Chapter 475: 462 Press Conference, Viceroy: The Five Star Group leading this project is the most appropriate choice!

The night was hazy.

Wan Chai, Dragon Gate Hotel.

A pre-wedding banquet was being held there at this moment.

Gao Jin and Wei Wei Yingzi were getting married the day after tomorrow, and today, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu had gathered a large table of people to coordinate the wedding banquet for tomorrow and the day after.

"Congratulations, you're finally getting married!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu patted Gao Jin on the shoulder and laughed.

Gao Jin remained his usual cool, aloof, suit-wearing self, offering a smile.

Wei Wei Yingzi was usually a tomboy, but at this moment, she was acting demure, clinging to Gao Jin's arm.

Both: "Thank you, Brother Zu."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "Why the sudden marriage? Tell me, is there a baby on the way?"

Gao Jin's cold face turned red instantly.

Wei Wei Yingzi also blushed and subconsciously touched her stomach: "Brother Zu, you even discovered that."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was immediately delighted: "That's a good thing, congratulations, congratulations, a double blessing..."

He then took out a peace talisman and handed it to Wei Wei Yingzi: "Wear this. I prayed for it at the Wong Tai Sin Temple; it's very effective. The last time I won 500 million in gambling, it was all thanks to this."

Every single descendant is the future of the Five Star Group!

Wei Wei Yingzi was startled and quickly said: "No, no, this is too precious."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu pulled out several more: "I prayed for ten of them..."

Gao Jin and Wei Wei Yingzi: "..."

They were rendered speechless.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu said solemnly: "This isn't an ordinary peace talisman; it's for protection. If it breaks one day, it means it blocked a disaster for you. Just come to me and get another one."

Seeing how serious Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was, Wei Wei Yingzi accepted it solemnly.

Soon,

the banquet officially began.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and Sister Ruan Mei raised their glasses: "Now, for the marriage of our Gao Jin and Wei Wei Yingzi, cheers!"

Cheers!

The Five Giants, Wu Ying, Jimmy, Billy, Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Zhang Guobiao, Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Fang Zhanbo, Wah Wah Dee, Li Li Cangdong, Ah Ting, Xie Xie Weihao, Uncle Uncle Uncle Uncle Uncle Liang Uncle Uncle Uncle Uncle Uncle Liang Uncle Uncle Uncle Uncle Liang Uncle Uncle Uncle Liang Uncle Uncle Liang Liang Xiaorou...

Everyone raised their glasses one after another...

Oh, right, the three little ones—Gao Hu, Ghost Eye, and Gong Gu—tried to sneak some alcohol, but were suppressed by three flicks to the forehead from Wu Ying and replaced with orange juice.

Gao Hu, Ghost Eye, and Gong Gu: Tears streaming down their faces!

"Congratulations, congratulations!" *n

Next, glasses clinked, and the atmosphere was lively.

After three rounds of drinks,

"Ring ring ring~~~~"

Fang Ting's phone rang. After answering, she showed a look of astonishment.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "What's wrong?"

Fang Ting whispered: "The Viceroy's office secretary called to say they have agreed to your proposal. Tomorrow morning at 9:00, we go to the Viceroy's office, and then at 10:30, a press conference will be held."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was surprised.

Fatty Peng agreed so quickly?

This...

gave him a toothache.

Originally, he had planned to use this low-cost housing project to drag things out with Fatty Peng for a month, preventing him from properly promoting his political reform plan.

Now, Fatty Peng had stopped dragging it out and simply agreed.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu couldn't help but sigh: He really is a troublemaker, willing to throw away such huge benefits.

If low-cost housing appears, it has two disadvantages for the British.

One: The money from land premiums and real estate will decrease, and the funds they transfer out will be reduced.

Two: It pricks the real estate bubble prematurely. According to the British plan, they wanted to keep driving up housing prices and then trigger a financial crisis in '97 or '98. Boom~~~ the financial bubble bursts. What would the citizens of Hong Kong think then? They would definitely be filled with resentment! Who would that resentment be directed at? It would definitely be...

So, for the sake of his political reform plan, Fatty Peng was willing to give up both of those benefits.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu thought for a moment: "Call them back and say that in one hour, we will meet at the Shangri-La Hotel in Central to talk... After we settle things, we will go to the Viceroy's office tomorrow for the press conference."

Fang Ting: "Okay!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu turned and told Sister Ruan Mei about it.

One hour later,

Shangri-La Hotel, restaurant private room.

"Ah Zu~~"

"Peng sir~~"

The two hugged enthusiastically; anyone who didn't know better would think they were truly good friends.

Following the old rules, they went through the procedure first, checking for bugs, recording equipment, and the like.

Fatty Peng's mouth twitched.

The two sat down.

Fatty Peng's expression turned cold: "Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, there are no outsiders here, so I'll get straight to the point."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "Please!"

Fatty Peng: "I can push for the low-cost housing, and leave it to the Five Star Group to handle."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "No, actually, it would be better to let the Housing Department do this."

Fatty Peng sneered: "I know your purpose for doing low-cost housing, and you know mine. Why beat around the bush between us? You won't let the Housing Department lead this."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu nodded: "Fine, no beating around the bush then. How should we operate it?"

Fatty Peng: "Follow your plan. The Five Star Group will lead, and it will be operated using the same method as the Central Plaza fund project, with citizens investing as shareholders."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "Good."

Fatty Peng: "However... I have one condition!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "What condition?"

Fatty Peng: "The Legislative Council will establish a supervisory committee to oversee the funds throughout the entire process and ensure the interests of the citizens!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu sneered: "Ensure the interests of the citizens? You're afraid I'll swallow the money, aren't you... But that's fine, I agree."

Having fund supervision is a good thing. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu couldn't guarantee that all his subordinates were saints, especially for such a massive project involving tens of billions.

Of course, if this supervisory committee tried to cause trouble, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu wouldn't be polite either.

In a few words,

a rough framework was set.

Then they parted ways and left.

The whole process took less than half an hour; after all, they couldn't stand the sight of each other, and looking at each other for even a moment longer felt disgusting.

Both got into their respective cars.

"Ptooey~~~"

"Ptooey~~~"

Inside the cars, they spat at each other.

Fang Ting: "............"

Black lines on her forehead, so childish!

Afterwards,

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu made a call to Mr. Zhu of China Resources to explain the situation.

At 22:00, TVB and ATV news both reported a piece of news: "Latest news, the Viceroy has made a response to the low-cost housing proposal put forward by Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: He highly appreciates this plan. At the same time, tomorrow morning at 10:00, he will invite Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu to the Viceroy's office, where the two will hold a joint press conference. At that time, TVB/ATV will broadcast the entire event live. Citizens are welcome to watch."

The citizens of Hong Kong and all parties were shaken.

The ordinary citizen class cheered and celebrated.

The middle class who owned homes wailed. Real estate companies were all cursing up a storm.

Meanwhile, on the other side,

the Director of the Housing Department, Guo Wang Wang Wang Weiye, was in his villa preparing to sleep.

Then, when he saw the news on TV about the Viceroy and Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu regarding the low-cost housing plan, he was stunned at first, followed by surprise! Excitement!

The Hong Kong Housing Department was established in 1973, with the Housing Authority as its superior. It is the main provider of public housing in Hong Kong, responsible for planning, building, managing, and maintaining various types of public housing, playing a key role in Hong Kong's housing security and urban development.

The current director is Guo Wang Wang Wang Weiye.

"Haha~~~"

"Good thing! Good thing!"

"I must thank this Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu properly, hahaha~~~"

In his view, there was no reason why such a large low-cost housing project wouldn't fall to the Housing Department.

No errors in the content at a glance!

After all, the Housing Department is an official agency, specifically in charge of this area, and has rich experience.

If not given to the Housing Department, who else could it be given to?

If the Housing Department could secure this project, then the benefits for the Housing Department would be immense!

First, during the project bidding stage, they could use backroom deals to contract the work to those construction firms willing to pay high kickbacks.

Second, regarding the use of project funds, they could report fictitious expenses and embezzle large amounts of capital for private use.

Furthermore, in the daily management of the project, they could establish various consulting fees and advisory fees under different names, transferring public funds into accounts under their own control.

Finally, after the project is completed, they could still manipulate the subsequent property management phase, arrange for their own connections to get in, collect kickbacks, and continue to rake in money by reporting inflated maintenance costs.

This is a massive project worth over a billion or several billion in the short term, and over ten or twenty billion in the long term.

The profit margin is just too huge!

At this moment, Director Guo was so excited he couldn't sleep!

"Ring ring ring~~~"

Just then, his phone rang.

After he answered, it turned out to be the Secretary-General (Deputy Director) calling to share the good news.

Before long, one phone call after another kept coming in, some from within the Housing Department, some from construction companies, some from material suppliers...

It wasn't just Director Guo's side;

the news had already spread among the senior management of the entire Housing Department.

The opportunity to get rich had finally arrived!

The heads of various departments also called each other, asking about having a meal together or similar things, all for the sake of how to carve up this "fat meat" that was about to be in their hands.

Everyone was fantasizing about the huge private profits they were about to receive, full of anticipation that they could make a killing from this low-cost housing project.

……

……

A new day,

Sunday, a day of rest.

Fatty Peng finished breakfast and, early in the morning, continued to tally the headlines of the newspapers.

Newspapers praising Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's plan: there were 45!

Newspapers disparaging Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's plan, there were 23!

Fatty Peng's own newspapers, only 9!

He had completely given up hope!

Not long after, the Government House welcomed numerous reporters from all over Hong Kong. These reporters came one by one to the lawn in the back garden of the Government House and began to prepare.

This practice of holding press conferences in the back garden originated from the White House presidential briefings, which Fatty Peng had learned and applied to this Government House.

Subsequently, TVB and ATV arrived at the scene, both with live broadcast lines, and the broadcast vans were on the main road just across the fence.

9:40...

The live broadcast channels of TVB and ATV officially opened, transmitting the live footage from the Government House to thousands of households across Hong Kong.

"Dear citizens, hello everyone, this is TVB Television..."

"This is Asia Television. We are currently located in the back garden of the Government House... There are 20 minutes left until the press conference begins, and the scene is already packed with media colleagues who have rushed here from all over Hong Kong."

"This press conference is not only a dialogue between Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and the Viceroy, but it may also be a key turning point that changes the housing landscape of Hong Kong."

Reporters from both sides competed with each other, conveying the tense and enthusiastic atmosphere of the scene to every viewer.

In the streets and alleys of Hong Kong Island, countless citizens were waiting early in front of their television sets, eyes fixed tightly on the screens.

"It's finally starting, it's finally starting!"

"The Viceroy finally agreed; these housing prices are suffocating."

In thousands of households, in the tea restaurants on the streets...

Pairs of eyes were all fixed on the televisions on the walls.

If there were viewership statistics, one would be surprised to find that the number of households watching now would exceed over one million.

An unprecedented number of citizens were paying attention to this press conference.

9:55...

Amidst the gaze of the masses,

Fatty Peng and Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu walked out of the main gate of the Government House with smiles on their faces. Their steps were steady, and they looked like old friends of many years. The reporters at the scene immediately became restless, and camera flashes went off one after another.

Fatty Peng spoke first: "Dear citizen friends, we are gathered here today to jointly discuss the low-cost housing plan proposed by Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu. This plan has already sparked widespread concern among all citizens of Hong Kong, which fully shows that the housing issue is a matter of vital importance to people's livelihoods."

"I have repeatedly said that one of my important tasks in coming to Hong Kong is the people's livelihood! Last night, I saw in the news that many citizens are living difficult lives in cramped spaces, and I feel deeply pained."

"Therefore, I support this plan!"

Trying hard to build up favor with the citizens.

Brush, brush, brush!!

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu said: "Thank you, Viceroy, for your support... Improving people's livelihood is my original intention, and it is also the direction I have always been working towards."

At this time, Wen Wen Huixin stepped forward and smiled at everyone: "Dear media friends, today, we will focus on the low-cost housing plan and ask a series of questions to the Viceroy and Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, striving to reveal the full picture of this plan for everyone."

Why was Wen Wen Huixin there?

Because today's event, while called a press conference, was actually more like an in-depth interview.

Having Wen Wen Huixin serve as the host was also one of Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's conditions.

"First, let us invite Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan to talk about this plan..."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu began to explain blah blah blah.

"First..."

"Second..."

"Then... I believe this project should be led by the Housing Department, after all, they have rich experience... Of course, to ensure the smooth progress of the project, we need to set up a long-term, mobile, and random citizen supervision mechanism..."

The directors and senior management of the Housing Authority and the Housing Department were all watching the television at this time, wishing they could have it decided sooner.

The moment they heard Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu say this, they were all excited.

It's coming, it's coming!

Our chance to get rich is coming!

As for any supervision, it is still very easy for us to cook the books!

"Wait a minute!"

At this point, Fatty Peng spoke up.

Fatty Peng squinted at Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, cursing inside: Fuck you! You clearly don't want the Housing Department to take on this task, yet you still make me play the bad guy.

Fatty Peng was very reluctant inside, but he still pinched his nose and said: "I believe it is inappropriate for the Housing Department to lead this matter!"

Housing Department: "???"

Boom~~~~

The excited and thrilled building collapsed!

Everyone was collectively dumbfounded.

No, Viceroy, what do you mean?

If this kind of thing isn't handed to our Housing Department, who else can it be handed to?

Are you a fool?!

Or were you fooled by that succubus Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu?!

He is an enemy of our Great Britain!

Wen Wen Huixin continued to twist the knife: "Viceroy, why do you feel that the Housing Department is not up to it? This plan is very extensive, and you may need to provide a convincing reason, otherwise, the plan will be difficult to push forward."

Wen Wen Huixin's heart was racing.

Wow, trolling the Viceroy, so exciting!

Fatty Peng took a deep breath, endured his displeasure, looked solemn, and stared through the lens, speaking with resonance:

"Because the work of the Housing Department over the past few years has made me very disappointed."

"And this low-cost housing is a major livelihood project that concerns thousands of households and cannot tolerate the slightest mistake. I must be responsible to the citizens and responsible for their future. Only by handing this project to a more capable and trustworthy team can we ensure that every family can move into a safe and comfortable home as soon as possible."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: Impressive, he really pulled that off.

He is indeed a formidable opponent!

The citizens in front of their televisions also nodded and praised Fatty Peng one after another.

Wen Wen Huixin: "Then, Viceroy, who do you think this important project should be handed to?"

Fatty Peng inside: Hand it to your mother!

"I believe it should be handed to the Five Star Group. In Hong Kong, when it comes to who can truly implement this low-cost housing project that concerns people's livelihoods, there is no one better than the Five Star Group and Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu."

"Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu has always cared about the citizens of Hong Kong..."

He showered Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu with praise~~~

While praising, he thought: yue~~~

(End of chapter)