Although Hong Kong Island had returned to the Motherland's embrace, many things still followed their old customs.
For instance, tonight's reception was still primarily Western in format.
Otherwise, it would have been a celebratory banquet.
Once Cheung Choi Shan finished his speech, the reception entered its livelier phase.
Most of the guests rose and left their seats.
Holding stemmed glasses, they gathered in twos and threes to socialize.
Cheung Choi Shan was the star of the reception, but the center of attention still lay with the three Police Force heavyweights.
Zhou Quan, Lee Man-bun, and Yin Xiaofeng went out onto a terrace to chat, with a steady stream of colleagues coming over to offer toasts.
At the very least, these people were all Commissioned Rank members of the Police Force.
Anyone who could not even bear a single Bauhinia on their shoulders had no business crowding around the three heavyweights.
With most of their colleagues, the three exchanged only a few pleasantries.
Only the star of tonight's reception received extra attention from them.
"Good evening, sirs!"
Accompanied by a graceful beauty, Cheung Choi Shan approached the three heavyweights and raised his hand in salute.
Although today's celebratory reception had been organized under the lead of Yin Xiaofeng, the head of the Operations Department, that did not mean much.
The guests were not all Police Force insiders.
Officers with families were welcome to bring them along.
The beauty beside Cheung Choi Shan at that moment was the date he had specially invited for the evening.
"Ah Shan, congratulations!"
Moving his stemmed glass to his left hand, Zhou Quan smiled warmly and extended his right.
Even though Lee Man-bun was his elder, a subordinate had come to greet his superiors.
On such an occasion, Zhou Quan, the Police Force Deputy Commissioner, was