pertwk Chapter 68 Seeking Advice from the Lin Family: Strategies for Integrity
Chapter 68 Seeking Advice from the Lin Family: Strategies for Integrity
Inside the study at Government House, the heavy mahogany doors shut out the faint clamor of the parade outside. The lingering scent of cigars mingled with the faint musty smell of old books. Sir John Blake stood by the window, the shimmering light of Victoria Harbour reflecting on his dark suit, but unable to illuminate the solemnity between his brows.
On the table lay this morning's *Hong Kong Morning Post*, the bold black characters "Police-Triad Collusion" like a dagger piercing through the facade of Hong Kong's prosperity. He recalled Thompson's shortsightedness, Harper's arrogance, and the indifferent apathy of the colonial officials at the earlier meeting, and a wave of nausea washed over him. He knew that mere military suppression would only breed deeper resentment, while letting things run rampant would be tantamount to watching the very foundations of his rule crumble.
He needed a way to break the deadlock, a solution that could completely eradicate the problem. He thought of Lin Er.
"Prepare the car," he instructed his secretary. "I need to go to the Lin Group myself."
On the top floor of the Lin Group building, Lin Er stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the motorcade of the Governor's House slowly drive into the building's front courtyard. A knowing glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately reported to Lin Yan, who was far away in Beijing, via a telepathic connection:
"Master, Berliki has come in person. He must be seeking a solution to this media storm."
A moment later, Lin Yan's response resounded directly in his mind: "Act according to the situation. The principle remains the same: guide them to establish an independent anti-corruption agency, directly responsible to the Governor of Hong Kong. I will tell you the framework of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) of later generations, but it doesn't need to be too detailed; leave it to the British to refine themselves. Remember, we are only providing ideas, not doing things for them."
"Understood, Master," Lin Er replied in his mind, then straightened his clothes, preparing to greet the overwhelmed Governor of Hong Kong.
In the meeting room, Perry, unusually, skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point: "Mr. Lin, you've seen the current situation. The police force is utterly corrupt, and public anger has reached the very doorstep of the Hong Kong government. I'd like to hear your opinion, the opinion of a true businessman."
Lin Er did not answer immediately, but instead poured Bai Liji a cup of black tea with a calm demeanor.
"Your Excellency the Governor," his voice was steady and clear, "the current chaos is not a recent phenomenon. The collusion between Hong Kong's police system, and even some government departments, and triads is no secret. They are like parasites sucking the lifeblood of Hong Kong, enriching themselves by collecting protection money, protecting gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking, and extorting money from businesses and ordinary citizens."
He observed that Berwick's brow was furrowed, and continued, "One set of rules is the law on the surface, while the other set is 'dirty money' in the shadows. Businessmen not only have to pay taxes to the government, but also have to pay 'protection money' repeatedly to those in uniform and those in black shirts. How much of the hard-earned money of workers ultimately ends up in the pockets of these parasites? In this environment, legitimate businesses struggle to survive, and honesty and law-abiding behavior become a joke."
Bai Liji listened in silence, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.
Lin Er then changed the subject: "Sir, Hong Kong is just an island. What is its greatest value? It's its status as a free port, its relatively stable environment, and the countless workers willing to work hard and create value here! Capital is the most sensitive thing in the world; it pursues profit, but it pursues security and stability even more."
"If a place is rife with official corruption, rampant triads, and a lawless society where the law is rendered meaningless, where one can be extorted today and ravaged by riots tomorrow... then which far-sighted international capital would dare to invest there with peace of mind? How can existing factory owners and businesses have the confidence to expand production? A chaotic Hong Kong will only drive capital and talent to other places like Singapore and Tokyo."
He looked at Perry, his eyes sharp: "Your Excellency, only when Hong Kong prospers can the government's tax revenue be abundant, and only then can Britain's overall interests be maximized. Depleting resources will only lead to mutual destruction; removing the corrupt and repairing the pond is the only way to ensure a thriving and sustainable harvest. Stability is not a superficial calm maintained by high pressure, but rather stems from genuine order achieved by eradicating corruption. This is the long-term solution."
Bai Liji took a deep breath; Lin Er's words struck him like a hammer blow. "So, Mr. Lin, in your opinion, how should this deep-rooted problem be eradicated? Setting up an investigation team? I'm afraid that would be insufficient to shake this entrenched network of vested interests."
Lin Er pondered for a moment, then got up and walked to his desk, taking out paper and pen. "An investigation team? Far from enough," he said, sketching on the paper. "We must establish a completely new, independent, and highly authoritative specialized agency."
Bai Liji approached curiously, watching Lin Er write a clear framework on the paper:
"Initial Framework for the Independent Commission Against Corruption"
I. Independence and Authority:
This agency should be completely independent of the police force and all government departments.
Its head is directly appointed by the Governor of Hong Kong and is responsible only to the Governor.
Granted special powers: to arrest without a warrant, to access bank accounts, and to require suspects to provide proof of assets.
"A two-pronged approach: "
1. Enforcement Division: Dedicated to receiving, reviewing, and investigating all corruption allegations.
2. Corruption Prevention Division: Review the work procedures of various government departments, identify loopholes that could lead to corruption, and propose revisions.
3. Community Relations Department: Educate citizens about the harms of corruption and garner their support for anti-corruption efforts.
III. Legal Safeguards:
The drafting of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance.
Clearly define corruption and increase penalties.
"Provide a legal basis for the powers of the new institution"
IV. Social Cooperation and Protection:
Establish a 24-hour hotline for reporting violations.
Strictly protect the safety of whistleblowers
We attach great importance to and provide timely feedback on reports made under real names.
V. Resources and Commitments:
Sufficient financial allocations and staffing
Demonstrating unwavering political resolve
No matter who is involved in the case, we will investigate it thoroughly and show absolutely no leniency.
As Lin Er wrote, he explained, "When this agency is first established, it should investigate several major cases with overwhelming force, especially those that have drawn public criticism and have relatively conclusive evidence, in order to quickly establish its authority, boost public confidence, and deter corrupt officials. At the same time, it should be supplemented with anti-corruption advice and integrity education to address both the symptoms and the root causes."
Bai Liji watched intently, nodding occasionally. Although Lin Er's framework was concise, every point hit the nail on the head, outlining a complete prototype of an unprecedented anti-corruption system.
"However," Lin Er put down his pen, his tone turning serious, "these are just preliminary ideas. How exactly to establish this institution, what kind of legal authorization is needed, where the boundaries of investigative power lie, how to ensure it isn't abused... all of these require detailed discussions by legal and governance experts. I'm just a businessman; I can only offer some superficial opinions from a business perspective."
At this point, Lin Er's expression became even more serious: "Your Excellency, please forgive my frankness. The idea is good, but the road ahead is far from smooth. The resistance you will face in implementing this will likely exceed your imagination. If you do not plan ahead, your own safety may be difficult to guarantee."
Bai Liji was slightly taken aback: "Oh? Mr. Lin, please elaborate."
"First, there's the police force's own backlash," Lin Er's gaze was sharp as a knife. "This new agency is like a sword hanging over the entire old police system, directly severing their decades-long source of revenue and power. They will not sit idly by. Initially, they may outwardly comply but inwardly resist. But once you get serious and begin investigating the top brass, I predict they will likely incite large-scale insubordination, strikes, and even riots. At that time, Hong Kong's security will be instantly paralyzed, and street crime rates will skyrocket. They will use this to prove to you and London: without them, Hong Kong will descend into chaos."
Bai Liji's face darkened. He had obviously considered this as well, but Lin Er's blunt pointing it out still put him under immense pressure.
Lin Er's tone shifted abruptly, a chilling wisdom creeping into his voice: "However, crisis can also be an opportunity. If they only cause minor disturbances, it will only cause trouble. But if they escalate the situation significantly, making it known throughout the world, to the point that London cannot ignore it… then it will provide you and London with the perfect pretext to thoroughly purge the entire police force and implement sweeping reforms. At that time, any suppression and reorganization will be perfectly justified."
"Secondly, and most importantly," Lin Er emphasized, "you must obtain London's unwavering support. This is not merely a matter of Hong Kong; it concerns the reputation and stability of the British Empire's rule in the Far East."
He explained in detail:
1. "Policy and Legislative Support: This new institution you need, with its extraordinary investigative powers, must be granted and endorsed by specific legislation passed by the British Parliament. Without London's legislation, any attempt in Hong Kong is likely to fail due to a lack of legal basis and face a fierce backlash from local vested interests at the judicial level."
2. "Talent and Resource Support: Initially, you cannot expect to recruit sufficiently reliable and uncorrupted core personnel from the local police force or bureaucracy. You will need to draw experienced and clean-backed law enforcement, auditing, and legal experts from the UK or other colonies to provide support. At the same time, sufficient financial allocation must also be approved by London."
3. "The highest level of political endorsement: 10 Downing Street must publicly declare its full support for your anti-corruption reforms. This is your strongest weapon against obstruction from local British officials in Hong Kong. Otherwise, you will find it impossible to move an inch within the Hong Kong government."
"Your Excellency," Lin Er concluded, his tone extremely solemn, "without London's sword, you cannot untangle the tangled mess in Hong Kong. Without London's shield, you cannot withstand the backlash from reform. Before you truly take action, you must ensure that London, especially the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, is on your side, understands your plans, and is willing to provide all the aforementioned support. Otherwise, hasty action may lead to failure and could even jeopardize your own political career."
After listening, Bai Liji's previous excitement completely turned into deep thought. He paced around his study for a long time before finally sighing, "Mr. Lin, what you said was piercing, yet all the truth. I was too hasty." His gaze towards Lin Er was filled with complex gratitude and amazement. "You not only saw the ailment and prescribed the medicine, but you also foresaw all the possible dangers after taking the medicine and where the catalyst would be. This foresight is truly admirable."
He picked up the framework proposal again, his gaze becoming firm and steady: "I understand. I will immediately draft a detailed report myself, and send it to London along with the current chaos and the framework you provided. I will not act rashly until I have received clear support and a commitment from Downing Street."
Lin Er bowed slightly: "Your Excellency is wise. A stable and prosperous Hong Kong is in everyone's long-term interest, and the Lin Group looks forward to seeing a more just and law-abiding Hong Kong."
Outside the window, the sounds of the protests seemed to drift back again, but this time, Berlich felt neither anxiety nor blind excitement, but a cautious resolve. A political game far more complex and dangerous than the street demonstrations was just beginning.