Hong Kong Island Old Events

Chapter 526: Life is not in vain (finale)

In 1976, with the support of Chinese capital, Oriental Bank successfully acquired a favorable bank and obtained a Hong Kong note-issuing license through holding shares, becoming one of the three major note-issuing banks in Hong Kong. In the colonies before the handover, the establishment of a bank with the right to print money was the first of its kind to open up the Chinese banking industry.

This is a feat that no one has accomplished in Haojiang and Nanyang.

From this, Oriental Bank became famous and reverberated throughout the Asian banking industry, becoming the largest Chinese bank and one of the three major banks in Hong Kong Island.

The business community also calls Oriental Bank's merger and acquisition "Snake Tun Xiang", which is the first successful acquisition of a foreign bank in Hong Kong Island.

Subsequently, Oriental Bank entered a period of rapid development. In just two years, it became the bank with the largest number of users and the largest fund transaction volume on Hong Kong Island. In the same year, Chu Yunnan was elected as the Assistant Chairman of the Hong Kong Island Banking Industry and was awarded the title of Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong government.

Mr. Chu, the wife of Sir He.

In 1978, Hong Kong Island's business community was once again in turmoil. Pao Yukang, known as the world's shipping king, joined forces with Eastern Group, a Chinese-owned company, to launch a hunt for the Wharf Group. Within two months, HSBC announced the sale of Kowloon. warehouse group shares.

Oriental Group became the largest shareholder of Wharf, and Bao Yugang was the second largest shareholder.

In the same year, Fok Ying Tung acquired Taikoo Dockyard, Chu Weinan acquired Cathay Pacific Airways, and Wanglaoji acquired Jardine Matheson.

In the years after Ho Ting-hsien became the Commissioner of Police, Hong Kong Island's business community shifted positions. The Chinese relied on legal capital methods to continuously conquer the city, acquire British-owned companies, and seize back industries controlled by foreign companies.

The business acumen and management capabilities of the Chinese have never been inferior to those of foreigners.

What the foreigners had swallowed earlier by relying on strong ships and powerful guns and policy support are now spitting out one by one.

In 1980, the number of Chinese members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong reached 27, accounting for more than half of the Legislative Council. The Chinese began to use both pistols and pens. They had an increasing voice in society, and their status in society also increased significantly. improve.

For example, the Chinese promote the implementation of the "Home Ownership" project on Hong Kong Island, allowing the Hong Kong government to pay for the acquisition of land and the construction of small-property houses for rent and sale, so that more citizens can live and work in peace and contentment.

This time the "Home Ownership" project is different from the past. It has not encountered strong resistance from real estate developers and has been advancing steadily. More than 3,000 housing units are released every year. The area of ​​"Home Ownership Scheme" housing has also been increased, starting from 500 feet to 1,200 feet.

Later, the "Home Ownership Housing" was divided into "Talent Houses" and "Welfare Houses". Among them, the Talent Houses are larger in size and are used to introduce highly educated and high-level talents to Hong Kong Island. The "welfare housing" is smaller in area and is for the elderly and extremely poor people who cannot apply for "Home Ownership Housing".

This project was still implemented after the handover, and was even written into internal journals and was studied and used by the mainland.

It can be said that the "Home Ownership Scheme" project caused Gui Lao to spend a lot of money, and the taxes collected by the Hong Kong government were spent on Hong Kong people. As Hong Kong Island's economy has prospered step by step, the amount of taxes received by the federal government has not increased proportionally.

The Chinese have power in their hands, so they naturally have to supervise the Hong Kong government and fight for their interests. Every extra benefit they get for the Chinese means one less bullet for the British to make.

The "Home Ownership Scheme" project renovated by Ho Ting-hsien will of course affect the interests of real estate developers, but he can not only suppress the ghost real estate developers, but also the Chinese-owned real estate developers. The Chinese real estate developers between the two are even more difficult to deal with than Gui Lao, and the Hong Kong government is also fueling the situation behind the scenes.

But the reason why strongman politics and authoritarianism are most supported by ordinary people is because strongman politics can control the overall situation, settle all objections, and lead the citizens to develop towards a goal! However, after the launch of the Home Ownership Project, in order to ease relations with the business community, Ho Ting-hsien resigned from his position as executive director of the Guangdong Provincial Chamber of Commerce, temporarily hiding behind the scenes and remaining silent in the business community for a period of time.

In April 1982, former British Prime Minister Edward visited China, and the issue of Hong Kong Island's return officially came to the fore. In May 1983, after more than ten rounds of consultations, the British refused to give up the retention of legislative power, free navigation rights in airspace and sea areas, etc. rights, the negotiations between the two parties entered a stalemate stage.

Although the North has shown clear determination, there is no need to discuss the issue of sovereignty, and it is impossible to give up any rights. We will only adjust governance policies to respect the Chinese people on Hong Kong Island and will never bow to the threat of force.

In April 1982, the Falklands War broke out at the same time. One of the main goals of Edward's visit to China was to participate in the Falklands War. This war was the largest and most intense joint sea, land and air battle during the Cold War.

The goal of the war was that Britain failed to exercise sovereignty over the Falklands and demanded that Argentina give up the Falklands. Although Britain finally won the Falklands War, its military strength has been labeled as a second-rate country, with even its underwear exposed.

The North is not even afraid of first-rate foreigners, so how can it be afraid of second-rate foreigners?

At the end of 1983, during the stalemate in Sino-British negotiations, a major event occurred on Hong Kong Island, known in history as the "Police Patriotic Parade." The cause was that five uniformed police officers held up placards to demonstrate in front of the Government House, demanding that the British side unconditionally return the sovereignty of Hong Kong Island. The demonstration lasted for a full week and was eventually expelled by the Military Intelligence Agency.

Gui Lao exercised great restraint during the eviction and called his family in advance. However, this move still triggered the largest strike demonstration in Hong Kong in the 1980s. A total of 18,000 police officers took to the streets to demand the Hong Kong government unconditionally. Return sovereignty of Hong Kong Island.

And red flags were planted in front of government agencies in the three districts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

"Ghost, get out of Hong Kong Island and give me back my land!"

"Foreigners have no right to interfere in China's port!"

The massive demonstration paralyzed the entire Hong Kong. According to subsequent statistics, more than 230 Hong Kong government employees were injured during the demonstration, causing economic losses of more than 8 million Hong Kong dollars. And unlike previous demonstrations, the Legislative Council, local chambers of commerce, and well-known wealthy people have publicly expressed their support for the return of Hong Kong Island, showing strong national sentiments.

MacLehose called the police station and asked the police station to calm down the situation as soon as possible. However, he received resignation letters from more than 100 senior officers, led by Police Commissioner Ho Ting-yin. The collective resignation of the police force is undoubtedly a major political event, echoing the police strike march.

In the end, the Hong Kong government had no choice but to publicly promise to actively promote the peaceful return of Hong Kong Island and set the tone among the people that they were willing to return Hong Kong Island. Subsequently, China and Britain started negotiations again. After 22 rounds of negotiations, the British agreed to return Hong Kong Island unconditionally and without reservation when the lease expired, that is, July 1, 1997.

Ho Ting-yin was subsequently invited to participate in the handover preparatory working group as the Commissioner of Police, and together with Fok Ying-tung and others, he integrated people from all walks of life and levels on Hong Kong Island. We also prepared working groups and consultants to join in the establishment of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Island, retaining provisions such as not changing the system of the previous 50 years.

June 1984.

"Brother Xian, I'm older than you, isn't it too much to ask me to do this?" Yan Xiong was wearing a suit, holding a cigar in his backhand, and was concentrating on trimming the cigar with scissors. I saw him wearing leather shoes, with a shiny black back and high energy, but the stubble at the corners of his mouth was pale, and there was a hint of old age in his appearance.

He Dingxian sat on a leather sofa across from him, holding the armrests with his hands domineeringly, crossing his legs, and laughed out loud: "I'm only in my fifties, and the second half of my life has just begun. If I don't experience this position, I will be a deputy virgin for ten years." Isn’t it a waste of time to grow up?”

At this time, he patted the armrest of the sofa vigorously, with a smile on his face. His figure was still straight and strong, but his face was also stained with the lines that only middle-aged people have. The years are ruthless, and the youth is blooming in an instant. Back then, they were working hard at the bottom, struggling to collect a fee, and the scene of blood spilling on the streets for the superior police rank was still vivid in their minds. However, the two of them are already gangsters all over Hong Kong and have absolute control over the police force. figure.

It has been ten years since He Dingxian became the Commissioner of Police and Yan Xiong became the Deputy Commissioner of Police. In the past ten years, the deputy director of management has been replaced every two years. So far, the first Chinese director of management, Li Junxia, ​​has been replaced. All ranks are now held by Chinese.

But as long as Ho Ting-hsien is still in the position of Police Commissioner, Ngan Hung has been in the position of Chief of Operations. The outside world regards Ngan Hung as Ho Ting-hsien's top thug, but sees him as the successor to the political power of the police force. Not much.

For example, Li Junxia, ​​who has been promoted much in recent years, as well as Zhuo Jingquan, Xu Qian and others, are actually more popular with Sir He in the eyes of many people.

Yan Xiong had gotten to this point, so he didn't think much about it. He just asked, "Sir, are you really quitting? At your age, if you work for another ten or twenty years, you will be able to work until you are ninety-seven."

"no, sorry."

He Dingxian shook his head: "If the old bones don't survive, how can young people have a chance?"

Yan Xiong rolled his eyes and asked tentatively, seemingly enlightened: "What's going on with Ah Hua?"

"Um."

He Dingxian nodded: "Jianhua has graduated from college. While taking elective degrees for further studies, he also joined the Colonial Secretary to work. As long as I am in the position of the police force for a day, he will not be promoted in a day."

"Ha ha."

"I didn't expect that one day I would be pinched."

Yan Xiong chuckled: "Sir, you are joking."

Since ancient times, only a small number of fathers and sons have served as officials in the same palace. They are either from powerful families who can only cover the sky with one hand, or during the period of separatist rule. Although He Dingxian doesn't mind continuing to work until 1997, he must give up some benefits for the development of the next generation of the family.

After all, he has been the Commissioner of Police for ten years and has been in charge of the police force for twenty years.

Not only are students and former officials spread throughout the police force, but the network of interests is also intricate.

As long as there are politicians in the next generation of the He family, they can still control the police force through ancient officials, and they can also break out of the police force's rules and regulations and express their ambitions in a larger power system. Even if Ho does not produce another generation of politicians, Hui still has absolute authority in the police force based on his influence alone.

If he feels that his power is shaken, he can plan to re-employ and reinstate him. Even if Hong Kong Island returns, as long as he lives for one day, his influence will still last for one day.

"Unconsciously, it's time to plan for our children and grandchildren." He Dingxian shook his head and sighed.

Yan Xiong looked at the boss who was less than fifty and secretly pouted, he had been an old brother for many years, who didn't know that he was trying to compete with a small one? He talks nicely, but for the sake of his children and grandchildren, doesn’t he want to be the Chief Executive?

"It's better for Ah Hua to join the Colonial Secretary for training as soon as possible, otherwise he will easily get into trouble if he takes over government affairs in the future." Yan Xiong said: "You have taught him personally, and so many brothers and friends support him, he will definitely no problem."

"It doesn't matter if you don't mention it, it doesn't matter if you don't mention it."

He Dingxian picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and sighed: "You brat, apart from being handsome, there is nothing like me. As for when you take office, I will submit my resignation letter to the Hong Kong government at the end of the month. Elections start at the beginning of the month.”

"You have the final say, boss."

Yan Xiong shrugged his shoulders, looking indifferent.

At the end of the month, Sir Ho submitted his resignation letter to the Hong Kong government as agreed, and was quickly approved by Governor MacLehose. It can even be said that Sir MacLehose has been waiting for this day for a long time, and if he continues to wait, he will start to live longer. Of course, Sir Ho has served the police force for more than 30 years, and he must be given the honor he deserves. After the approval of his ancestral royal family, the Hong Kong government awarded Ho Ting-yin the highest level of the Siren Medal, the "Grand Cross", as a commendation. Yan Xiong easily won the internal election and was unanimously elected as the Commissioner of Police. Li Junxia was then transferred to Deputy Director of Operations, and Zhuo Jingquan was promoted to Deputy Director of Management.

After Ho Ting-hsien took a break for a month or two after resigning, he was no longer idle. On the one hand, he served as the president and chairman of Oriental Group, leading the business for a period of time. On the other hand, he began to participate in social activities and came back again to become the president of the Hong Kong Island Chinese Entrepreneurs Association. , permanent honorary president of the Guangdong Chamber of Commerce.

After getting rid of his official position, he felt as if he had no official position and was light-hearted. He could often travel to and from the mainland, attend meetings in the north, and start a series of investments in the mainland. Eastern Group was not only the first to invest in the hotel industry in the mainland, but also one of the first groups to receive government infrastructure orders. It also set off a wave of gold rush northward on Hong Kong Island, with companies such as Chow Tai Fook, Wong Lo Kat, Cathay Pacific and other companies moving northward.

Chinese capital on Hong Kong Island can be said to be a catalyst for the development of the southern coast, and the southern coast has also given Hong Kong capital rich returns.

After ten years of vicissitudes, 97 is approaching.

A month ago, He Jianhua, who served as the director of the Economic Section of the Colonial Secretary and a member of the Urban Council, was not surprisingly recommended by the entire preparatory team, and finally made a hurried trip north to decide on the candidate. When everyone supports Xiao He, no one will choose to oppose it.

July 1st.

He Dingxian and Chu Yunnan attended the return dinner organized by the Government as the parents of the Chief Executive. The venue was the Governor's Mansion, which was changed to the Chief Executive's Mansion. When He Dingxian held the hotel, he watched his eldest son stand on the stage in high spirits and interact with all walks of life. Celebrities exchanged cups, looked at the young and middle-aged people they knew or didn't know and stepped forward to take a sip of Uncle He and Sir He, and suddenly they came back to life in their hearts! We are living again in that era of advanced information, explosive technology, and rapid changes.

At the same time, his life is over!

"Honey, cheers."

He Dingxian wore a suit, took a wine glass from the waiter's tray, smiled and toasted to the beautiful woman in front of him: "Celebrate."

"hehe."

"good."

Chu Yunnan was wearing a women's suit, holding a famous bag in her hand. She had no jewelry on her body, only a jade bracelet on her right hand. Although there are already a lot of wrinkles on my face, I have always taken good care of it, and I still look like I am in my forties.

She originally thought she was celebrating the election of her eldest son, but her husband said, "To celebrate that our life has not been in vain, thank you."

Ding!

season finale.

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