become a lower-ranking councilor, while Peng Sen and others have become members of the Rural Committee, or village chiefs and deputy village chiefs in various walled villages, etc.

At the same time, Guojun Garment Factory attracted OEM business from several international brands with its excellent craftsmanship and low prices. OEM business, in other words, is contract manufacturing. In this way, the counterfeit goods business could obtain the latest clothing styles at the same speed as the international brands.

After listening to Chen Jiajun's overview, Huang Dawen secretly praised him and said:

"The relevant copyright issues are illegal internationally, and there is no law to follow in Hong Kong. In some cases where there is no law to follow, it is due to oversight, and in other cases, it is to make things easier for foreigners. The copyright issue is an oversight; foreigners pride themselves on being gentlemen and would not make money this way."

"If your opponent really wants to use copyright issues to attack you, the lack of legal basis does not mean you are innocent. Copyright issues have relevant legal basis in England and in mainland China."

However, in your case, it would be quite complicated for a lawyer to handle. Furthermore, the business operations of any single factory appear legal. Unless a lawyer can obtain Hung Hing's roster and ledgers, as well as the ledgers of all 100 factories, to prove the relevant subordination issues, it would be impossible to convict you.

Chen Jiajun took a puff of his pipe: "If I want to use copyright issues to attack my peers, is it more advantageous for me to have a legal basis for action or to have no legal basis for action?"

"That depends on what level you want to achieve," Huang Dawen asked.

Chen Jiajun immediately replied, "Bite them all to death and eat them."

Huang Dawen said with a smile, "That's simple. Hong Kong has no laws to follow, so of course we can refer to English law and use this case as the basis and benchmark for Hong Kong's legislation, but with more flexibility, which means we can be more ambitious."

Chen Jiajun then asked, "Huang Dawen, Fatty Li's lawyer is named Lü Qinghong. Are you familiar with this person?"

"Brother, I have his relevant information here."

Not far away, Political Minister Ha Guk-young heard a familiar name and called out.

Chen Jiajun glanced at He Guorong and said, "Come here."

"Yes."

He Guorong, carrying the relevant documents, sat down beside Huang Dawen, took out some documents, and slowly reported:

"Li Biao was a ruthless and ambitious man in Hong Kong. In order to clear his name and find a powerful backer, he sent his three children and his ex-wife, a flight attendant, to the Philippines."

His current wife's name is Li Yunqin.

"He gained the sympathy of his current wife, Li Yunqin, by defaming himself, and then used all his wits and methods, spending a lot of money to win her over."

"The reason for doing this is very simple. Li Yunqin has three sisters. The eldest sister married Liang Sen, a young man in Hong Kong politics. The second sister is Li Yunqin. The youngest sister married a famous artistic family in Hong Kong. The three sisters chose husbands from families that represent politics, business, and the arts."

"Among them, Liang Sen's former superior was named Lu Mingzhu, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and a well-known left-wing lawyer. He had long passed our political department's qualification review and become a lackey of our family. Lu Mingzhu has a son named Lu Qinghong, a Justice of the Peace."

He Guorong did not directly reveal Lü Qinghong's identity, but instead slowly went through all of Fat Lao Li's political and business connections before finally pointing out Lü Qinghong.

When Chen Jiajun heard the name Lü Mingzhu, his pupils actually contracted.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

Lu Mingzhu and Fatty Li, damn it, they have such a deep connection.

He Guorong continued, "We've always suspected that Fat Lai donated a lot of political donations to Lu Mingzhu, but Lu Mingzhu is one of our own... Also, a new deputy commissioner of operations, Yan Liguo, has arrived at the Hong Kong Police Department. He's the one who restarted Operation Dragon Slaying, and that dragon is you, the underground emperor of Hong Kong Island."

"This is his resume."

He Guorong then handed another document to Chen Jiajun.

Yan Liguo joined the army in 1948 and was discharged two years later, joining the London Police Force.

He was appointed Chief Superintendent in 1969, and later transferred to Anguilla to head the police force. After returning to England, he was in charge of the London Metropolitan Police's disciplinary division.

He became commander in 1972 and assistant commissioner of police in 1975. In 1979, he became commissioner of police for England and Wales.

He arrived in Hong Kong in 1983 and first served as Deputy Commissioner of Police. In 1985, he became Commissioner of Police.

During this period, Yan Liguo received training at the CIA in 1975 and established the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). He personally arrested Peter Godber, a foreign chief superintendent, as well as two foreign inspectors. He also arrested four Chinese detectives: Lei Luo, Yan Xiong, and Lan Gang.

Upon seeing the letters CIA, Chen Jiajun felt a chill run down his spine once again.

Isn't this connected?
Lu Mingzhu's backer is the United States, and Yan Liguo was trained by the CIA.

This is clearly the CIA targeting him.

Why target a businessman with an impeccable reputation?

There are too many reasons.

First of all, although Chen Jiajun is well-connected and is a knighted by the British royal family, his actual work focus is still in China, as can be seen from the Guojun Industrial Park alone.

Who is it that, despite the unsuccessful efforts to attract investment to the Shekou Industrial Park, has boldly entered the Shekou Industrial Park to make large-scale investments?

And who is it that has acquired a large plot of land in Shenzhen to build an industrial park?

It's all his fault!
Secondly, he got too close to left-wing businessmen like Henry Fok and Lam Ming-chak, while he wasn't very friendly with the large British companies in Hong Kong.

In the game Werewolf, a werewolf who pretends to be the police officer may make impressive statements, but their true identity will still be revealed through their votes and actions.

This is called judging by actions, not intentions.

Fatty Li was just a dog that Yan Liguo and Lü Mingzhu released to bite him, and his master was ready to use him to extort money at any time.

If a dog bites someone, the person can't possibly bite back, right?
But Fat Lai is a person.

If Chen Jiajun were to retaliate and kill Fatty Li, it would play right into the hands of Yan Liguo and Lü Mingzhu.

Huang Dawen thought Chen Jiajun was worrying unnecessarily, so he picked up his teacup and said, "Sir Chen, you don't need to be alarmed. With your current status and position, even if Lü Mingzhu and Yan Liguo really wanted to mess with you, they couldn't."

"What if Yan Liguo and Lü Mingzhu weren't targeting me? What if there's someone else behind it all? Do you even know who was suppressing Huo Yingnan back then?"

Chen Jiajun wore an unusually solemn expression and asked himself the question:

"To be precise, it was not England that truly suppressed Fok Ying-nan, but the United States. The reason is that Fok Ying-nan smuggled large quantities of kerosene and medical supplies to the mainland."

Huang Dawen, gripping his teacup, looked horrified and said, "You mean..."

Realizing that what he was about to say was somewhat shocking, Huang Dawen immediately fell silent. After a few seconds of pause, he asked, "Why are they suppressing you?"

Chen Jiajun smiled and shook his head, saying:
"Huang Dawen, the United States is composed of multiple departments, but the problem is that there are countless agencies below it."

Have you heard of the CIA? Do you know that just because I'm in Hong Kong Island, those drug kingpins and pro-government figures like Tung Sing have difficulty getting involved there?

"Also, let me tell you something else: these ice and noodles come from northern Myanmar."

"The KMT is the backer of those warlords in northern Myanmar."

"Back then, when these warlords asked Taiwan for military funding, the KMT and CIA came up with a plan: to teach them how to make ice and jelly. The money the warlords earned from selling ice and jelly could be used to buy weapons from the Soviet Union and the United States, and at the same time, it could also provide some funding to the CIA."

The vast majority of the CIA's funding comes from collaborations with drug lords around the world; they even use airplanes to smuggle methamphetamine to the United States to sell to Nigerians.

"This is why northern Myanmar is so chaotic."

“I have a grudge against the largest warlord group in northern Myanmar, Khun Sa.”

"Because several of Khun Sa's associates in the country were taken down by my people."

“Even Khun Sa’s right-hand man, the Eight-Faced Buddha, was killed by me.”

"Do you think Khun Sa hates me?"

"Khun Sa wished he could eat my flesh raw and drink my blood."

“As long as I don’t get into trouble, they won’t be able to get a foothold in Hong Kong Island. As long as I don’t die, they won’t be able to expand their business.”

"I cut off more than half of their water pipes, so I'm asking you, in their eyes, did I deserve to die?"

Huang Dawen was utterly shocked by this news.

(End of this chapter)