History of Hong Kong Island

Chapter 463

"You're welcome, Harris."

In the hotel, Bai Liji raised his glass to congratulate the newly appointed Standard Chartered taipan: "Come to Hong Kong Island and develop East Asia together."

"Thank you."

"Mr. Governor." Harris is much older than the last Taiban Charlie, with mustache, pocket watch, suit, and an orthodox gentleman's attire. It can be seen that the style of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong Island will tend to more conservative.

The temperament of each executive of a foreign bank can be understood as the new policy direction of the head office.

This is the same in politics.

Qi Yaolin, Sassoon and Madden toasted together and said, "Welcome Mr. Harris."

"Ding."

Bai Liji took back his wine glass and took a sip.

Madden, Sassoon and the others knew that the governor invited the four major foreign companies to dinner in the name of welcoming the newcomers, presumably they were pressured by their ancestors to do something.The five people came to the tea restaurant and cut steaks. Bai Liji said: "Hong Kong Island is studying the design plan of Tsuen Wan Port, and plans to design a super-large new container terminal."

"Warehousing is integrated, and the speed of transshipment is accelerated. At that time, the trade volume that Hong Kong Island can carry will reach another level and more than triple."

"Six companies have already participated in the bidding for the proposal."

The four bosses of foreign companies listened to the chief executive's big cake, and they didn't care about it. The construction of the wharf requires a lot of money. The Hong Kong government just wants to please them. Using Chinese capital will transfer the income of the wharf, which is not good for political performance. .

"Mr. Governor."

"The investment environment on Hong Kong Island is becoming increasingly severe. Military conflicts just occurred in the middle of the year. Standard Chartered & Co. Ltd. intends to focus on banking business and reduce industrial investment in the short term." With a napkin tucked around his neck, Harris cut his steak gracefully.

He is not a reckless person, but he deliberately uses his identity as a newcomer to give the governor a bad impression, and represent the four major foreign companies to force the governor again.

Qi Yaolin, Sassoon, and Madden all had certain friendships with the governor, so it was not easy to tear their faces, and secretly applauded Harris' approach.Bai Liji cursed secretly in his heart, but on the surface he greeted each other with a smile: "Mr. Harris, please rest assured that the Hong Kong government has the absolute initiative in the military. The friction in the middle of the year is only due to improper administrative handling."

"The Hong Kong government has officially established the New Territories area, which has a complete administrative system, and plans to expand the disciplined forces of the New Territories."

Harris shook his head: "It's not a problem with the New Territories."

"It's a matter of direction."

Bai Liji's expression turned cold, and he said seriously: "Please Mr. Harris for advice."

Orientation issues are big issues.

It is difficult for the chief executive to allow anyone to raise objections, and he has to put on a cold face, but Harris ignored it and said: "In the past, the Hong Kong government was mostly handled by British personnel from top to bottom, and British-funded companies were often treated. There is care."

"Now the Hong Kong government is filled with a large number of important Chinese officials. Except for the third department that directly reports to the Governor's Office, the Chinese influence in all bureaus is constantly growing."

"Using China to rule China, who can control China?"

Gui Lao has always supported the use of Chinese to manage Hong Kong Island, provided that there is sufficient restraint.On the surface, before Zige Hongliang retired, the Hong Kong government still had political hegemony, but since Bai Liji came to power, the speed of hegemony has been extremely astonishing.

The June [-]th incident made the ghosts face up to the Chinese, and began to worry about the rise of the Chinese.

Bai Liji knew that in fact, at the end of Ge Hongliang's administration, the Chinese forces had been out of control. He was nothing more than a thunderbolt, but he couldn't talk to the four major foreign companies in this way. Instead, he said something: "Since we want to use Chinese, And afraid of the Chinese growing up."

"The Ministry of Colonization has already had internal documents stating that the era of black slaves has passed. If the local people are to be used to manage the colony, the local people must be given certain treatment." From the wave of independence in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he saw the changes in the international situation and knew that the colonial plan must be changed.But every decision has advantages and disadvantages. While capturing the benefits, we must face the disadvantages and face the risks.

"The Chinese have entered the mainstream of society, and the growth of Chinese capital is an inevitable trend. If the four foreign banks can only rely on political asylum for profit, I think the Federation will consider changing partners, and the Hong Kong government will consider taking back Standard Chartered's right to issue money."

"Foreign firms must learn to compete fairly with Chinese capital and face the free market together." Bai Liji said: "Absolute freedom can give birth to a great market."

Harris' face changed again and again. He didn't expect that Bai Liji would threaten him with the right to issue banknotes, let alone that Bai Liji could launch an impromptu speech. Compared with people playing politics, the businessman is indeed a little bit less interesting. .

But Qi Yaolin took over the conversation and said: "Sir, I find it funny that you talk about freedom. What is freedom? Only under the rules can there be freedom, but now who sets the rules on Hong Kong Island? Is it the British or the Chinese!"

Bai Liji was silent for a while, a little forced to a corner, put down his knife and fork and sighed: "The Hong Kong government has been studying the establishment of an anti-corruption department to curb the development of Chinese capital and clamp down on important Chinese officials in the government."

"Anti-corruption?"

Harris's eyes lit up, and he felt that anti-corruption is a good way. Any official can be dismissed, and any company can be shut down.After all, the scope of corruption is really wide, and big corporations and politicians will inevitably be involved.

Anti-corruption is a very sensitive topic in the ancestral home, and ordinary officials dare not mention it, but it is very promising in Hong Kong Island, and it can eliminate dissidents.

But Qi Yaolin sneered again, shaking the red wine glass and said: "Sir Bai is telling a joke again, Hong Kong Island's anti-corruption power rests with the police force, but the police force is the largest corruption group in Hong Kong, and they control force. One of the anti-corruption commissioners in the country died on the road."

"Everyone in Hong Kong knows that there is a money empire on Hong Kong Island, and there are three types of people living in it, those with guns, those from the chamber of commerce, and those with prefixes. That is to say, the police, robbers and businessmen have been huddled together, and the number of people involved is countless. How can you resist!"

"Maybe the Commissioner of Police, the Financial Secretary, and the Secretary of the Governor's Office are all his people!"

The governor's secretary was so startled that he almost lost the wine bottle.

Qi Yaolin glanced at him: "The boss of the money empire is now called 'Brother Yi' by the outside world, and "Brother Yi" sounds a level higher than the governor."

Bai Liji's face was ashen, hearing Qi Yaolin's sarcasm, he was not in the mood to eat anymore, and wiped his hands: "The death of the anti-corruption commissioner just proves that anti-corruption is a sharp weapon. Investigative powers for corruption by personnel of the interests and disciplined forces.”

"It does not mean that the police force has all the anti-corruption powers. First of all, there is only one "Anti-Corruption Act" as the legal support of the police force, but in fact the "Anti-Corruption Plan" clearly stipulates very few powers. I intend to establish a special anti-corruption The Corruption Office is headed by a commissioner appointed by me and reports directly to me. It is independent of all disciplined forces and is responsible for prosecuting all corruption in Hong Kong! It can not only supervise commerce, the stock market, finance, but also investigate disciplined forces and all public offices. personnel."

"And organize the Legislative Council to pass a special bill to give the office the power to issue guns. In addition, a separate employment system is adopted to separate the Anti-Corruption Office from the official system and is not subject to any department's supervision. All funds are also allocated individually in the annual public funding plan approved by the government. Achieve complete independence of money, power, and guns!"

Harris, Madden, and Sassoon were shocked when they heard the Governor presented a comprehensive political plan, and even Qi Yaolin was a little surprised.Because the policy of this office is very mature, it can be implemented completely, and it can jump out of the framework of the police force and establish a new force to manage Hong Kong Island without touching the power of the police force.At that time, the investigative power of the police force can completely continue to exist, and where some overlaps, due to the higher level of the office, the police force's anti-corruption department can be easily suppressed.

"This is really an exciting plan. May I ask when the Anti-Corruption Office will be established, Mr. Governor?" Harris immediately changed his tone: "Standard Chartered will do its best to support it!"

"Yes."

"HSBC also looks forward to the establishment of the Office as soon as possible to improve the business environment on Hong Kong Island."

But Bai Liji said: "There is no rush."

"In order for the Anti-Corruption Agency to play a real role, the first thing is to make citizens aware of the damage to society caused by corruption. Currently, the citizens of Hong Kong Island have long been accustomed to corruption and adapted to the existence of the money empire, while ignoring many Their own legitimate rights and interests. Could it be that they are born to believe that there is nothing wrong with corruption? No, it’s just that they recognize the rules and survive within the rules, which has already become part of the rules.”

"If you don't mobilize the collective strength of the Chinese, you can't catalyze the Chinese interest groups. The first thing the Anti-Corruption Office was established was not to investigate and deal with corruption, a thunderous blow, but to do a good job in publicity and education and community relations."

"I plan to set up a community relations office first, which will be set up under each district affairs office, and conduct anti-corruption propaganda and political education to the citizens alone." Bai Liji found that the Hong Kong government's previous political propaganda at the grassroots level was lacking, and he was accustomed to using the comprador class to teach Government decrees will naturally be kidnapped by the comprador class and abandoned by the bottom-level citizens.In fact, it is precisely because the Hong Kong government has abandoned the low-level citizens that the low-level citizens can turn into the embrace of the money empire.

What Bailiji needs to do now is to carry out political work and strengthen education.

"Only when the citizens form an anti-corruption trend and demand integrity from the Hong Kong government and the police force, is the time when the Anti-Corruption Commission is truly established."

In fact, the ICAC was established step by step. The Community Relations Division was established first, followed by the Enforcement Division and the Corruption Prevention Division.It can be seen that the success of the ICAC is not a coincidence, but a supplement to the Hong Kong government's own development and correction.

If you set up a new department and immediately point out where to fight, you will completely ignore the importance of the implementation side, which is extremely naive in politics.To implement a decree, it must first have a basis of public opinion.When Qi Yaolin, Madden, and Harris saw that the governor was planning to make a move, they didn't dare to press too fast, and immediately nodded slowly: "The four major foreign companies can raise donations to help the Hong Kong government open a community relations office."

"it is good."

Bai Liji nodded slightly, his face was serious for a while, but he was relieved in his heart: "It can be delayed for a few more years."

(End of this chapter)