Chapter 451

"Hello everyone!"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu smiled, nodding in response while waving to everyone.

"Mr. Guan, you really came!"

"Mr. Guan, you must speak up for us!"

A citizen, face full of respect and enthusiasm, kept trying to step forward to shake his hand.

"Are you from Tunmen in Yuen Long? How much does this trip cost?"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu shook hands with a citizen.

"The bus is 5 HKD, then the MTR is 10 HKD, adding up to 15 HKD. A round trip is 30 HKD. Working 22 days a month, that's 660 HKD, which is equal to one-fifth of my salary."

"What about you? Where are you coming from?" Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu shook hands with another citizen.

"Wong Tai Sin... about 10 HKD one way, 20 HKD for a round trip a day. Working 20 days a month, that calculates to 400 HKD."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu listened to these prices; it was indeed outrageous.

At the very least, in the mainland of the later era, 10 RMB could get you from the northernmost to the southernmost part of Guangzhou, and that was in 2024.

Moreover, the Guangzhou Metro is considered one of the more expensive ones in the country.

Outrageous~~~

Next, citizens from Quanwan, Sha Tin, Wong Tai Sin, and Tunmen in the New Territories spoke one after another before the camera, voicing their concerns.

"The price itself is already very high. If they raise it again, our living pressure will be even greater."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "Why come here to work? It's so far."

The citizens said one after another,

"There is work here..."

"To earn money to support the family... wherever there is work, I go."

"The salary here is a bit higher..."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu asked about everyone's salary again; most were around 3,000-7,000, with 4,000-5,000 being the most common.

This 4,000-5,000 salary seems like a lot, but living expenses are also very high.

The citizens spoke one after another, recounting the difficulties of their lives.

Soon, they were almost at Sheung Wan, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's final stop.

Le Huizhen said: "Time is almost up. Everyone, please be quiet for a moment. We are doing a survey now..."

"In yesterday's TVB news, many citizens felt that prices should be raised. Whoever supports the MTR price hike, please raise your hand."

Not a single person raised their hand.

Le Huizhen: "Those who do not agree with the price hike, please raise your hand!"

Swish, swish, swish~~~

Hands raised like a forest!

This scene was faithfully recorded by the camera.

Sheung Wan Station arrived, and Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu got off the train.

"Mr. Guan, goodbye!"

Citizens waved to Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu one by one, accompanied by words of thanks.

Afterwards, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu inspected the MTR properties at Sheung Wan Station.

Soon,

He discovered several small shops inside the MTR station, including convenience stores, breakfast shops... and so on.

Clearly, these storefronts were MTR assets.

After learning about it last night,

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu knew that the MTR had 5 sources of income:

1: Ticketing revenue.

2: Advertising revenue: The MTR has set up a large number of advertising spaces in stations and trains, providing a promotional platform for companies and collecting advertising fees.

3: Commercial facility revenue: Income from setting up shops, vending machines, and other commercial facilities inside stations.

4: Property revenue: When the Hong Kong government plans MTR lines, it sells land above and around the MTR to the MTR at ultra-low prices. The MTR develops and sells properties on this land to obtain profits.

5: Property rental revenue: Shopping malls, office buildings, etc., above the MTR are used for rent after completion, obtaining continuous income by collecting rent.

So much income...

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu summarized it in one sentence: Insatiable greed!

In my past life, I couldn't do anything about people like you.

Now that I've transmigrated, can't I still do something about you?

Then wouldn't I have transmigrated in vain?

I'll screw you bastards to death!

Afterwards, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu took the MTR from Sheung Wan to Quanwan, and then circled back to Kwun Tong and Chai Wan.

(Map · Red Line: The first three MTR lines · Quanwan Line, Kwun Tong Line, Island Line)

He tested the approximate routes and how much they cost.

At noon,

ATV did not broadcast Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's news, but was broadcasting other news instead.

Because Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu hadn't investigated other more detailed information yet; he needed to have everything prepared first.

MTR Corporation,

"Heh, I said this Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu didn't have the guts."

Tang Xi had been watching ATV news, but after watching for a long time, he simply didn't see ATV broadcast this.

Therefore, he realized!

Absolutely, absolutely, it was because Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu had been threatened by a phone call!

Therefore, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu had backed down.

"Heh~~~"

"Every day shaping himself as someone pleading for the people, do you really think you're Judge Bao?"

While Tang Xi felt relieved, he began to open champagne to celebrate.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, he's nothing more than this.

After thinking about it, he even called Mr. Li to tell him this good news.

"Now that Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu has been taught a lesson, it can be considered as venting your anger."

Mr. Li: "???"

Tang Xi explained the situation.

Mr. Li: "............"

He said faintly: "I feel you... underestimate this Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu too much."

Next, for two or three consecutive days, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu didn't make any moves, keeping an incredibly low profile.

Those who had suffered losses at Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's hands, including charities, Fang Anxin, Mr. Li, and others, as well as Zheng Songren and the foreigners...

Some sat still, while others began to stir up trouble.

"Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu is actually a hypocrite..."

"Pleading for justice for the neighborhood, do you really believe that?"

"A person fishing for fame..."

Quite a few citizens in Hong Kong were still influenced, feeling they had been deceived by Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, and then feeling very angry.

In a flash, a new week arrived.

Tuesday,

The Legislative Council held another plenary session. The Legislative Council doesn't meet every day, but under normal circumstances, meetings are held regularly every Tuesday morning at 11:00.

Morning,

Legislative Council Building.

10:00, one hour before the Legislative Council plenary session, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu knocked on the door of Legislative Council Chairman John Smith's office.

"Chairman, good morning!"

Chairman John saw him and got a headache.

He roughly guessed that Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu was coming to stir up trouble.

After all, there are two types of councilors in the Legislative Council: one is Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu, and the other is the rest.

"Guan Sir, what's wrong? Something up?"

(Note: This line appears to be a garbled placeholder in the source.)

"Chairman John, today I want to bring up a matter in the Legislative Council meeting. I'm giving you a heads-up in advance."

Meaning: It's a heads-up, not a request for an opinion.

Chairman John's mouth twitched.

"What matter?"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "About the MTR price hike."

Chairman John let out a mournful cry in his heart.

"Sure enough!"

"You should know that the MTR Corporation raising prices is in the interest of many people."

Chairman John pointed his finger at the sky.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu said sternly: "But it is not in the interest of ordinary citizens."

He thought of that night, the faces of citizens running over, hoping he would preside over justice.

He thought of those insatiable faces.

Chairman John: "But you will offend many people."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "I don't care... I'm afraid you'll be in a difficult position, so I'm notifying you."

Chairman John: "............"

I should thank you for the reminder!

Chairman John slumped: "Then handle it yourself; anyway, I don't know anything."

After all, he hadn't taken any money for this matter.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "Thank you!"

Then, invigorated, he walked out of the meeting room.

I'm going to start scolding in a moment; are you bastards ready?

In a flash, 11:00...

The Legislative Council's weekly meeting officially began.

There are 60 people in the Legislative Council in total; 54 came, and 6 were absent. It is worth mentioning that Legislative Council meetings are not mandatory; one can ask for leave.

Many Legislative Councilors looked at Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu sitting in his seat; among them, Si Ye, several friends, and Liang Shuyi were all looking at Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu mockingly.

Especially Liang Shuyi; TVB hadn't been shy about mocking Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu these past few days.

"Alright, the meeting begins..."

"Everyone..."

Chairman John blathered on with some opening remarks.

After his mouth went dry, he finally said: "Councilors, does anyone have anything new to bring up?"

"Let me bring up a matter..."

Before all the councilors could react, Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu tapped the microphone.

"I would like to ask, are the Chairman of the Transport Panel and the Chairman of the Finance Committee here today..."

The Transport Panel and Finance Committee are internal committees of the Legislative Council, elected internally to manage Hong Kong's political affairs.

As soon as Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's words came out,

Everyone's previously drowsy heads in the hall suddenly became alert.

They all looked at Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu in unison.

Everyone present was aware of the news from the past few days.

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu was about to open fire!

At this moment, the faces of the people from the Transport Panel and Finance Committee sank, while many others gloated, and some sneered at Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu repeatedly.

Transport Panel Chairman Zeng Jianming said expressionlessly: "I don't know what Councilor Guan wants with me."

"Chairman Zeng, right..."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu looked at Zeng Jianming, his expression cold and stern, his gaze like a torch: "I stand here today just to ask you, on what grounds did you agree to the MTR price hike?"

Zeng Jianming: "This was naturally approved after a series of comprehensive considerations."

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu: "A series of comprehensive considerations? I'd really like to know how you considered it."

Zeng Jianming: "Sorry, this involves professional issues; I'm afraid Councilor Guan wouldn't understand."

Sniping at each other, the entire meeting hall was suddenly filled with the smell of gunpowder.

"I wouldn't understand!"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu sneered, picked up a document, scanned everyone present in turn, and then with a "slap," slammed the document heavily on the table.

"This data is what I've collected over the past few days..."

"The MTR's sources of income are diverse. Ticketing revenue, advertising revenue, commercial facility revenue, property revenue, and property rental revenue..."

"According to my preliminary statistics, the MTR Corporation's various revenues exceed 1.3 billion HKD annually, and profits exceed 300 million HKD!"

"300 million!!"

His voice was high-pitched and powerful, filled with anger and questioning; every word was like a heavy hammer striking the eardrums of everyone present.

"According to the information I have, there is currently no country in the world where the subway is profitable! But the MTR? Not only is it profitable, but the profits are so lucrative!"

"And that's not all! The MTR involves people's livelihoods and is an important reliance for citizens' travel. Now, with such lucrative profits, they actually want to raise prices?!"

"Simply shameless and insatiable!"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu turned his head abruptly to look at Zeng Jianming, his gaze like a sharp blade: "Chairman Zeng, I ask you, on what considerations did you approve the MTR's price hike plan? Have you truly experienced the lives of ordinary citizens? Do you know how hard they work every day for these high transportation costs?"

"Do you know that citizens coming to work from Tunmen in Yuen Long pay 15 HKD for one trip, which is 660 HKD a month... 400 HKD from Wong Tai Sin... they earn a salary of about 3,000-7,000, life is already difficult, and you bastards still raise prices..."

The more Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu spoke, the more excited he became; his voice raised a few decibels unconsciously, and his questioning echoed throughout the Legislative Council.

"Are you bastards trying to wipe out everyone's family!"

"The MTR is a public facility serving the public, not a tool for some people to seek exorbitant profits! In other parts of the world, subways require government subsidies to maintain operations to protect citizens' rights to travel!"

"Chairman Zeng, your Transport Panel approved such a plan; how do you explain this to everyone!"

"Did you, you bastard, take benefits from the MTR behind the scenes, which is why you ignored the hardships of the citizens and easily passed this price hike plan?"

Director Director Director Guan Zu Zu's voice struck straight at the heart!

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Data supplement: In addition to the three MTR lines above, there is also the Light Rail in Tunmen (not a subway, but a train), which belongs to the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation.

In addition, there is a Shenzhen-Kowloon (KCR) railway, which opened in the early 20th century and belonged to the KCR Authority; it was changed to a corporation in 1982. It was merged into the MTR in 2007.

PS: During the Spring Festival, Andy Lau is one day closer to us! Because there are too many things like cleaning, I will try my best to keep updating~~ Happy Spring Festival to all book friends!

(End of chapter)