Ah Tung

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

From Yuen Long follower to personal aide

Before following Gu Sheng, Ah Tung and his companions were bottom-rung street punks. During the takeover of Hung Lok, he retrieved two bags of cash from an apartment holding the society’s records and money. Gu Sheng rewarded him and his men with five hundred thousand dollars—an amount that left Ah Tung visibly overwhelmed 29.

Ah Tung chose proximity to Gu Sheng over an early opportunity to establish himself independently. He could have undergone initiation alongside Shark Yan, but believed his limited schooling and fighting ability would leave him vulnerable away from his boss. His plan was to drive for several years, deepen their personal bond, and branch out only when Gu Sheng would be more likely to support him through trouble 68.

Although Shark Yan was publicly regarded as Gu Sheng’s top lieutenant, Ah Tung was actually the closest to him and involved in the widest range of matters. Leung Siu-tong consequently regarded an assignment under Ah Tung as admission to Gu Sheng’s real inner circle 98.

Acting head of Causeway Bay

When Gu Sheng went to Macau, Ah Tung stayed behind to handle Causeway Bay. His familiarity to the organization made him useful: even difficult figures such as Shark Yan were expected to show him respect. Gu Sheng instructed him to consult Shark Yan, Fung Yu-Sau, or Wang Jianjun when necessary and telephone if he could not decide something himself 111.

Ah Tung took the responsibility seriously enough to neglect unrelated matters, admitting afterward that he had not followed the film company’s box-office results because his attention had been entirely on Causeway Bay. He was subsequently entrusted with holding the fort during Gu Sheng’s Netherlands and Japan trips 116 132 157.

Appointment as White Paper Fan

After becoming Hongxing’s leader, Gu Sheng considered giving Ah Tung lucrative territory. Ah Tung maintained that driving was already rewarding because it brought him more respect than being a boss, but Gu Sheng singled him out as adaptable enough to handle independent responsibilities 156.

Following Chan Yiu’s death, Gu Sheng appointed Ah Tung White Paper Fan, placing him in charge of Hongxing’s businesses. He lacked Chan Yiu’s business experience and knowledge of organizational rules, but Gu Sheng insisted that he could learn. Leung Siu-tong was assigned to take over Ah Tung’s previous duties, with Ah Tung instructed to show him the ropes 180.

Chan Yiu’s former followers were sidelined under the new arrangement, particularly Ah Bing. Nevertheless, Ah Bing later warned Ah Tung that Che Baoshan had returned with armed companions intending to kill Gu Sheng. Ah Tung mobilized men, searched their abandoned hideout, and brought Ah Bing to Gu Sheng to explain the threat 214.

Later responsibilities and wealth

Ah Tung continued coordinating personnel and business operations after leaving Gu Sheng’s daily side. He helped supervise the assembly and inspection of a two-thousand-machine shipment, relayed orders for Hongxing’s attack on Tung Sing, and mobilized reinforcements for Gu Sheng’s Tokyo campaign 214 335 336 374.

His counterfeit-shoe and bag businesses brought substantial income, but he also spent heavily. When supplying money to Gu Sheng, he borrowed additional funds from loan sharks associated with newly emerged triads, gambling on making enough from the opportunity to support himself for life. Gu Sheng rebuked him over the interest and ordered him to resolve the debt himself 391.

Personality

Ah Tung combines loyalty with a deliberate concern for his own position. His early refusal to leave Gu Sheng’s side was a calculated choice, not a lack of interest in advancement. Even after gaining independent responsibilities, he sought ways to remain valuable to his boss and avoid being pushed out of the inner circle 68 254.

Flattery and humor are central to their rapport. He readily endorses Gu Sheng’s reasoning, jokes that his own head exists to make Gu Sheng look taller, and eventually hires a Chinese-studies tutor after being told to improve his repetitive praise. Gu Sheng later acknowledges that Ah Tung is both more efficient and better at flattering him than Leung Siu-tong 69 167 169 214.

His easygoing manner coexists with increasing ruthlessness. He attacks men who attempt to raise an alarm, handles coercive interrogations, and leads destructive raids. However, he recognizes practical limits: during the fight with Hunggai Prince, he tries to stop Gu Sheng from killing Prince on Hunggai’s own territory, fearing the consequences 33 83 102 115 132.

Ah Tung openly credits Gu Sheng for his rise. When Hongxing discusses legitimate business, he declares that he will follow Gu Sheng whether that means going legitimate or picking up a blade again 310.

Abilities & Skills

Organization and Personnel Management

Ah Tung can translate Gu Sheng’s instructions into coordinated action across Hongxing 111 336 374.

• Holds Causeway Bay during Gu Sheng’s absences and arranges accommodations for incoming northern recruits 111.
• Coordinates with established bosses, including Hon Ping, Yilong, and Ah Bo 336.
• Mobilizes men for overseas operations and personally approaches Zat Tau about joining the Tokyo campaign 374.
• Benefits substantially from Gu Sheng’s reputation; Gu Sheng considers him less capable than Hon Ping, Ah Ye, or Jimmy at handling difficult matters independently abroad 377.

Interrogation and Underworld Knowledge

Gu Sheng repeatedly entrusts Ah Tung with extracting information from captives 63 102 207.

• Obtains Itō’s confession within ten minutes, uncovering the Aoki-kai’s role in hiring Walled City gunmen 102.
• Recognizes a captured attacker as likely coming from Kowloon Walled City because of his previous dealings with people there 102.
• Is specifically selected to interrogate Hunggai Prince about hidden money, goods, and a bombing 207.
• His precise interrogation methods are not described; Gu Sheng is interested primarily in the results 207.

Driving and Personal Assistance

Ah Tung’s convenience as an aide makes Gu Sheng reluctant to replace him 166 214.

• Drives Gu Sheng, maintains a notebook of contacts, and places calls on request 155 166.
• Distributes payments and rewards to informants and recruited fighters 59 150.
• Finds specialized assistance, including an artist capable of drawing a face from a description 124.
• Arranges clothing for Tin Yeung-sang’s group when Gu Sheng orders them to adopt business suits 105.

Combat

Ah Tung develops into a capable street fighter, but remains below Gu Sheng’s leading specialists 83 120.

• Kicks down one of Ah Shan’s men during a confrontation 76.
• Defeats several attackers alongside Silly Fook at Black Spade Bar 83.
• Leads a raid on Crow’s businesses while carrying a baseball bat 132.
• Admits that entering the professional fighting circuit would likely get him beaten to death 229.

Major Operations

Relationships

• Gu Sheng — Boss, patron, and the source of his rise. Their relationship combines personal familiarity, teasing, dependence, and substantial trust in Ah Tung’s organizational usefulness 68 166 214 310.
• Leung Siu-tong — Initially his subordinate, later his replacement as Gu Sheng’s principal aide. Ah Tung trains him during the handover and continues coordinating with him afterward 98 180 268.
• Silly Fook — Fellow close attendant and frequent companion on protective assignments and fights 43 61 83.
• Ah Wu — Operational partner in planting drugs at Wang Bao’s home. Their conversation exposes Ah Tung’s preference for security through personal connections over immediate independent command 68.
• Ah Bing — Former Chan Yiu subordinate sidelined under Ah Tung. His warning about Che Baoshan prompts Ah Tung to mobilize men and bring him before Gu Sheng 214.
• Zat Tau — An acquaintance whom Ah Tung personally recruits for the Tokyo operation, sobering him up with iced water before explaining Gu Sheng’s offer 374.

Notable Quotes

“Besides, everyone calls me Brother Tung now. That’s even more impressive than having men under me.” 68

“With you around, Brother Sheng, why would I need to think? Besides, I can use my head for little things, but I can’t handle things like this!” 169

“Wherever he goes, I go. If he wants to go legitimate, I’ll go legitimate. If he wants to cut people down, I’ll pick up a blade and cut them down.” 310