In 2002, the Office of the Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong.
"Mr. Dong wants to quit?" Lei Weidong didn't believe his ears when he heard the news brought by the visiting Security Bureau Chief Yang Jianhua.
"Yes!" Yang Jianhua nodded, indicating that the news was true.
"Why?"
Regarding the news that Mr. Dong wanted to retire, Lei Weidong had no news at all. It was obviously a temporary decision. Lei Weidong was a little strange about this, because Mr. Dong was in too many situations compared to his previous life.
In his previous life, Mr. Dong was really unlucky.
Just three months after Hong Kong's return, the financial crisis hit us.
This caused Hong Kong, which has been experiencing economic growth for more than ten years, to experience an economic recession for five consecutive quarters, causing property prices to plummet.
The depreciation of fixed assets has reduced hundreds of thousands of middle class people to the "negative bourgeoisie", making many people angry at Mr. Dong, believing that he cannot shoulder important responsibilities.
Fortunately, with the support of the mainland, Xiangjiang has weathered the Asian financial crisis, and its economy has ended five consecutive quarters of negative growth and has taken steps towards recovery.
And in the first quarter of 2000, the unemployment rate fell back to 4.5%, and the economic growth reached a 13-year high of 10.5%, restoring everyone's trust in Mr. Dong.
But just this year, the collapse of technology stocks in the United States and the United States affected the entire world. Coupled with the subsequent 911, Xiangjiang's economy fell into a trough again, with zero growth again, which hit Mr. Dong's reputation.
After finally getting out of trouble, the economy had just improved. In August 2002, the financial crisis struck again. This was a follow-up to the Asian financial crisis. International hot money was unwilling to fail and wanted to come back for revenge.
Fortunately, with the support from the mainland, Xiangjiang managed to survive again.
After successfully withstanding the 2002 crisis, Hong Kong's economy once again seemed to be seeing signs of recovery.
Because in this year, the mainland and Xiangjiang launched free travel, which allowed mainland tourists to travel and spend money in Xiangjiang, thereby making up for the decline in finance and technology in Xiangjiang.
It has to be said that the tourism industry brings in money quickly. In 2002 alone, the number of people traveling to Hong Kong from the mainland reached 16.57 million, an increase of 20.7% over 2001.
Coupled with the mainland's accession to the WTO, the mainland's import and export trade soared, and the re-export trade in Hong Kong increased significantly. This allowed Hong Kong's economy to begin to recover. At the end of 2002, it once again reached 1.5%.
Just when everything was going well, an epidemic that had never been seen in human history quietly struck, making the Hong Kong economy, which had withstood the financial crisis and the bursting of the real estate bubble, even worse, and once again fell to the bottom.
It was under this circumstance that the haggard Mr. Dong chose to resign.
But in the Hong Kong Comprehensive World, because of the support of Lei Weidong, the richest man in the world, Xiangjiang was warned in advance about the Asian turmoil. He suffered a little loss in the front, but in the end, he closed the door and beat the dog, causing international hot money losses to vomit blood. It was more ruthless than the financial defense war in the real world. too much.
Coupled with the large-scale development of the northern metropolitan area, Xiangjiang's economy has been given a second spring. Its economic growth has been strong. Even during the Asian financial crisis, it did not fall below 3 percentage points.
Don’t underestimate 3 percentage points. Unlike the mainland, Hong Kong is already a developed economy with a per capita income of more than 2 trillion US dollars. A growth of 3 percentage points is already very high.
In addition, with the support of Lei Weidong, land reclamation continued even after the return, giving Hong Kong 18 square kilometers more land in 2002 than in history.
Don’t underestimate these 18 square kilometers. A dozen square kilometers in the mainland is nothing, but in Xiangjiang, where land is precious, every extra square kilometer can do a lot of things and accommodate a lot of people.
With sufficient land, Mr. Dong can realize his dream of improving the living environment of Xiangjiang citizens.
In recent years, the Xiangjiang government has completed the construction of a total of 300,000 units of 45 square meters of affordable housing, 300,000 units of 65 square meters of affordable housing, and 400,000 units of 110 square meters of commercial housing on reclaimed land and in the northern metropolis.
The introduction of millions of houses that can accommodate more than four million people into society has not only improved the living environment of Hong Kong citizens, but also swept cage houses, an ugly phenomenon that has existed in Hong Kong for decades, into the garbage heap.
It has also allowed the real estate market to grow healthily. Its housing prices have not changed in ten years and have been stable at the price in the early 1990s, allowing ordinary citizens to have money to buy commercial housing to improve their living environment.
The downturn in housing prices has made Mr. Dong resentful to real estate developers because it hinders their ability to make money. However, he has received support from middle- and lower-class citizens, making Mr. Dong's support rate astonishingly high.
Under such circumstances, Mr. Dong took the initiative to retire, which surprised Lei Weidong.
"Mainly because of his age, and the fact that Xiangjiang's economy has been very good in recent years. The development of the northern metropolis has allowed Mr. Dong to fulfill his childhood dream, so he decided to quit."
Yang Jianhua said with a smile, "And with a good heir, Mr. Dong will not worry about someone taking office."
"Good heir, who does Mr. Dong like?"
"What do you think?" Yang Jianhua shrugged.
"It can't be me, right?" Lei Weidong pointed to his nose.
"Who else can there be besides you? It won't be Mr. Huo!" Yang Jianhua asked.
"It really can't be Mr. Huo." Lei Weidong nodded.
This is not to say that Mr. Huo is not qualified enough, but that he is too old. He is now eighty and is hospitalized several times a year. It will cost him his life to leave him alone.
"I am the Commissioner of Police now, why do you want me!" Lei Weidong sighed and nodded, "Yes, I have been the Commissioner of Police for almost ten years, and it is time for me to step down and give way to someone more worthy."
Generally speaking, apart from the fact that the emperor can wait until death, there is no time limit for a position without real power like the crown prince of the Eagle Empire.
Other positions, especially positions with real power, basically need to be replaced every ten years or so. The purpose is to prevent one person from forming cliques if he stays in the same position for a long time.
In the ten years since Lei Weidong has been the Commissioner of Police, it can be said that his influence on the police force has gone deep into the bones, far more than before he became the Commissioner.
Especially after the older generation of police officers such as Lin Meng, Biao Shu and Huang Bingyao retired and resigned, the police force became Lei Weidong's world.
The two deputy division chiefs, Li Ying in charge of operations and Ya Zi in charge of management, are either Lei Weidong's cronies or his wives.
The five senior assistant division chiefs, instructor Hu, Bo Kailen, Jian Huizhen, Ma Jun, and Li Zhongguang, are also Lei Weidong's confidants and wives.
Even more than a dozen assistant division chiefs, including Zhou Xingxing, Chen Yalun, Hui Yinghong, Zhu Huabiao, Yuan Haoyun, Fang Zheng, Guo Haihua, Yin Mingyang, Song Zijie, Miao Zhishun and others, are all Lei Weidong's people.
Not to mention the following superintendents and inspectors, more than 95% are from the Lei Weidong faction.
It can be said that Lei Weidong's layout in the police force for decades has completely exploded in these ten years, falling from the top and firmly controlling the police force.
If other factions have good relations with the mainland, Lei Weidong will put the security department in charge of them for the sake of Yang Jianhua's face, and they are marginalized figures in the police force.
Those who had bad relations with the mainland, such as Cai Yuanqi and others who were close to the Gui Lao forces, were all removed from the police force by Lei Weidong.
This situation, not to mention that Lei Weidong is still in the police force, even if he leaves, the impact on him will not dissipate for twenty, even thirty, or forty years.
Even if the superiors trust Lei Weidong, they must pay attention to the influence of trust. It is time for Lei Weidong to leave the police force.
"I will talk to Mr. Dong. If he has made up his mind, I will leave the police force." Lei Weidong was silent for a while, nodded, and agreed to Yang Jianhua's suggestion.
"Who have you decided on to replace you?" Yang Jianhua asked.
As the Director of the Security Bureau, Yang Jianhua has the power to decide on the Commissioner of Police. However, given Lei Weidong's prestige in the police force, he still has to give him face and let him designate his successor.
"Yazi, after so many years of establishment of the Xiangjiang Police Force, it's time for a female police commissioner." Between his confidants and his wife, Lei Weidong would definitely choose his wife.
I believe Li Ying will agree with this.
"Compared to Li Ying, Yaozi is much more suitable." Yang Jianhua nodded.
Compared with Meazi, who was trained in Ying Country and has a bachelor's degree, Li Ying, who has a reckless personality, has much poorer management skills. He was able to become the deputy director of operations not only because of Lei Weidong's support, but also because he was the deputy director of operations. Ability is mainly reflected in actions.
If he were the deputy director of management, Li Ying would definitely make a mess.
Let him be the director. I believe that even if Lei Weidong nominates him, he will refuse.
"After Yazi, do you have a candidate?" Yang Jianhua continued to ask.
"After Meiko, she is still under forty years old. She can work for ten years. Is it too early to consider this now?"
"not early!"
Yang Jianhua shook his head and said, "I will only be the security chief for five more years. I am going to hand it over to Meazi, and then I will choose another director."
"After Yazi, let Jian Huizhen or instructor Hu take over." Lei Weidong's favorite candidate is Jian Huizhen. After so many years of office work, Jian Huizhen's organizational skills are needless to say, and she is qualified for the position of director.
It's just that the two successors in a row were both his wives. Even though Lei Weidong was thicker-skinned than the Great Wall, he still had a fever, so he mentioned Instructor Hu as well.
The specific choice depends on Meiko.
"It's up to you, I don't have any objection." Even though he knew the candidate was Jian Huizhen, instructor Hu was just showing off. Yang Jianhua shrugged and said he had no objection to Lei Weidong's selection.
——
"Report!"*2
Meazi and Li Ying entered Lei Weidong's office at the same time and stood at attention and saluted him.
"sit!"
Lei Weidong waved his hand, motioned for the two of them to sit down, looked into their eyes and said.
"Mr. Dong is not going to be re-elected. The superiors hope that I will take over Mr. Dong's position. The position of Police Commissioner needs to be given up. Let me know your thoughts on who is more suitable for this position."
Meiko and Li Ying were stunned for a moment at the same time. They did not expect that Lei Weidong would resign as police commissioner and leave the police force that he had worked for nearly thirty years.
But then, the two of them were overjoyed again.
Because Lei Weidong said that he resigned from the position of Police Commissioner in order to take over from Mr. Dong.
Yes, the Commissioner of Police is nicknamed the most powerful person in Hong Kong, nicknamed Brother No. 1, because he controls the violent institution of the police force.
But everyone knows that the highest status in Xiangjiang is not the Commissioner of Police, but the position of Mr. Dong. The Police Force is just a department of the government, and even the Security Bureau is one level higher than him.
If Lei Weidong takes Mr. Dong's position, he will really be the number one person in Xiangjiang.
"Director, I'm a rough guy. I only graduated from the fifth form by copying. Being a deputy director responsible for operations is no longer enough. If I were asked to be the director, it would be better for me to die."
Li Ying spoke first, "Let's let Miss Meazi take this position."
"Director, let's let Brother Li take this position. He is older than me and has higher qualifications than me. Everyone will obey him after he takes the position. I'll wait a few years before deciding."
A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier.
Meako has already reached the position of deputy director. It would be a lie to say she doesn't want to go further. She is very much like becoming the first female director.
But Meazi knew that as Lei Weidong's wife, what she had to do at this time was to avoid suspicion and not take the initiative.
If Lei Weidong wants him to take over, he can be the director without having to ask for it. On the contrary, the same is true. No matter how proactive he is, he will get nothing.
"I'm fifty-two this year. Even if I become the director, I won't be able to do it for a few more years. I might as well retire early and travel around the world with my wife. Jenny has urged me not once or twice. I don't want to disappoint her again." Li Ying shook his head and said in an appraising tone:
"Director, if you force me to take over, then I will have no choice but to resign."
Hong Kong law clearly stipulates that the retirement age for civil servants is 60 years old.
However, because the work of the police is somewhat dangerous and requires a lot of physical exertion, it is stipulated that the police must retire at the age of 55. Only those with special constitutional ranks such as division chiefs can only postpone it for two years, and they must retire at the maximum age of 57.
At the same time, it is stipulated that police officers can apply for early retirement as long as they are over 50 years old. Once applied, they must be approved. And according to the regulations, police officers can receive a large pension when they retire.
With Li Ying's current position, he can not only receive millions of dollars, but also receive a certain monthly pension and enjoy free medical expenses and public transportation expenses.
The main thing is that you don't have to take the risks of being a police officer.
If he was young, Li Ying would definitely not want to do this, but now that he is over fifty, Li Ying is no longer as reckless as before and has begun to care about his wife and children. It is also time to enjoy his life after retirement.
"In this case, Meazi, go back and prepare to take over as the director of the police department." Seeing that Li Ying was resolute and would rather resign than serve as the director, Lei Weidong looked at Meazi and said.
"Becoming the first female Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong."
"YESSIR!" After hearing that she would become the Commissioner, the first female Police Commissioner, Meako stood up and stood at attention in excitement and saluted.
(End of chapter)
