Chapter Summaries

The Ronin Group’s attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van was interrupted by the National Security Department, trapping the robbers between police teams. He Wenzhan and his officers disabled the gang’s vehicles, leaving them immobilised and surrounded.

• Tin Yeung-chi and the Ronin Group stopped the cash-in-transit van on Gloucester Road and began their armed robbery as civilians fled.
• Police vehicles arrived from both directions, and Tin Yeung-sang abandoned the plan to steal the cash and ordered the gang to escape.
• He Wenzhan ordered his team to shoot the tyres of the HiAce and black Lexus while Pang Yik-hang and Guan Zu moved to block the gang’s escape routes.
• Guan Zu’s team shot the tyres of the Red Honda and the other suspect vehicles, immobilising the Ronin Group.

The Hong Kong Island Police Force surrounded Tin Yeung-sang and his group after their attempted cash-in-transit robbery. Faced with He Wenzhan’s ultimatum, Tin Yeung-sang chose surrender, and the police prepared to take the suspects, guards, and money back to headquarters.

• Tin Yeung-sang led his group out of the car and ordered them to use it as cover and avoid shooting.
• He Wenzhan announced that the group was surrounded and gave them one minute to surrender, then ordered a flashbang fired.
• As He Wenzhan counted down, Tin Yeung-yi asked whether they should fight, and Tin Yeung-sang threw his revolver over the car and chose to surrender.
• The other core members followed Tin Yeung-sang and threw out their weapons.
• Tin Yeung-sang and the others emerged with their hands raised, and He Wenzhan ordered officers to take the suspects, guards, and evidence back to headquarters.

He Wenzhan’s operation successfully arrested Tin Yeung-sang and his group, while the cash-in-transit crew and armoured van were secured for the investigation. He then reunited with Wai King-dat, who complained about the flashbang before He warned him to change his hairstyle ahead of meeting senior officers.

• He Wenzhan ordered Pang Yik-hang to split Tin Yeung-sang and the other arrested criminals among the armoured vehicles, while Wai King-dat was taken separately.
• He Wenzhan found Ho Wing-keung among the cash-in-transit crew and had the crew taken to Tai Kwun to assist with the investigation.
• He Wenzhan ordered Guan Zu to record the armoured cash van’s journey back to Tai Kwun because it contained 100 million US dollars.
• Wai King-dat complained to He Wenzhan that the flashbang had affected his vision and joked that He would have to support him if he suffered lasting damage.
• He Wenzhan told Wai King-dat to be more composed and change his hairstyle before meeting senior officers.

Zhou Quan oversaw Cheung Man Yiu’s arrest after Tin Yeung-sang and Ho Wing-keung gave statements implicating him. The next morning, Zhou welcomed Wai King-dat back to the Police Force with his younger brother Wai King-hao present.

• Zhou Quan ordered Cheung Man Yiu’s arrest, and Chow Sing Sing sent Ah Keung to carry it out.
• Tin Yeung-sang and Ho Wing-keung gave statements implicating Cheung Man Yiu, and the evidence led to a formal arrest warrant and a planned High Court trial.
• Zhou Quan prepared to receive Crouching Tiger Member Wai King-dat in full dress uniform at the Tai Kwun headquarters.
• Chow Sing Sing and He Wenzhan brought Wai King-dat and his younger brother Wai King-hao into Zhou Quan’s office.
• Zhou Quan reassured the nervous Wai King-hao that, as Wai King-dat’s younger brother, he was one of their own.

Zhou Quan formally welcomed Wai King-dat back to the Police Force, promoted him, and presented him with a personal gift after praising his service undercover. Outside the office, Chow Sing Sing revealed that the gift was a custom watch marking Wai King-dat as one of Zhou Quan’s recognized men.

• Zhou Quan reflected that the Crouching Tiger members trained under He Wenzhan belonged to his trusted direct line, while future members might become ordinary members of the Zhou Faction.
• Zhou Quan praised Wai King-dat’s intelligence work and undercover courage, then announced his return to the Police Force with a three-rank promotion and probationary inspector training.
• Zhou Quan replaced Wai King-dat’s insignia with station sergeant insignia and urged him to remain loyal to the Police Force.
• Zhou Quan gave Wai King-dat a gift box and encouraged Wai King-hao to follow his elder brother’s example before dismissing the group.
• Chow Sing Sing explained that the custom watch inside Wai King-dat’s gift box bore his warrant number and identified him as one of Zhou Quan’s recognized officers.

At the first full Police Force Management Meeting of the millennium, Number One formalized the National Security Department’s leadership and promoted Zhou Quan and Chow Sing Sing. Zhou Quan became a Senior Assistant Commissioner, while Chow Sing Sing joined the Police Force’s core management as an Assistant Commissioner.

• Number One announced that Zhou Quan had been promoted to Senior Assistant Commissioner and would continue commanding the National Security Department.
• Zhou Quan stood, saluted the assembled officers, and took his seat after receiving their applause.
• Number One announced Chow Sing Sing’s promotion to Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the National Security Department.
• Chow Sing Sing saluted, joined the dais, and took his place in the Police Force’s core management.

Number One restructured the National Security Department into a fully established core department, raising its standing and creating more opportunities for advancement. Zhou Quan relaxed with his senior officers before receiving a call from Guan Youbo, who managed the Zhou Foundation’s growing fortune.

• Number One renamed and elevated the National Security Department’s three divisions, promoted their commanders, and clarified their responsibilities.
• The department’s officers updated their records and insignia, while Zhou Quan’s subordinates anticipated future promotions under the new structure.
• Zhou Quan and his trusted officers took a rare break in his office after the Management Meeting.
• Guan Youbo called Zhou Quan, whose Zhou Foundation had grown to a valuation exceeding five billion Hong Kong dollars and funded faction benefits and charitable work.
• Zhou Quan had transferred the Foundation into Au Wing-yan’s name, and an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation had found its activities lawful.

Guan Youbo warned Zhou Quan that the Z Fund, despite attracting a planned Hong Kong Government investment, appeared to operate like a Ponzi scheme and could collapse. Zhou Quan said he would investigate, then asked his National Security Department management what they knew about the fund.

• Au Wing-yan left the Zhou Foundation's daily operations to Guan Youbo while focusing on her career and caring for Zhou Quan's children.
• Guan Youbo called Zhou Quan about a five-hundred-million-Hong-Kong-dollar subscription allocation in the Z Fund, which was due to list in half a month.
• Guan Youbo explained that the fund offered suspiciously high returns and seemed to rely on new investors, making him fear it could collapse.
• Zhou Quan recognized Guan Youbo's warning and said he would make investigating the Z Fund a priority.
• Zhou Quan asked his officers about the fund, and Kwan Man Chin identified it as the one tied to the Hong Kong Government's planned fifteen-billion-dollar Welfare Fund investment.

Zhou Quan ordered the National Security Department to investigate Z Fund, whose planned public offering could put billions in government and public money at risk. Realizing he had overlooked the potential commercial crime because he relied too heavily on his prior knowledge, he resolved to take responsibility and ensure the Police Force became involved.

• Zhou Quan asked his senior officers what they knew about Z Fund, but Kwan Man Chin and the others had little information.
• Zhou Quan ordered every department to investigate Z Fund and report detailed intelligence at an afternoon Management Meeting.
• Zhou Quan began studying Z Fund and reflected that he had overlooked the issue because commercial crime was not the Police Force’s main focus.
• Zhou Quan recalled that Guan Youbo’s reminder had helped him connect Z Fund to the case Luk Chi-lim had investigated, and recognized that his advance knowledge could not be trusted completely.
• Zhou Quan decided that he had a duty to investigate the case and would not leave it entirely to the ICAC.

The National Security Department rapidly investigated the Z Fund and found signs that its unusually high returns might come from laundered criminal funds. Kwan Man Chin presented a network linking the fund’s listing to several influential figures, leaving the department to test its suspicion of undisclosed dealings.

• Luo Danian reported that the Z Risk-Hedging Fund had international shareholders suspected of Triad involvement and that its returns might be generated by laundered criminal funds.
• Kwan Man Chin presented evidence that Wu Chi-yung and Xu Huaijing had arranged the Z Fund’s listing and related government contacts.
• Kwan Man Chin identified Leung On-ying as Wu Chi-yung’s girlfriend and a close associate of Xu Huaijing.
• Kwan Man Chin revealed that Leung On-ying had traveled to Macau with Superintendent Wong Man-bun and that Wong had visited Tim Kee Cha Chaan Teng.
• Kwan Man Chin concluded that the relationships among the three men and Leung On-ying formed a suspicious network that might conceal serious problems with the Z Fund.

Zhou Quan’s team confirmed that the Z Fund was tied to suspected organized crime and possible corruption within the Commercial Crime Bureau. He launched Operation Z Storm to investigate the suspects and stop the fund from going public within two weeks.

• Kwan Man Chin presented findings on the Z Fund, and Lok Kai-cheung reported that its chairman, Zorro, was under FBI investigation for suspected ties to Silver Triangle drug syndicates.
• Zhou Quan ordered Ah Nin’s Operations Department to surveil everyone in the dossiers and directed Ah Kwan’s Political Department to continue investigating the Z Fund.
• Yeung Chi-lung reported that Superintendent Wong Man-bun planned to travel to Macau that night.
• Yeung Kam Wing reported that Wong had closed a money-laundering complaint against accountant Law Tak-wing despite detailed evidence, and that the evidence laptop was missing from Tai Kwun’s Evidence Room.
• Zhou Quan ordered the team to keep Wong under close watch, identify which Macau casino he entered, and launched Operation Z Storm with a two-week deadline to prevent the Z Fund from going public.

Yeung Chi-lung’s team gathered casino records and other evidence showing Wong Man-bun had amassed unexplained wealth and accepted bribes. Zhou Quan prepared to move against Wong while inviting Leung On-ying in for a courteous meeting.

• Yeung Chi-lung’s team documented Wong Man-bun’s Macau casino spending and obtained his transaction records with help from the Ho family.
• Luo Danian reported that Wong Man-bun had deposited more than fifty million Hong Kong dollars at the casino and had no legitimate income to explain it.
• Luo Danian said the evidence, combined with the Lo Tak-wing accounting firm case, could support charges against Wong Man-bun.
• Luo Danian reported that Leung On-ying had returned to work at a dog grooming shop and volunteered at Tim Kee Cha Chaan Teng.
• Zhou Quan asked Ah Xian to invite Leung On-ying in and summoned Ah Keung as he prepared to act against Wong Man-bun.

Lau Bo-keung led the National Security Department’s Internal Investigation Group One to arrest Wong Man-bun, only to find the ICAC already preparing to take him away. As the two operations converged at the Commercial Crime Bureau, Lau announced that Wong had to stay at Police Force headquarters for questioning.

• Zhou Quan signed an arrest warrant and ordered Lau Bo-keung to bring Wong Man-bun in for questioning.
• Lau Bo-keung recruited Yeung Kam Wing and led a team to the Commercial Crime Bureau, where they heard a dispute underway.
• Tsang Yuk-ming confronted the ICAC team, then agreed that the Police Force would cooperate with its investigation.
• The ICAC officer ordered his team to take Wong Man-bun away politely.
• Lau Bo-keung interrupted the ICAC operation and declared that Wong Man-bun had to remain at Police Force headquarters.

Lau Bo-keung and Yeung Kam Wing arrived at the Commercial Crime Bureau with an arrest warrant signed by Zhou Quan, taking precedence over the ICAC’s effort to bring Wong Man-bun in for questioning. Luk Chi-lim yielded but vowed to continue investigating Wong Man-bun, who was ordered to accompany the National Security Department.

• Lau Bo-keung and Yeung Kam Wing entered the Commercial Crime Bureau and told Luk Chi-lim they would explain their purpose.
• Lau Bo-keung informed Tsang Yuk-ming that they were taking Wong Man-bun to the National Security Department, and Yeung Kam Wing showed him Zhou Quan’s arrest warrant.
• Tsang Yuk-ming approved the National Security Department’s operation and stepped aside, recognizing its statutory priority over the ICAC.
• Luk Chi-lim accepted that he could not take Wong Man-bun that day but decided to continue investigating him through other avenues.
• Lau Bo-keung ordered Wong Man-bun to come with the National Security Department team.

Lau Bo-keung and Yeung Kam Wing brought Wong Man-bun to the National Security Department for questioning over his role in the Z Fund conspiracy. After reading the evidence, Wong Man-bun admitted his guilt and offered to cooperate as a prosecution witness.

• Lau Bo-keung led Wong Man-bun away from the Commercial Crime Bureau while its members watched in silence.
• Lau Bo-keung and Yeung Kam Wing questioned Wong Man-bun as Zhou Quan and Kwan Man Chin listened from the observation room.
• Lau Bo-keung gave Wong Man-bun five minutes to read files detailing the Z Fund conspiracy and evidence against him.
• Wong Man-bun admitted his guilt and asked to cooperate in exchange for leniency and the chance to become a prosecution witness.

Wong Man-bun asked to become a state witness and confessed how Wu Chi-yung drew him into corruption through gambling debts. He offered to go undercover and obtain evidence against Wu Chi-yung in exchange for leniency.

• Wong Man-bun asked for a reduced sentence, and Lau Bo-keung told him the National Security Department would consider making him a state witness if he helped stop the Z Fund.
• Wong Man-bun explained that his friendship with Wu Chi-yung deepened after Wu invited him to gamble in Macau, where he developed a compulsive habit and lost everything.
• Wong Man-bun said Wu paid off his debts in exchange for favors, and that he had kept records of the payments in an anonymous HSBC safe deposit box.
• Wong Man-bun admitted he had been rough with Leung On-ying because she was Wu Chi-yung's girlfriend and said he hated Wu for contributing to his downfall.
• After Zhou Quan arranged for water to be brought in, Wong Man-bun said Wu used cash deposits into a casino account to hide his bribes and offered to go undercover to obtain evidence.

Zhou Quan offered Wong Man-bun a chance to reduce his sentence by gathering evidence of Wu Chi-yung’s crimes. Wong accepted the dangerous undercover assignment, and Zhou arranged protection from interference by the ICAC while Operation Z Storm continued.

• Wong Man-bun agreed to turn against Wu Chi-yung in hopes of reducing his own culpability.
• Zhou Quan entered the interrogation room and told Wong that it was not too late to reform.
• Zhou offered to seek discretionary leniency if Wong obtained evidence, warning that he would be monitored and could be killed if he compromised the operation.
• Wong pledged to find evidence of Wu Chi-yung’s crimes and accepted the surveillance conditions.
• Zhou said he would provide a document to protect Wong from being detained by other law enforcement agencies during Operation Z Storm.
• Zhou left Lau Bo-keung and Yeung Kam Wing to arrange Wong’s surveillance equipment and monitoring.

Zhou Quan told Mr. Dong that the National Security Department had launched the Z Storm Special Campaign to investigate the Z Fund, and Mr. Dong arranged a meeting with the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The investigation continued under the National Security Department’s lead, and Mr. Dong invited Zhou Quan to bring Siu Yan and their children for a visit after the case ended.

• Leung On-ying and Wong Man-bun gathered evidence of Wu Chi-yung’s crimes along separate tracks.
• Mr. Dong called Zhou Quan and asked whether the National Security Department was taking action against the Z Fund.
• Zhou Quan reported the Z Storm Special Campaign, and Mr. Dong instructed him to eliminate the risks surrounding the fund.
• Mr. Dong said the Independent Commission Against Corruption wanted to investigate the Z Fund and offered to arrange a meeting.
• Zhou Quan said the Independent Commission Against Corruption could come to Tai Kwun to discuss the case, and Mr. Dong arranged for them to visit in two hours.
• Mr. Dong invited Zhou Quan to bring Siu Yan and their children for a visit once the Z Fund case was over.

The National Security Department and the Independent Commission Against Corruption met with Central Policy Unit adviser Wai Yiu-ting to discuss the Z Fund investigation. Zhou Quan reaffirmed that his department had already launched Operation Z Storm, while Wai warned that investigating the fund could damage the Care Fund and urged caution as its listing approached.

• Commissioner Fan Luo Peifang and her delegation met Zhou Quan and senior National Security Department officials, with Wai Yiu-ting representing the Hong Kong Government's decision-makers.
• Wai Yiu-ting asked whether the two agencies intended to investigate the Z Fund, and Zhou Quan corrected him by declaring that the National Security Department had already begun Operation Z Storm.
• Wai Yiu-ting warned that an investigation could disrupt the Care Fund's investment and cause a public scandal if the Z Fund went public before evidence was found.
• The meeting's attendees recognized that Wai Yiu-ting opposed an investigation, while Commissioner Fan appeared sympathetic to his concerns.

Zhou Quan rejected Wai Yiu-ting’s attempt to obstruct an investigation into the Z Fund and declared Z Storm an important national security operation. He left the meeting after assuring Mrs. Fan that the National Security Department would support an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation that did not interfere with its operation.

• The officials waited for Zhou Quan to state his position while Wai Yiu-ting tried to shift responsibility for investigating the Z Fund onto them.
• Zhou Quan told Wai Yiu-ting that investigating the Z Fund was not in question and formally designated Z Storm an important operation to safeguard Hong Kong Island’s stability and core values.
• Zhou Quan explained that the National Security Department had evidence about Wai Yiu-ting’s role in arranging the Community Care Fund’s investment and suspected the Z Fund of laundering money for international criminal organizations.
• Zhou Quan told Mrs. Fan that the National Security Department supported an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation as long as it did not interfere with Z Storm.
• Zhou Quan left the meeting with Chow Sing Sing and Luo Danian, while Kwan Man Chin stayed behind to see out the guests.