Hong Kong Film: Jimmy? Please call me Councillor Li

Chapter 199: Peace Talks Fail
News that Li Jiayuan and three representatives were preparing to have a talk with the Welfare Bureau has spread throughout Hong Kong Island in the past two days.

The people of Hong Kong are watching closely, hoping that this round of negotiations will yield a positive result.

The marches are still ongoing, but they have subsided somewhat, with some marchers disbanding in several areas.

This was arranged by Li Jiayuan, so that the people at the welfare bureau could see that they were capable of stopping this march.

Both sides exercised restraint within a reasonable range of control.

Both TVB and ATV paid close attention to this conversation, which took place in Central's most famous public venue, a place usually used to host foreign guests.

There are dedicated meeting rooms where many important meetings are held.

On the day of the negotiations, countless media reporters gathered downstairs, creating a huge crowd. Fortunately, the cameras at that time were not as advanced as those in later generations, otherwise dozens of "long guns" would have been pointed at Li Jiayuan's head.

As soon as they got out of the car, everyone was stunned. The scene was packed with people; anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was a concert.

"Fortunately, I've been through it all before, it's just a small matter."

After Li Jiayuan got out of the car, reporters swarmed around him like flies attracted to rotten eggs.

"Mr. Li, what are your thoughts on this negotiation?"

"Mr. Li, I heard that you incited the residents of Yau Ma Tei to besiege the area."

"Make way, make way, Representative Li is on his way to a meeting, please excuse me."

Bao Wenlong blocked all the reporters, allowing Li Jiayuan to enter the building smoothly and head straight for the conference room.

Upon arriving at the corridor outside the conference room, Li Yao and the other two representatives were already waiting outside.

"Brother Yuan."

The three of them were waiting for Li Jiayuan to arrive before going in together. After all, they were just there as an afterthought. The one who truly had the ability to talk to the Welfare Bureau was Li Jiayuan. How could they go in without the main character present?

Li Jiayuan glanced at the three men, said nothing, exuded an aura of authority, pushed open the conference room door, and the three men followed closely behind, all adopting serious and meticulous expressions.

We've arrived at the conference room; the representatives from the Welfare Bureau have already been there for some time.

Chen Zhili, the Director of the Welfare Department, was only allowed to sit on the far side of the meeting room as an observer, and was not even allowed to sit at the table.

On the table, three middle-aged men in black suits stood up and reached out their hands upon seeing Li Jiayuan.

Representative Lee

Li Jiayuan reached out and shook hands with each of the three people to greet them.

"Hello."

As for Li Yao and the other two, they did not receive such preferential treatment.

"My name is Qu Jianjun. This is my colleague, Zhang San, the director of the Social Security Department of the Welfare Bureau. This is Li Xiaoran, the administrative supervisor."

Qu Jianjun introduced his two colleagues, but not himself.

Being able to take charge in such a setting, with a director and a supervisor assisting him, one can imagine Qu Jianjun's status.

It's not simple.

After both sides took their seats, Qu Jianjun took the lead in bringing up the topic.

"Regarding the reform proposal you put forward, Mr. Li, our Welfare Bureau has held several meetings to discuss it and unanimously agreed that your proposal is very suitable for the current basic livelihood environment of Hong Kong Island, and we unanimously agree to the reform."

So smoothly? Li Jiayuan was quite surprised; this wasn't like these people at all. (But there should be a "but" here.)

"However, although we agree with your plan, after research and discussion, we all agree that there are some difficulties in implementing certain parts of the plan. We have already compiled the details, please take a look."

Well, just as I expected.

Qu Jianjun handed over four identical documents to Li Jiayuan and his three companions for review. Li Jiayuan opened their proposed solutions, read them carefully, and his suspicious gaze gradually lost patience, turning sinister.

I knew these guys wouldn't compromise so easily. This information is really similar to the last announcement from the Welfare Department.

The reform proposal he provided consisted of eight key points, with two being the most important and the remaining six being supplementary. The Welfare Bureau's proposed solution...

All six proposals were approved, except for the two most important ones, which were rejected on the grounds that the welfare bureau was not yet capable of handling such a large number of tasks.

By rejecting the two most important points and instead implementing a whole host of supplementary plans, isn't this putting the cart before the horse?
However, this was within Li Jiayuan's expectations. He had long guessed that the welfare bureau would not so easily approve the two plans: establishing a public oversight group and providing work relief.

This would shake the deep-seated interests behind the welfare bureau.

The establishment of the public oversight group is a way to divide the leadership power of the Welfare Bureau, putting a sword to their throat.

As for work-for-relief programs, this approach is actually the most suitable welfare framework for the current Hong Kong Island ecosystem.

Many elderly people living alone are still fully capable of working.

You don't need to use up your full subsidy; you can take on simple handicrafts, such as making clothes hangers or trimming loose threads.

Most of the subsidies that the welfare bureau fraudulently obtains each year through full quotas never reach these elderly people; much of it disappears without a trace. If a work-for-relief approach were adopted, these funds could be distributed as wages.

This will not only eliminate their underhanded practices, but also allow for a more rational allocation of government funds, ensuring that the money is used where it is truly needed.

For example, the elderly who are truly unable to live independently, and the public facilities in community welfare homes.

Such a good idea was rejected by the welfare bureau; one can imagine what they were thinking.

If it weren't for pressure, they wouldn't have even approved those six auxiliary proposals, so why would they be willing to hand over their own interests?

In Qu Jianjun's view, being able to pass those six auxiliary plans was already an act of leniency.

"Mr. Li, if there are no further questions, please sign this agreement."

Qu Jianjun then submitted another document.

It is a confidentiality agreement.

Li Jiayuan put down the proposal and shook his head slightly.

“District Representative, we cannot sign your agreement. I still insist on adding the remaining two points, even if it means abandoning some of the proposals you have approved.”

Qu Jianjun seemed completely unsurprised by this answer.

“Mr. Li, we understand your demands, but this is the most we can promise.”

"In that case, we won't make things difficult for you. Let's go."

Knowing that they had no intention of resolving the issue, Li Jiayuan didn't want to waste time. He couldn't back down on either of those two points, especially the first one: establishing a public oversight group to assist the Welfare Bureau was necessary and crucial.

He was quite surprised by Qu Jianjun's attitude; it was too calm. He always felt that this group was plotting something.

With Li Jiayuan gone, the three representatives naturally didn't stay either. They also expressed their dissatisfaction with the contents of the document and left in anger.

After the three men left, Qu Jianjun and his two companions looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Does this method really work?"

Li Xiaoran, the only middle-aged woman present, asked the question.

“Of course it will work. Those fools don’t care about the truth. They’d rather see what they want to see. This time, I’m going to ruin Li Jiayuan’s reputation.”

Qu Jianjun nodded, his small eyes radiating intense resentment.

(End of this chapter)