After the Chinese servant who had helped serve the coffee bowed and took his leave, he continued speaking in a low voice to Shek Chi-yik, the director of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office, across from him. "Mason, how could the United States possibly know about something like this? I simply can't believe it. The China person are smuggling almost 24 hours a day, and the United States are powerless to stop it, yet an India selling some hair from Mainland China has been caught red-handed by the United States? You know, the Governor-General really dislikes the United States right now. Your Customs Department could have easily covered this up discreetly, instead of making a big fuss about it and giving the United States an opportunity to criticize Hong Kong's enforcement of the Embargo Order."
Shodick was considered the fourth most trusted confidant of Grantham in Government House. The first was Grantham's adjutant, the second Grantham's personal assistant, the third was the Chief Steward of Government House, and only the fourth was Shawdick, the Chief Secretary of Government House. Although Grantham did not actually rank them, the reception room numbers they used when Grantham was too busy to meet with certain people personally and instead had these confidants conduct the meetings proved that this ranking system truly existed within Government House.
When Shodick met with some people on behalf of Grantham, he could use Reception Room No. 4 at the Government House, while the three people ahead of him in line had the right to use Reception Rooms No. 1, 2, and 3.
Before Shek Chi-yik, whenever Grantham was sure he didn't have anything urgent to deal with, he would personally meet with Shek Chi-yee in his office. But this time, not even the Chief Steward of the Government House showed up. Only a butler came forward to give a greeting, and only one of his confidential secretaries met with Shek Chi-yik Chi-yee in the No. 4 reception room. This shows that Grantham was very dissatisfied with how Shek Chi-yik handled this matter.
Shek Chi-yik, his face bearing large bags under his eyes, remained calm. Despite Shodick's somewhat agitated tone, he simply stirred his coffee gently. Only after the other person finished speaking did he take a deep sniff of the coffee's aroma and slowly say:
"Coffee and utensils from Wedgwood —I've almost forgotten when I last had traditional Britain coffee."
"Mason, now is not the time for you to praise the Governor's collection. The Governor is very angry, do you understand what I mean? You've put him in a very passive position at the United States Consulate in Hong Kong. I think anyone would be furious if they wanted to get information on their own turf from an annoying foreigner," Shodick said to Shek Chi-yik.
Shek Chi-yik took a sip of coffee, put down his cup, and said to Shodick, "Mr. Hogg, hair isn't a strategic resource and isn't included in the United Nations Embargo Order. So, is an India selling hair from Mainland China in Hong Kong violating that order?"
"Mason, you're the head of the Industrial and Commercial Administration Office, are you kidding me? Or do you just look like Mason, but underneath your skin is some unknown China person or India? Don't give me any more jokes, I'm not in the mood to tell you those unfunny London jokes right now." Shodick was furious at Shek Chi-yik's question, and even his tone became somewhat vicious.
Currently, there are two forms of Embargo Order on Hong Kong. The first is the strategic material embargo imposed by the United Nations on Mainland China. The second is a comprehensive embargo imposed by the United States, which it is trying to promote and expand, prohibiting all trade with Mainland China.
The first type of embargo spurred Hong Kong smugglers to smuggle strategic materials such as rubber, steel, gasoline, diesel, and pharmaceuticals into Mainland China through various channels. The second type of embargo is the reason why issues like shrimp from Hong Kong waters and preserved duck from Hong Kong occur. In order to ensure that no goods with direct or indirect ties to Mainland China enter the free America, the United States has conducted almost obsessive scrutiny and investigations into the second type of embargo.
Last month, the emerging wig manufacturing industry generated over three million Hong Kong Hong Kong dollars in sales of wigs. While this figure might not have been particularly impressive in the early post-war period, it dramatically boosted Hong Kong's already stagnant economic and trade data after the Embargo Order was implemented. This made things less awkward, and for both the Governor and Shek Chi-yik, this figure became a source of pride, allowing them to confidently demonstrate to London: "Look, even after the Embargo Order on Hong Kong, we have worked hard to develop new markets, stabilize Hong Kong's economy, and maintain the stability of industry and commerce."
However, just one month later, the industry suffered a devastating blow. India suppliers in the wig industry began using raw materials from Mainland China to supply various factories. This gave the more than 100 embargo prosecutors at the United States Consulate in Hong Kong the opportunity to criticize the Hong Kong Colonial Government for its poor enforcement of the Embargo Order. They insisted that, with the Hong Kong Colonial Government's tacit approval, Mainland China had been using hair to make money from the United States people to buy bullets and kill Nationalist Army on the North Korea battlefield.
Upon learning of the news, the United States Consulate in Hong Kong immediately called Government House to inquire about the matter and stated that he would continue to arrange for investigators to follow up on the entire incident. This put Governor Grantham, who had previously been completely unaware of this seemingly trivial matter concerning India selling hair, in a very passive position. How could the Governor, in his own colony, have to rely on foreigners to tell him about such a thing? This was one of the reasons for his strong dissatisfaction with Shek Chi-yik. His greater dissatisfaction stemmed from the fact that the wig industry might no longer be able to boost his political record, as the United States Consulate in Hong Kong had contacted the United States Department of Commerce to thoroughly investigate wigs manufactured in Hong Kong that had already entered the United States. market. Orders that had not yet been fulfilled would soon be subject to a mandatory suspension by the United States Department of Commerce. Without orders from the United States. market, the Hong Kong wig industry would essentially cease to exist.
"Mr. Hogg, what do you think of the emerging wig industry in Hong Kong?" Shek Chi-yik was not angered by Shodick's sarcasm, even though his official position was actually much higher than Shodick's.
Shodick said coldly, "That previous industry was your achievement. As long as you maintain stability in that industry and get through this period..."
"No, no, no, we're not talking about colonial achievements. I'm talking about that industry. It's chaotic, driven by the most basic capitalist impulses. When someone sees an industry making money, everyone rushes in. And the chaos is reflected in the fact that there aren't even industry standards or regulations for raw material supply. Factory owners only think about producing wigs quickly, without considering raw materials, machinery, or anything else. They just want to make money. As for what the rules of the industry are, who cares? As long as they don't interfere with my profits. It's this capitalist impulse that led to this incident, which is perfectly normal. However, the fact that it erupted so quickly is also a result of my instigation." Shek Chi-yik spoke to Shodick in a hoarse voice.