Just then, the phone on the table rang. Shek Chi-yik answered it, and the voice on the other end was the Second Secretary of the Secretariat of Government House: "Mr. Mason, if you have friends in London, you can ask them to buy you a copy of the Observer and check out the exclusive news about Hong Kong published there."
"Is someone again spreading rumors in the newspapers that Hong Kong's industrial and commercial data has declined sharply since the Governor took office?" Shek Chi-yik said. "Those guys in London should really come to Hong Kong and see for themselves. The Governor has done a very good job. Anyone else would have made it worse. Unless Britain stops complying with the Embargo Order, the decline in data is inevitable."
He assumed that the opposition was once again launching attacks on their rivals in London newspapers, a common occurrence. Britain gentlemen and members of parliament were accustomed to publishing their critiques of various political events in the newspapers. However, the Observer's political stance was not clear; the newspaper preferred to produce so-called exclusive stories, merely providing topics for Britain preparing to hurl insults at each other in the paper.
"No, obviously not. You can call back to London yourself to find out. The Governor wants you to understand the news and handle the whole matter properly." The secretary hung up the phone after saying that.
Shek Chi-yik frowned, picked up the phone and called his friend in London. Although the Observer did not have the astonishing circulation of The Daily Mail and the Times, it was still one of the top five newspapers in Britain. In particular, London officials and businessmen considered reading the Observer and The Financial Daily as a must every morning at breakfast.
"Patrick?" After being questioned by the servant, the phone was handed to Edward Hill, a classmate of Shek Chi-yik Zhiyi who served as an assistant to the Foreign Minister in London: "I'm surprised to receive your call on this rainy London morning. How's the weather in Asia?"
"Having breakfast?" Shek Chi-yik glanced at his watch. "Do you have the Observer here? Pick it up and help me find some news about Hong Kong."
"I just finished reading it. I'm currently reading the Hong Kong news in the * Financial Daily * and * the Observer *. No need to search specifically; on page two, there's an exclusive story with photos. Hong Kong Customs, with the cooperation of the PLA garrison, seized a large quantity of military-grade medical supplies and is currently investigating. According to sources, the seized supplies likely came from a Hong Kong- based trading company called European Coast, founded by China person. This company not only monopolizes the distribution rights for most antibiotics in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia but also maliciously inflates drug prices. In London, Penicillin injections cost less than one pound, but in Hong Kong, they need to be bought for ten times that amount on the black market. I guess this company must have offended someone. These revelations are truly explosive! Wow, they even maliciously hoarded Britain Philanthropist..." "Philanthropist, the charity founded by Mrs. Bess Oxfam, urgently needs raw materials for medicine..." Edward Hill picked up the Observer and glanced at it again. "The photo is of the Customs Department and Britain soldiers posing with the seized military supplies and medicines in a warehouse. It's very clear. The United States contacted the Britain Overseas Colonial Department last week, saying that Hong Kong, as a British colony, has not fully implemented the United Nations Embargo Order, and smuggling of embargoed goods in Hong Kong is still rampant. I guess the gentlemen in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will feel very timely and gratified when they see this news. At least this time they have enough reason to deal with the United States. Speaking of which, Customs is under your jurisdiction. If those Big Brothers are in a good mood, you might even get a commendation or something..."
"I'll call and send your daughter a card on her birthday. Goodbye, Edward, let's talk about the weather again next time." Shek Chi-yik rudely hung up the phone before the other person could finish speaking!
Likang Company allowed the Zhang Family to influence the Governor of Hong Kong, but instead took a different approach and released this news in London with photos! The Governor had obviously received the message in the Observer, and the diplomatic Big Brother in London might even praise the Governor for doing a good job. But in reality, as the secretary who called him said, it would be a miracle if the Governor was in a good mood.
I had subtly plotted against Likang, but Likang unexpectedly threw me into a dilemma, seemingly trying to embarrass me. But isn't Likang really worried that after this incident, I might harbor resentment and deliberately target Likang?
However, none of that matters right now. What's important is to avoid embarrassing the Governor of Hong Kong. The Observer is widely read by the Britain upper class, which means that it's safe to say that most of the important figures have already seen this Hong Kong news, whether they want to or not. Eager to appease the United States Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will probably pass this message on to the United States this morning in London, proving that Hong Kong, Britain's Far East colony, has executed the Embargo Order very well.
If a blunder were to occur at this point, even if they wanted to use Likang as a scapegoat, it would be too late.
The newspapers say it's the fault of the European Coast Company, so it can only be the fault of the European Coast Company. The Britain can't be wrong; the fault can only China person!
But given the current situation, how should they deal with the Zhang Family? Should they hope that the Governor of Hong Kong would return the benefits he had received to the Zhang Family? Considering Grantham's greedy nature, Shek Chi-yik felt that the possibility was almost negligible.
No wonder the Government House called, asking me to clean up the mess! The situation I started, where someone else used me to do the dirty work, has come full circle, and the knife has ended up back in my hands!
That young China man named Song Tianyao from Likang is indeed impressive.
The current situation only confirms the fact that Zhang Family's European Coast Company smuggled contraband. However, before that, he needs to let Song Tianyao know that he can scheme against Likang, but if Likang schemes against him, he will have to bear his anger.
Just as he was about to call Shen Wenkang, the Customs Department, to have Customs seize Likang's warehouse, the secretary outside gently knocked on the door and said, "Sir, there is a Mr. Song Tianyao who claims to be the secretary of Likang Trading Company. He said you arranged to meet him at this time, but his name is not on your schedule for today, so I've come to inquire about it."