Even He Mingguang Ge Mulian couldn't help but clap their hands in approval when they heard Chu Xiaoxin's words.
It wasn't that these Britain were naive or intimidated by Chu Xiaoxin's donation of one million dollars. Rather, the two largest charitable organizations in Hong Kong, Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, were founded by Chinese businessmen themselves. It was fine for the Britain to attend a charity dinner and show their faces among a group of wealthy people, but if they wanted to get involved and use the charitable activities of these two large organizations to enhance their own reputation, sorry, the wealthy Chinese businessmen in Hong Kong were already too busy donating money to become Justice of the Peace, so the Britain shouldn't even think about trying to squeeze in and grab a spot.
Meanwhile, some charitable organizations established by genuinely philanthropic individuals in the Britain lack a strong local base in Hong Kong. Because no Hong Kong Chinese businessmen are involved, they don't know how to use money to win people's hearts, let alone in terms of financial resources, action, and appeal. Compared to Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals of Hospitals, the few Britain charitable organizations in Hong Kong are far inferior.
Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals prevented the Britain from interfering, so the Britain could only tighten the opportunities for these Chinese businessmen to obtain Justice of the Peace and be honored. Before the war, seven or eight Chinese businessmen would receive the title of Justice of the Peace every year because of their large donations. People like Du Zhaojian Justice of the Peace, who donated the most, could even go to London to participate in the Queen's investiture ceremony. But now, even though Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals do a lot of charity work every year to alleviate the social pressure on the Hong Kong Government, the number of people appointed as Justice of the Peace by the Governor has decreased a lot. In 1950, there were only three. This year, it seems that those Chinese businessmen in the two charitable organizations of Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals who are single-mindedly trying to obtain the title will be somewhat disappointed. There will probably be no more than three.
One possible reason for this was the resentment the Hong Kong governor felt stemming from the perception that wealthy China were currying favor with Hong Kong citizens while excluding the Britain.
However, of the three founders of Oxfam, two are Britain, and both are Britain women. Only one is China person, and judging from his tone, he is clearly a local wealthy Chinese businessman. Otherwise, how could he dare to casually offer to donate one million Hong Kong dollars worth of medicine every year? You should know that the person in charge of commerce and trade, Shek Chi-yik, is sitting in front of him, and the Governor's wife, Ge Mulian, is also clapping and listening. If this China person is lying and bragging, it's only because he doesn't want to continue doing business in Hong Kong in the future.
With this million dollars worth of medicine as a foundation, and by promoting two Britain women and incidentally the Governor's wife, plus involving the Anglican Church, Governor Grantham, unless he was an idiot, would definitely be able to play this hand well. If the two women did well, they would almost certainly be awarded a minor medal by the Royal Order upon returning to London as outstanding individuals. Even this China person, Chu Xiaoxin, was already guaranteed the title of Justice of the Justice of the Peace. Grantham would also need to use this newly appointed Justice of the Peace, Chu Xiaoxin, to remind and warn those Chinese businessmen in Po Leung Kuk and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals of Po Leung Kuk who were reluctant to include the Britain in their business dealings.
Is it expensive to exchange one million Hong Kong dollars worth of medicine for the title of Justice of the Peace? Of course not. The prominent Chinese businessmen in Po Leung Kuk Tung Wah Group of Hospitals of Hospitals donate at least five or six hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars in cash every year, and even that amount doesn't rank them among the top. Even one million Hong Kong dollars in cash wouldn't be enough to secure the position of Chairman of Po Leung Kuk or Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.
With a drug costing one million Hong Kong dollars, he can become the founder of a charity organization and even receive the title of Justice of the Peace. Even the Britain businessmen in the audience felt that Mr. Chu Xiaoxin had a great eye for investment and was definitely a leading figure among the younger generation of Hong Kong Chinese businessmen. He was resourceful and knew how to seize opportunities.
Some of the more astute Britain already felt they should donate more today in order to secure a position on Oxfam's executive committee.
After the speeches at the ceremony, the donation session naturally began. Since Chu Xiaoxin had already announced that he would donate 500,000 yuan worth of medicine to Oxfam, he would naturally make the first donation as the owner of Likang. Four trucks had already delivered the first batch of Shun Brand Flower Pagoda Candies in the early morning, and they were now piled up in the apse of the church, covered by a large red cloth. Chu Xiaoxin invited Ge Mulian, Shek Chi-yik, He Mingguang, Angie Perlis, Mrs. Bess to uncover the nylon cloth together, revealing the neatly stacked and well-packaged Shun Brand Flower Pagoda Candies underneath.
Following this, Angie Perlis pledged Hong Kong dollars 50,000 worth of deworming medication, to be produced by Mr. Chu Xiaoxin; Mrs. Bess pledged Hong Kong dollars 50,000 worth of deworming medication, to be produced by Mr. Chu Xiaoxin Shek Chi-yik donated Hong Kong dollars 10,000 in cash; Ge Mulian pledged Hong Kong dollars 100,000 worth of deworming medication; Bishop He Mingguang donated 500 Bibles and some food...
Just as Song Tianyao was yawning and watching the people in front of him begin donating, Xianyu Shuan quietly walked up to Song Tianyao, leaned down, and whispered, "Secretary Song, Brother Shing from the docks had someone specially send a message by rickshaw: the land police, Marine Police, Customs, and the British Army Hong Kong Island have jointly seized all the warehouses of Western medicine companies at major docks in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, including Likang's warehouse."
All the warehouses of Western medicine companies? Song Tianyao's sleepy expression vanished instantly, and his eyes, like those of a hawk, looked at Shek Chi-yik, who was standing on the stage with his wife Bess, smiling and low-key!
The Foreign Devil actually changed the script? Is this a ploy to make an example of someone, or a case of discarding someone after they've served their purpose, showing no mercy?
Chapter 121 Dirty Water
Song Tianyao's mind raced, trying to figure out the motive behind the Foreign Devil Shek Chi-yik's grand scheme. With Shi Shek Chi-yik's status, it wouldn't be a problem for him to contact the Police Department Chief regarding the land and sea police. Customs enforcement was also under Shek Chi-yik's direct command, so there was no issue. However, the British Army stationed on Hong Kong Island were beyond the authority of anyone, not even the Security Secretary, or even the Colonial Secretary, who was second only to the Governor. For military operations involving the British Army stationed in Hong Kong, the Governor himself needed to call the Britain Foreign and Commonwealth Office, requesting a formal letter from the Britain Ministry of Defence to apply for mobilization rights.
Even for non-military operations, the Governor of Hong Kong needed to personally contact the British Forces in Hong Kong. Only after the British Forces in Hong Kong Command agreed would soldiers be dispatched to assist in the operation.
Assisting Hong Kong Customs in its operations could not be considered a military operation, but it does indicate that this large-scale seizure of warehouses belonging to all pharmaceutical companies in Hong Kong was not an operation carried out by Shek Chi-yik, the Deputy Director of Industry and Commerce, under the Customs, but rather an operation that Governor Grantham was aware of and authorized.