Zhou Quan had already received accurate information about who would lead the Thai side in this joint Hong Kong-Thailand anti-drug operation while he was still on Hong Kong Island.
Sir Kwan never fought a battle he was not sure of winning, so he had naturally gathered intelligence on Phongsaphat beforehand.
Police Major General Phongsaphat had both the willingness and the ability to get things done, but that certainly did not mean he was incorruptible and devoted entirely to the public good.
There was an old saying back home: money could move even the gods.
In many countries, money could open every door, and the Thai side was no exception.
Many so-called rules simply meant that the stakes on offer were not high enough.
Ultimately, Zhou Quan's earlier digression had been a matter of offering a sweet date after a slap.
More precisely, it was offering two sweet dates while holding a slap in reserve.
Sir Kwan could give Phongsaphat's fruit business on Hong Kong Island a little consideration.
After all, maintaining a stable business environment within its jurisdiction was one of the duties of the Hong Kong Island Police Force.
But if Phongsaphat refused to show him any courtesy, he could hardly blame Sir Kwan for handling everything strictly by the book.
The police major general's fruit business on Hong Kong Island operated through Hung Hing's Chiang Tin-yeung.
Chiang Tin-yeung wielded considerable influence in Thailand. Not only had he been an honored guest of several successive mayors of Chiang Mai City, but he also had a deeply entrenched network of connections in Bangkok.
The largest tropical fruit merchant on Hong Kong Island was now Hung Hing, which had already gone legitimate.
And many aspects of Phongsaphat's business depended on Chiang Tin-yeung.
Some involved legitimate channels, but they were not entirely