My name is Henry Cheng.
I was in construction in the South Sea.
I had hoped to build homes for people,
But my business went bankrupt.
I lost everything. My only option was to skip town.
A few months ago,
the British government
bought cement from all over Asia
And shipped it to the same place.
I thought that's where I'd start over.
Who'd have thought
That a different story lay ahead?
Down with the ICAC!
Dignity for the police!
Down with the ICAC!
Since the ICAC's creation 2 years ago,
It has charged many corrupt policemen.
Hundreds of officers are protesting.
Criminal scum
robs my likelihood!
Criminal scum
robs my likelihood!
Criminal scum
robs my likelihood!
Today,
we are gathered here
To ask the Hong Kong government:
Do you want the police
Or the ICAC
to enforce the law?
What's the bloody point?
They rob my likelihood!
Don't bother asking,
It's pointless!
It needs the police!
Of course!
Screw the ICAC!
Let's go get them.
Come on.
Follow me.
Let's go.
Screw the ICAC!
Hey, stop it!
Break it all!
Do we look like wimps?
Watch who you mess with!
Mutiny my ass.
We've done nothing wrong!
Don't touch them!
Where are the files on me?
Tell them to stop!
Stop it!
Stop!
You were a cop once.
Now you turn against your own,
Shame on you.
You're assaulting an officer,
I have every right to shoot you.
You're assaulting my boss,
I also have every right to shoot you.
Stay calm.
Drop the gun.
Put it down.
If anyone pulls the trigger,
Do you think the brass will over for you?
Put your gun away,
Return to the peaceful protest.
I'll pretend this never happened.
Sarge,
don't do this.
Gweilo's rifle?
Mounted in his office.
There is no cartridge.
Put it back.
To pacify the protestors,
Hong Kong's Governor announces an amnesty
for minor offences committed before January 1st, 1977.
- Sir. - Mr. Zeng.
- Next Wednesday.
You.
Screen the applicants!
- Don't waste my time! - I'm sorry.
Please give me a chance, sir.
We need a clerk.
You're an engineer.
I have enough engineers.
Should I fire them and hire you?
What?
I lined up everything up and you want out?
I'll mess you up
Watch your tongue!
We're a legitimate company.
- Sorry, brother. - Mr. Zeng.
I really need this job.
(DIALECT) We are paisans...
Paisans?
A few Hokkien words and we're related?
Is this a charity?
You.
Call security, get him out of here.
All right then.
(DIALECT) You're a paisan?
Mr. Wu.
HK$3 million for all 24 houses,
I'd lose my shirt!
K.K.,
I'm the only sucker
willing to pay HK$3 million.
Your brother asked me to look after you,
Otherwise I'd never come out
to this dusty, lousy place!
Buddy,
I know you borrowed HK$2 million from the bank,
and the loan matures soon.
Reject my offer,
and your little project
is doomed.
You'd lose everything!
Dad,
Dato Muhammad has arrived.
Dato,
please.
Dad,
Dato and I have an understanding.
He is very interested in these houses.
This way.
Please stay shaded.
(DIALECT) Listen,
My final offer.
HK$9 million.
Take it or leave it.
Deal!
Get the contract.
Right away.
Mr. Wu,
please excuse me.
Dad,
do you think he'll fall for it?
Wu is a sly guy.
With HK$9 million offer
he won't be able to resist.
Dad, he's leaving!
What did he say?
Nothing!
What do we do?
Here.
Thank you, Mr. Zeng.
Mr. Cheng,
this way.
HENRY: Is your dad in trouble?
JOHNNY: Dad is the youngest son of a concubine;
his half brothers bullied him all his life.
That land back there?
No water, no electricity.
One of my stupid uncles bought it
And unloaded it onto my dad.
Actually,
losing a million or two
is not a big deal for the Zengs.
But it makes Dad look bad
In front of my uncles.
Mr. Wu is
An uncle's gambling buddy.
I bet they want to rip off my dad.
Looks like Wu's car broke down.
Mr. Wu,
do you need help?
Old fart.
Brickhead.
Smoke...
Smoke this!
Well, Mr. Cheng,
where should I drop you off?
HENRY: I only wanted to pull a prank on Wu,
yet this prank changed my life.
Sir, how many?
Somewhere comfortable.
This way please.
A cigar, a glass of brandy.
Yes, sir.
- Hold on. - Yes.
Thank you, sir.
Mr. Muhammad.
We've just met.
My name is Wu Ren Song
from the Xin Song Group.
Do you mind?
Please.
Put it on my tab.
Leave us,
we're talking business.
Did I outbid you on the houses?
My apologies.
No worries.
I admire a man
with such an unique vision.
What makes you think
24 houses
are worth HK$9 million?
They are not.
I want the land.
That piece of land
Has no water or electricity
And it's hard to get to.
Do you intend to farm it?
It has potential.
Are the Brits
building a power plant there
as part of the urban expansion plan?
Dato,
what's the scoop?
Care to share?
Just a wild guess.
Another thing,
Dato.
How much deposit did you pay?
HK$10.000.
Ah,
the rest is due next week.
How about this?
I have a proposition.
Allow me to purchase
the property for you.
No matter how much I pay for it.
I will sell it to you
for HK$7 million.
You save HK$2 million.
Not very nice, is it?
I made an offer,
I ought to keep my word.
Keep your word?
How about keeping your money?
Your cost is only HK$ 7 million.
I just saved you HK$ 2 million!
HK$6 million!
Final offer.
Deal!
The hell are you doing?
Rent is due.
Hey, pay up!
You're a month behind.
Take a hike if you can't pay.
Mr. Zeng?
After you left,
Wu returned, paid HK$4 million for my land.
Then he went to The Peninsula Hotel
Looking for Mr. Muhammad.
He went up to the room
And found a black dude
Who's buck naked!
The dude claimed to be Muhammad.
Muhammad!
Wu wouldn't believe him
and charged unto the room,
where he saw
a naked black lady!
Wu ended up
with four broken ribs,
a fractured femur
and a couple teeth knocked out.
Turns out that Muhammad
is a heavy weight champ!
Now you,
why didn't you come back?
I was paid in full.
We're square.
You made HK$1 million for me,
and you tell me
that we're square?
Indebted to you,
K.K. Zeng.
Nonsense, Mr. Zeng.
Henry Cheng, at your service.
Good.
From now on,
I will call you brother!
Eleven years later.
K.K. Zeng and Henry Cheng became partners.
After Carmen Century collapsed,
Zeng disappeared.
No record of him leaving Hong Kong.
According to immigration records,
Cheng never had a Hong Kong ID.
We can charge him with visa violation.
Ming,
how much is an average apartment in HK?
About HK$160K?
Cheng stole over HK$10 million from this city,
enough to buy 60.000 units.
Charge him with visa violation;
he gets deported,
and takes everything with him!
113 accountants
have all arrived.
Let's go.
ICAC.
Senior Investogator,
Liu Qi Yuan.
Good morning, sir.
We were making arrangements
for your colleagues.
Apologies for the delay.
This way please.
Officer Liu,
just a moment, please.
Officer Liu,
this way, please.
Wait outside.
Officer Liu, is it?
Take a seat.
I often have low blood sugar,
plus I got a cold this morning.
I need to eat something,
or I might faint.
Have you eaten?
Join me.
Mr. Cheng,
this is an arrest warrant.
The ICAC is arresting you
on suspicion of fraud and bribery
in connection with Carmen Century.
It is my duty to inform you
that everything you say
will be recorded
and used against you in court.
Do you understand?
Fraud and bribery.
Sounds serious.
It's very serious.
You face 14 years in prison for fraud
and 10 years for bribery.
And there are multiple counts.
Prison? Really?
I'm a businessman.
Even if I breached a regulation,
the penalties should be monetary.
We will also freeze all your assets.
All?
Let me finish this congee first.
Excuse me.
Everything here is considered evidence.
Please.
No handcuffs, right?
Are you hiring?
These rooms are full.
Mr. Cheng,
this way.
Ah,
Mr. Cheng,
you're awake.
Happy to see you here.
How long was I out?
Two days.
That's 48 hours,
so I can leave now.
The court ordered you to be.
remained in custody.
Joseph is negotiating,
we'll hear from him soon.
And my friends?
Don't worry, Mr. Cheng.
I have solicitors from top law firms
looking after them.
Keep a good eye on them.
If they misspeak under duress,
they may get into trouble.
Right?
You need not worry
about such things.
You think you can get away?
You want to take the rap
for the whole case?
Mr. Cheng,
you don't have to answer that.
Tell me
who else is involved.
Maybe there's a way out for you.
A way out?
You think I'm stupid?
Don't you have enough evidence to nail me?
I can't help you if you think that way.
What kind of help?
Want me to turn snitch?
You want me to spill the beans,
take a deal.
What's in it for me?
For you?
Fine.
I'll lay it out.
In 1975,
Zeng started his own firm,
and you joined him.
In three years
you made a couple million.
In July that year...
Here.
Cheers!
I can't believe it.
The government paid HK$7 million
for that rundown factory!
We didn't do jack shit
and made HK$3 million!
HK$1 million. Your share.
Thank you, K.K.
I came to Hong Kong as an engineer.
Now I'm a property speculator. 410 An engineer?
You would've starved!
Buddy,
whatever you're good at,
do that.
Hong Kong is no place for daydreaming.
Don't you see?
You know that building?
The Golden Hill House,
the priciest office building in Hong Kong.
10 years ago,
Golden Hill Construction outbid the Brits,
bought the land and built it.
The Brits lost face.
Last year,
Golden Hill tried to go public,
and got swindled by brokerage firms.
Golden Hill was short on cash;
the Brits started a buyout.
Two days ago, the Brits completed a takeover.
The building is now
back in British hands.
How about that for a dream?
A nightmare, brother!
What a strange place Hong Kong is.
People go to war
over an office building.
May I have your attention,
please welcome our chairman.
Ladies and gentlemen,
for the Yarden Group, today
is a historic day
with the acquisition of the
Golden Hill House.
It feels...
It feels just a little bit like
Victory Day.
Rule Britannia!
God save the Queen!
My partner.
Henry Cheng.
My partner,
Henry Cheng.
K.K., how are you mate?
Terry,
Vice President of Hong Kong Bank.
Dad, uncle is here.
Brother.
Someone swindled our U.S. branch...
LIU: That year,
Your family lost a fortune in the U.S.
Your uncles sent your dad
to San Francisco to sort it out.
Before he left,
your dad gave Cheng
HK$2.3 million.
Is that right?
Not that much.
Dad said
it was about HK$1.5 million.
I'm not really sure
what had happened.
The glass is cracked.
I think
both panels should be replaced.
Are you hiring?
Wow, you're a good typist.
Ms. Carmen Zhang.
Your CPA is from the Rose Garden School.
Which school is that?
It's a juvenile detention centre.
Do you mind?
Not at all.
Okay then,
from now on,
You're hired as my personal assistant.
HK$8K per month.
What do you think?
HK$8K?
You mean HK$800.
It's HK$8K.
Is there a problem?
Do I get double pay and year-end bonus?
Of course.
And stock options
if we're profitable.
Go to the Business Registration Office;
My company isn't registered yet.
Thanks.
Ms Zhang,
Cheng had just met you,
and he names
dozens of companies after you.
Is your relationship
strictly professional?
Ms. Zhang.
Bid increment is HK$500K.
11.5 million.
12.5 million.
12.5 million once.
13 million.
14 million.
16 million!
That's insane!
Sold!
Hey,
was the auction fun?
I wasn't talking to you.
I'll call you later.
How was it?
Hundreds of thousands each increment!
Sometimes over a million!
Are you kidding me?
Wow
Just now, my heart
was pounding so fast.
I thought it would stop.
Could be a heart attack.
Stop exaggerating.
My mom died of a heart attack.
It's in my genes.
No way.
- I can't breathe! - Do you need a doctor?
Am I dying?
I'll take you to the hospital.
Why are you laughing?
I'm messing with you.
You're not a kid,
Stop mucking around!
Doing business in Hong Kong is a lot of fun.
Fun for you, sure.
You called all the shots.
I wasn't always the shot caller.
When I took a beating,
no one took pity.
Good morning, Mr. Wu.
I know you like tea,
please accept this box of Pu'er as my gift to you.
Sam!
I took the liberty of
treating your bodyguards to lunch.
You bastard!
I was in a hospital for 6 months.
I oughta come after you,
how dare you come here?
You made a big profit
on K.K.'s land.
I know the government paid HK$8 million for it.
otherwise I wouldn't dare come here.
You're a big man. Forgive me.
I hear Sunny Properties, which you own,
Is looking for a buyer.
I'm interested.
What's your offer?
This is?
King of Stocks, Chong Ren.
Don't you know the players in the game?
He is my man at the exchange.
To buy Sunny Properties,
you gotta go through him.
Now then,
what's your offer?
Sunny Properties closed yesterday at HK$1.25.
I'm offering HK$2.50 a share,
totalling HK$100 million
for 50% of the company's shares.
Fine.
63.
50.000 shares.
Buy'em!
311.
20.000 shares.
Buy'em!
309.
30.000 shares.
Buy'em!
Some fool wants to buy Sunny.
Let's get in on it.
Buy'em!
512.
30.000 shares.
Yours!
Boss,
we have competition!
Do something!
HK$2.20.
274.
50.000 shares.
Buy'em!
178.
78
Buy'em!
301.
How many?
It's at HK$2.80 now...
I got a scoop:
Sunny's dealer will jack up the price,
aiming at HK$3.80.
It's wild!
Good... Great!
How high will it go?
Look, it's at HK$4!
What is it?
No matter the cost,
- I can't hear you! - Buy it all!
Buy it all!
Keep buying!
- 264. - 20.000 shares.
Yours!
Mr. Cheng,
it's impossible.
He has 8 brokerage firms.
pushing the stock price.
You just spent HK$40 million
for less than 10 percent.
You can't afford to keep buying.
Sell some while the price is high,
at least you'd make some money.
- I don't care... - It's dropping!
It's dropping!
What's going on?
It dropped from HK$3.50 to HK$3.
HK$2.50!
It's still dropping!
HK$2!
Mr. Cheng,
he's messing with you.
Listen up!
Some genius told me,
he wants to buy Sunny with HK$100 million,
I'll take his money.
Who else wants in?
Anyone?
Me!
Great!
Feast and party all night.
My treat!
Let's take him to the cleaners!
Chong,
you're really something.
3 of Characters.
You cornered that idiot
and we all made a bundle.
He's right outside.
Scare him off and we can't milk him no more.
Aiya!
Watch out,
I'm set to win.
Aiya!
- You again? - Oh, no.
Aye,
today is not my day.
- Going my way? - Bye now.
- I'll give you a lift. - See you.
Thank you.
I'm going.
Tailing me all day is useless.
How much would it take?
Name a price.
Well,
It's not up to me.
Whoever offer you make
has to satisfy Mr. Wu.
I'm not talking about Sunny Properties.
I want you to come work with me.
Unscrupulous, aren't you?
Chong,
I have a proposal for you.
Chong..
Mr. Cheng.
My personal assistant,
Ms. Carmen Zhang.
Chong.
How do you do?
Excuse me,
I must go now.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
I need to make a call.
I got the bill.
Where did Henry go?
He has a meeting with Mr. Wu.
Would you like to go to a hotel
in Kowloon Tong or Central?
I've made reservations for both.
When a man acquires wealth, he becomes amoral.
When a woman becomes amoral,
she acquires wealth.
Okay.
Tell me now,
how high do you want this stock to go?
500 million?
One billion?
I want it to go as high as I want.
I want to issue as many shares as I want,
just like Americans print money.
Look,
the Americans have nukes,
what do you have?
I have her.
The Golden Hill House.
I will buy the whole building.
Buddy,
are your screws loose?
That is prime commercial real estate.
People buy one floor at a time,
never the whole building!
Exactly! No one ever tried this.
That's why it'll work like a nuke.
Bam!
How's that? Awesome, right?
The Brits own the Golden Hill House.
Would they sell it?
Little rascal, remember me?
Mr. Wu.
Relax.
You sold Sunny Properties to Henry,
and made HK$100 million for me.
I'm grateful.
We have some new colleagues.
GM of investments from Yarden Group,
Martin.
Financial supervisor from Yarden Group,
Joey.
And Ian,
GM of real estate investment from Yarden Group.
They will be joining our company.
Please be seated.
We will breach the castle from within.
They have inside information:
Yarden Group is short on cash.
It has no choice but to sell low.
With this All-Star line-up,
you name the price, Mr. Chairman!
I'm not the Chairman.
Friends,
Chairman of Carmen Century Group,
Ms. Carmen Zhang.
Let's take a picture.
Come on boys.
It is my pleasure to announce
that Carmen Century Group
will acquire
the entire Golden Hill House
for a grand total of HK$600 million.
Before the deal was complete,
Rumor has it that a buyer
offered us HK$1.1 billion for the building.
Carmen Century's stock price doubled.
The Golden Hill House
cost us only HK$100 million cash.
We paid the balance with stocks.
We made HK$1 billion
on the deal.
Everyone wants to buy the stock
that makes money.
I kept issuing stocks
to keep up with the demand.
And the price kept going up!
Soon enough,
Carmen Century became a blue-chip.
He is not bullshitting.
You literally can use stocks as cash.
Before the IPO, he spent hundreds of millions
to buy companies and properties.
Where did the money comes from?
We have a travel agency, remember?
This way.
Mind the steps.
Be right with you.
Let me help you...
JOHNNY: Rumor has it,
Henry met some local royalty
while shopping for shoes.
Your excellency,
I would like to introduce Mr. Cheng.
He is an accomplished businessman from Hong Kong.
Later,
He became their financial advisor,
And managed their US$1 billion trust fund.
I heard
he was a tour guide in the Golden Triangle.
While waiting outside a craphouse,
a battle broke out with the guerillas.
Here.
Get in.
Shoot.
WU: He and the opium warlord became buddies.
And the warlord gave him
One ton of solid gold to launder.
This is what I heard
from some bankers.
Apparently, this guy
was at a train station in Europe,
where a Mafia snitch was on the run.
Stop.
Don't run.
HE: With dumb luck,
he tripped the snitch.
The Mafia in your debt!
You can't get luckier than that.
From then on,
he became responsible
to launder Mafia money
in Asia.
You believe all that?
Guerrillas
and the Mafia?
Come on.
If any of it were true, I'd be dead by now.
So,
whose money is it?
It's all here.
Mr. Cheng.
The court has set your bail
at HK$10 million.
My wife will wire the funds tomorrow.
No need.
I know your wife and daughter are in South Asia.
I've applied for your wife's extradition.
Leave the family out of this.
I beg your pardon.
I'm talking about you.
Your wife just gave birth to a son.
Your daughter wants to go to school in the US.
It costs a lot to study abroad these days.
Luckily, I sponsor a few scholarships.
If your daughter is interested,
Kelvin would be happy to talk to her.
It's quite simple.
She fills out a couple forms,
She gets tens of thousands a year.
That's not all.
If the applicant is a friend,
We can add a zero to the amount.
That's what friendship is about,
Helping each other out.
How can I help?
It's up to you.
If I help you beat the case,
how many zeros is that worth?
What were we talking about?
About extradition.
Your wife and daughter...
I'm tired.
Get him out of my face.
Mr. Liu. Our medical team recommends only 6 hours of questioning each day.
Time is up. Please.
Scumbag.
Where is your mom and brother?
They went to the restaurant.
Let's take a picture with mom.
Thank you.
Here.
Sorry, I forgot his one month anniversary.
It's fine.
I'm glad you could join.
Here, let me hold him.
Soon, he won't recognise you.
Still recognise me?
Hey cousins,
how about a family photo?
Sure.
Stand closer, Yong.
There, better.
Ready,
1, 2, 3, cheese!
- Great, thanks. - Thank you.
Take a seat.
I want you to take the kids
and leave Hong Kong for a few months.
Just the kids and myself?
I'm investigating a dangerous criminal.
That's why...
Are you not going with us?
I'm not.
I've arranged...
You really think I'm OK with you being AWOL?
Go back to your work.
Please understand my situation.
Go back to work!
Your safety...
You're scaring the baby.
It's okay.
I have to get back to work.
These are records from Carmen Century.
We spent days with the accountants,
And got through less than 10%.
These books here
Are clean.
These are fishy
and need a second look.
The ones with blue tabs
are very fishy.
What's fishy about them?
College boy,
explain to the Boss.
All these numbers
have 2 decimal places.
Sir,
why would a transaction
cost exactly 660 thousand
8 hundred 64 dollars and 21 cents?
Check this out.
HK$660,864.21.
66086421.
Split into four parts.
66,
08,
64, 21
Part D plus part B,
66 plus 64 equals 130.
minus the sum of parts C and A.
08 plus 21
equals 29.
130 minus 29
Bam!
101.
This means
the number is divisible by 101.
They did the math.
All 400 settlement prices
are divisible by 101.
We can't figure out why,
we thought you should take a look.
CHONG: "The Golden Hill House
cost only HK$100 million cash.
We paid the balance with Carmen stocks.
We made HK$1 billion
on that deal.
He is not bullshitting.
You literally can use stocks as cash."
Brilliant.
These are stocks.
To settle a transaction with stocks,
you pay a 1% commission.
The stock price times 101%.
Cheng uses stocks
to settle transactions,
he uses stocks
to bribe people.
At the same time
his stock price goes up!
That's it!
Great!
Stay calm.
Double check the numbers.
I want to know
who ended up with these stocks.
Let's get to work!
Right away!
What is this?
What's going on?
These can't be shown in court...
What are you doing?
- Get him! - Move aside.
You're stealing evidence!
I'm a Queen's Counsel!
What kind of counsel
steals evidence?
Let's start.
Between October 1982
and May 1983,
on 51 occasions, Cheng
transferred 15.3 million Carmen shares
to your friends' and relatives' companies.
With this evidence,
you have no choice in court.
Bring my lawyer back.
Your lawyer?
Those are Cheng's lawyers.
I have nothing to say without a lawyer.
Isn't it easier to speak
without a lawyer?
Hey.
The Golden Hill House buyer pulled out?
If words get out,
our stocks will be worthless!
You are worthless!
Who told you there's a buyer?
Your job is to move stocks.
The buyer is
none of your freakin' business!
Fine.
Look,
we're on the same boat.
If not for me,
do it for Carmen.
Yeah?
Okay.
Don't worry,
I'll find a buyer.
Hang in there.
After work,
let's have dinner
and go dancing.
Really?
What the...
K.K. came back,
and it made all the difference.
Are you familiar with the blue bloods?
Hey, Robert.
Dad.
You have some gall to come here.
Aren't you worried about your wife?
Robert.
I could've met you downstairs.
No need, K.K.
Allow me to introduce someone.
Henry,
Mr. Henry Cheng.
This is
Mr. Chen, of Fortune Grain and Oil.
Mr. Li, of Arctic Shipping.
Mr. Luo, of Southern Mills.
Mr. He, of Xing Hui Hotel and Casinos in Macau.
The Liu brothers of
Ping Shan Construction.
This is Robert.
We go way back.
Heir to HK's largest Chinese owned bank,
Mr. He Hao Yun.
This party is popping.
The Brits can only hope
To match such pizzazz.
You must be esteemed by all, Mr. Cheng.
I am humbled by my esteemed guests.
Your forefathers built this city.
Without the foundations
they laid,
where would I be?
Right?
Screw you!
You dare call us trust fund babies? To hell with your foundation.
Just kidding.
Are you shitting bricks yet?
How did you know?
Thick-skinned, aren't you?
I like that.
K.K. told us that
you have quite an antiques collection.
Must've spent a lot of money.
Well,
you can't get good antiques
by throwing money at them.
Robert is an expert.
Sotheby's dan Christie's
often seek his advice.
If Robert spots a fugazi,
oh man,
That would be embarrassing!
Whoa,
that's perfect!
Please have a look.
Come.
This way.
Please.
Here.
Please.
Robert,
isn't that Cheri,
the starlet who stood you up?
Tomorrow,
Let's push Carmen stocks to HK$9.
Mr. Li,
you buy 100 lots at HK$6.50.
Mr. Chen,
Buy them at HK$7.50.
Mr. He,
HK$8.
Mr. Luo
and Liu Brothers,
HK$8.50.
200 lots each.
Then we will
inform the press and media
that your families are investing...
Shut the hell up.
Why amp I paying the highest price?
Don't worry Mr. Luo,
the shares and the money
are all held by us.
No matter who buys at what price, there's no risk.
Shit-for-brains,
the price does not matter.
Idiot.
Let's swap then!
Good idea!
We don't want to go last.
Yes, let's swap.
Okay, we will switch with you.
- Good! Let's swap. - Fine.
Swap now.
Swap your mother!
Hey now,
gents,
please calm down.
How about this:
whatever price
the stock ends up at,
you pay HK$5 a share,
I guarantee I'll buy them back at HK$10.
OK?
Guarantee? How?
I'll buy them all!
Morning, chums.
Henry!
Mighty Henry second to none,
makes us rich he's the one!
I made reservations at the restaurant.
Henry,
ride in my car.
Your driver sucks.
Take my car.
Take my car,
it's more spacious.
Next time we'll get a limousine,
we can ride together.
It'll be a riot.
For now,
I'm smoking,
- better take the convertible! - Okay!
You, get the door.
Ah,
I almost forgot,
boat party on Sunday.
I bought a new yacht!
I'll bring 20 models!
No wives and girlfriends allowed!
- Bring swimming trunks only. - Or pay a HK$1 million penalty!
Henry set it up already.
Just relax.
Boys only.
Henry set it up; it's a surprise.
See, I was right.
Johnny,
get everyone seated.
Got it.
Please take a seat.
Robert.
K.K.
We are celebrating.
Come and join us.
You guys made a fortune,
it has nothing to do with me.
Why you...
You bought 500 lots at HK$7 this morning,
you made bank.
Come celebrate with us.
Sure, I got in on it.
Do you want a cut?
Of course not.
Actually,
Henry really wants to work with you.
Work with me?
You mean work for him.
A partnership.
We'd like you to buy something from us.
What?
The Golden Hill House.
My old man isn't dead yet,
I don't have that kind of money.
With your pedigree, who needs money?
Your name is worth a fortune.
Look.
I sell it to you for HK$1.6 billion,
then I find a buyer to buy it for HK$2 bilion.
Your cut is 30%.
You'd make HK$120 million
without spending a dime.
Heir to Hua Ye Bank
buys Golden Hill House for HK$1.68 billion.
How do you think the market reacts?
Buy'em...
He lined up an army of brokers.
From Garden Road to the Peak,
every household got in on Carmen stocks.
In less than a week,
stock price went up to HK$16 a share.
The top brokerage firms
pegged the target price at HK$30.
Carmen stocks
are worth more than money!
What's going on?
HK$20.
Stocks can be used as cash.
It's shopping time!
Shopping...
What should one buy?
U.K. Century Shipping,
HK$1.2 billion.
U.S. Anyan Insurance Group,
HK$1.3 billion.
Henry is the best!
Lihua Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui,
HK$2.8 billion.
Pricier than The Landmark in Central!
In Canada, a 50 hectares urban development.
HK$3.5 billion.
Perpetual Petroleum International,
HK$4.5 billion.
Plus the biggest movie studio in Japan.
In less than 6 months,
Carmen became an international conglomerate.
With more than HK$10 billion in assets,
and market capital exceeding HK$20 billion,
it was bigger than the blue chips.
Banks and corporations from around the world
Want to do business with us.
Hi, Mr. Cheng.
I am Terry,
Vice President of Hong Kong Bank.
You probably forgot, Terry,
we've met before.
The party at Yarden Group.
Of course we did.
Please allow me to announce
A quarterly loan of USS110 million to Carmen Group.
Pardon me?
Is there a problem, Mr. Cheng?
Tell him 11 is unlucky for me.
Mr. Cheng says,
US$110 million
resembles 11.
11 brings him bad luck.
I'm sure there's a way around this.
Would Mr. Cheng mind picking a luckier number?
168.
I would say,
US$168 million.
It's a lucky saying in Chinese.
A path to wealth.
OK?
Alright.
US$168 million it is.
A path to wealth!
Good negotiator.
Hong Kong Bank was such a pushover.
Hey,
Deutschland Bank called as well.
How much should we ask for?
These days,
every bank is at your beck and call.
Henry,
I want HK$80 million.
Sure.
I'll tell Chong to transfer some stocks to you tomorrow.
I want cash.
HK$80 million in cash?
Not even a bank has that much cash.
Of the US$168 million from Hong Kong Bank,
only 100 showed up in the company account.
You should be flush.
Fine,
I'll get you the cash tomorrow.
Hey.
You didn't go yachting today?
Sorry boss.
Yachting?
I'm drowning here!
Care to join?
You promised me a buyer for Golden Hill.
Where is he?
You got me
to join your little charade,
your stocks went up,
you made bank,
and I end up holding the bag?
The Brits in the DOJ told me that
the Commercial Crime Bureau is
looking at me for market manipulation!
What do I do?
Calm down.
I'm going to jail! Calm your ass!
Stay calm.
This is a promissory note
from Mr. He to Carmen Century,
In the amount of HK$1.68 billion.
Once you sign it,
technically, the deal is complete.
As long as the check is not cashed,
you have purchased Golden Hill House.
You opened an account in my name?
Why not do it at my bank?
What kind of lawyer are you?
This is fraud!
How is this fraud?
With your signature, the deal is valid.
I will sell Golden Hill floor by floor.
I'll find buyers.
We'll share the profit among us.
Here.
No.
If we are going to share,
I want my share now.
As they say, wine reddens one's cheeks,
gold blackens one's heart.
Splitting the loot always
makes enemies of brothers.
There never is honour among thieves.
Welcome to Carmen's.
I named the restaurant after you,
because you deserve something
truly yours.
Change the name.
People might get the wrong idea.
Who might get the wrong idea?
Henry Cheng?
Every month, I make a deposit
To his wife's account in Timurlaysia.
His wife's name
is also Carmen.
Carmen Luo.
I met Mrs. Cheng two years ago.
I know my place.
Don't worry,
I'm not that naive.
Stay here tonight.
Tell me,
the firm has over a hundred billion in debt,
aren't you worried?
That's nothing.
Our stock is still climbing.
It's been climbing for a year.
You sure it won't fall?
Silly girl.
In 1982, the British and Chinese governments Commence negotiations regarding Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Associations of Banks increases the Prime Lending Rate to 20%.
Hong Kong's largest British conglomerate decides to re-domicile.
News from the stock exchange:
the Hang Sang Index continued to decline,
from 910 at market open
to 710 at market close.
Trading volume was down 60%.
HK$14.20!
HK$14.20, anyone?
HK$14,20!
Financial news:
Bank of China purchased,
at the price of HK$1 billion,
a site in Central
to house its new headquarters,
far below the market expectation
of HK$2.5 billion.
The Hang Sang Index declined again.
The Hong Kong dollar depreciates to HK$9.6 to US$1.
The public swarms to banks to withdraw money. Many deposit-taking companies collapse.
Financial news:
continuing its downward trend,
the market opened lower today.
Within 15 minutes of market open,
the Hang Sang Index
fell over 100 points.
Decline continued afterwards.
At market close,
the Index fell to 463.4,
over 200 points lower.
It is the biggest drop within a day recorded.
Anyone wants them? Anyone?
What were the mistakes
that led to this crash?
It's no time for reticence;
the shareholders are panicking.
Please give them an explanation.
What's Carmen Century's strategy?
Do you have any contingency plan?
Carmen Century has heavy debts,
and banks are unwilling to keep lending.
is this true?
The shareholders deserve to know.
Please respond!
You rarely attend these functions,
Does your appearance today mean that there is trouble?
We're not ebullient on the local market,
but Carmen Century has a global outlook.
Which is why
we remain profitable
despite the market downturn.
Our share price will quickly recover.
Recover? How?
Please elaborate.
Are your property projects in the US affected?
To reward our investors,
we will distribute a dividend
of HK$0.12 per share!
Thank you all.
Mr. Cheng, you're the majority shareholder,
how do you account to the others?
Can you please give a straight answer?
Carmen stocks are trading below HK$3.
Yet you're paying 12 cent dividends!
A generous man!
To buy us some time.
It's all over if we fall under HK$2.
Buy some time?
For your company, sure.
My company is finished!
If I go under,
I go to jail.
What does it have to do with me?
Nothing to do with you?
How dare you say
it has nothing to do with you?
You mortgaged my company stocks
over and over again.
You borrowed ninety dollars
On every dollar!
The police are onto me.
If I go down, you go with me!
Don't touch me.
I just don't have the cash to bail you out!
Call him!
Call whom?
Call your backer!
When we made money, everyone's happy.
When things go to shit,
I'm the fall guy.
Call him.
Do it now!
Or I'll call the police!
My partner, K.K.
US$5 million.
It's all there is.
What's the matter?
You don't want it?
This is our first meeting.
Also the last.
We've never met.
Agreed?
Understood?
Henry, you stay.
Douchebag!
He promised US$20 million.
This is only US$5 million.
What's wrong?
Stop it, K.K.
We can't afford to mess with him.
LIU: Did your father ever tell you
who the backer is?
JOHNNY: I really don't know.
I only know he's from Southeast Asia.
LIU: When was the last time you saw K.K. Zeng?
Where did he go?
Gone into hiding?
Or
gone?
When ICAC comes for you,
pay attention:
are they asking for assistance
or is it an arrest?
If they want assistance,
say what I just taught you to say.
If it's an arrest,
say nothing.
Just do what Kelvin tells you to.
Found the Southeast Asian yet?
Cheng has
over 200 companies in Hong Kong,
with shareholders from all over the world.
Among them, about 190
Southeast Asian nationals.
We need some time.
Fine.
When was the last time you went home?
Three, four days ago.
Go home and see your wife.
Its' okay.
Yong is here.
Dad,
I brought some soup.
Thank you for the soup.
No need.
Your daughter made it.
Did she use sugar?
No way!
I didn't sweeten it.
Let's...
Let's go out to dinner tonight.
Little brother,
don't cry.
We're safe now.
It's over.
Your boss was lucky that
Special Branch got wind of this.
From now on
we'll watch him 24/7.
No problem.
Don't worry.
Alright,
I'll go have a look.
Appreciate it.
Thanks.
Boss!
Boss,
stay cool.
Liu Qi Yuan,
don't come home until you put him away!
Scumbag.
Hey.
Where are you going?
You just assaulted my client.
What is this?
Police.
Is there a brawl?
That woman assaulted my client.
Who assaulted that woman?
His wife assaulted my client!
What does his wife look like?
Anyone
saw his wife?
Please come forward if you did.
Do you need a doctor?
The police in cahoots with the ICAC?
The common man is screwed.
Wait.
Mr. Henry Cheng?
Homicide, New Territories.
I am Mr. Cheng's solicitor.
What's the matter?
The Royal Hong Kong Police has issued an arrest warrant.
We suspect that Mr. Cheng
is connected to a murder case,
Please assist us in our investigation.
SARGE: The victim's name was Ahn Wencescala.
He was from Timurlaysia.
He had been in Hong Kong for a year.
He was a manager of a finance company.
He rented a hotel room and stashed 50 boxes
of confidential files on Carmen Century.
We contacted the police in Timurlaysia.
He turned out to be an undercover agent
of Timurlaysia's Ministry of Interior.
He came to Hong Kong
to investigate Carmen Century's dealings
with the finance company.
Boss.
A week before his murder,
Ahn Wencescala denied
a US$10 million loan
to Henry Cheng.
The finance company has
only US$100K in registered capital.
How can it make a US$10 million loan?
It sure can.
It's parent company,
Bank Persekutuan of Timurlaysia,
is loaded.
20 years ago,
oil was discovered in Timurlaysia,
the country became a crude exporter,
earning US$10 billion annually.
Bank Persekutuan of Timurlaysia was established
To invest these petrol dollars
all over the world.
In 1978, the bank's rep in Hong Kong is Musharra Hafa.
He happens to be a shareholder
of a dozen Carmen affiliated firms.
Looks like he and Cheng used the petrol dollars
to bankroll Carmen Century.
SARGE: That makes sense.
Wencescala's investigation
exposed the connection between Cheng and Hafa.
Cheng had every reason
to want him dead.
LIU: Cheng has plenty of money,
yet he hired an inept killer
who left clues all over the place.
After the hit,
he didn't clean up;
once caught,
he fingers Cheng right away.
SARGE: Are you saying
Cheng didn't hire the killer?
Then who did?
News from a police briefing:
an hour ago,
the suspect in the
Ahn Wencescala murder case
overturned his earlier testimony.
He now denies that Henry Cheng ordered the hit.
Due to lack of evidence,
the police has released Henry Cheng.
What the hell?
How can they release him?
Mr. Liu. I am Mr. Cheng's new solicitor.
I have spoken to your superior.
Mr. Cheng is willing to cooperate
in exchange for the release of his associates.
None of them knows anything,
so let's stop wasting everyone's time.
OK?
Based on new evidence,
the court decrees that you turn over the contents of your safe.
Here is the combination.
We came prepared.
We are cooperating.
Zhi Qing.
Let's begin.
Mr. Henry Cheng,
do you know Musharra Hafa?
He is a shareholder of a dozen companies
including Carmen Pest Control and Carmen Tours.
You are the majority shareholder;
you should be well acquainted with him.
Mr. Cheng,
do you know Musharra Hafa?
I'm asking you a question!
Henry Cheng!
Mr. Cheng.
On July 11th,
1980,
did you transfer to Hafa,
through Carmen Pest Control,
one million shares of Carmen Century?
In return, did he approve a US$10 million loan to you?
On February 24th,
and March 24th,
of 1981,
did you transfer through Carmen Transportation,
in 3 installments,
600.000 shares of Carmen Century
to Hafa?
In return, did he authorize
a US$20 million loan to you?
Do you not understand?
I'll ask again.
From August 1980...
...at Bank Persekutuan,
to Hafa and his superiors.
Is that correct, Mr. Cheng?
Doesn't matter if you talk or not.
Testimonies from your associates
and evidence from Timurlaysia
will put you away for a long time.
By then,
it'll be too late
even if you want to talk.
Now that you've mucked things up,
what more can I say?
I mucked thing up?
Rich as you are,
you don't call the shots
on what's right or wrong.
Of course I don't call the shots,
officer.
HENRY: In the past few months,
Carmen Century's stocks fell from HK$20 to HK$0.15.
Sure,
Hong Kong investors lost HK$20 billion.
But the OTC brokers,
After-Hour traders and Rat-traders,
the international players
lost hundreds of billions in offshore markets.
Some genius thought
murdering the auditor and framing me
kills two birds with one stone.
But if I go to prison,
who's left to take the rap for the losses?
The backers may get dragged into the mess.
Hey,
these are not novice investors.
I'm talking about national figures here.
Therefore,
the killer must recant his testimony
so I can be the scapegoat.
You keep asking me who my backers are.
At my level,
I don't even graze their shadows.
You think I'm a wizard with the Midas touch;
in fact,
I'm just a frontman, disposable.
Every being under heaven
has its purpose.
We all have our roles to play
on this stage called high finance.
The plot goes where the money flows;
every move and line is scripted.
This looks good.
What else does the chef recommend?
HENRY: Officer Liu.
I know you have enough evidence to put me away,
but has it occurred to you
that you are also a performer
in this piece of drama?
Go ahead.
Sir,
we opened the safe.
There's nothing in it.
Someone cut a hole
through his roof.
Hello?
Hold on.
Line two.
It's the police.
Officer Liu,
Cheng's lawyer, Kelvin,
drowned in his swimming pool.
We found a suicide note,
but also found his body in chains.
Boss,
Timurlaysia's Ministry of Interior called.
Hafa and other bank executives
have disappeared.
Sir,
I'm here to turn myself in.
I'm responsible for everything.
Here is all the evidence.
These...
Officer Liu,
we deposited HK$50 million bail money,
and with guarantees from ten Justices of Peace.
the court has granted bail to Mr. Cheng.
Scapegoat or not,
did you think that I'll just sit
and let you pull my strings?
I didn't get to where I am by being a pushover.
LIU: K.K. Zeng's son
pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery.
He got 14 years.
Cheng thought he got away clean,
but the Department of Justice
charged him for
the false sale of the Golden Hill House.
A few months later,
we put him on trial.
Quiet in court.
Court.
LIU: I thought the story was over.
Who knew
it was only the beginning.
Hello, Mr. Cheng.
How nice of you to be in court with us today.
Thanks for your kindness,
your honor.
Please make yourself comfortable.
We know Mr. Cheng has a tight schedule.
For the benefit of Hong Kong's economy,
I'm hoping the counsels for both parties may proceed expeditiously.
Sit.
A month later,
the judge acquits all defendants,
citing procedural errors by the prosecution.
The defendants may not be tried again for the same offence.
LIU: Six months later,
we tracked down Hafa
and other bank executives
in the U.K.,
France
and Germany.
ICAC sought cooperation from these countries,
and local authorities arrested them.
I will not go to Hong Kong.
Mr. Hafa,
you've been incarcerated
for quite a while.
If you cooperate with us,
a Hong Kong court
will only give you 2 years.
With time served here,
after the trial
you'd be out in no time.
Coming with me is a better deal, right?
Better?
Do you know what kind of a man Cheng is?
If he finds out I'm going back,
how long do you think I will last?
Mr. Hafa, your Chinese is quite impressive!
in Timurlaysia,
My ex-employer is Chinese.
And your line of business?
My new employer
sent me here
to look for investment opportunities.
Hong Kong is indeed full of opportunities.
Is that so?
Here.
My name is Henry Cheng.
Thank you Mr. Cheng.
Pleased to meet you.
HAFA: At first,
I invested
in his travel agency;
we made over US$100K.
Next, we put a few million
in real estate,
It doubled in no time.
Then came the IPO.
No matter how much we put in,
We'd at least double our investment.
My bosses didn't care
that I took kickbacks.
I was transferred back to headquarters,
return on investment dropped,
but kickbacks remained the same.
However,
the loan amount
got bigger and bigger.
Henry,
you've maxed out your loan limit,
it's hard for me to explain to my bosses.
It'll be harder to explain
if I go under!
HAFA: Cheng became an international frontman,
fronting for god knows how may backers.
The amount he handled
far out values any human life.
Henry, you stay.
The scariest things is that
If anyone stepped on his tail,
Someone would take action
without him uttering a word.
Henry,
what do we do now?
The Ministry of Interior is investigating!
Come on.
Do it.
Do what?
Finish the show.
What are you doing?
What the hell are you doing?
I'm saving your neck.
I never should've told him
Wencescala was an investogator
from the Ministry of Interior.
I killed him!
I let him die.
Your testimony is vital.
Come back to Hong Kong.
I won't go to Hong Kong.
I don't want to die.
I won't go back with you.
Open the gate!
- Calm down. - Open!
- I said calm down! - Open!
Open!
- Open! - God damn it!
Open the gate!
LIU: Maybe he was right.
That same evening,
the judge who acquitted Cheng...
died in an auto accident in Cyprus.
Five years later
In 1988,
several U.S. bankers
were arrested for taking bribes.
Turns out they all took bribes from Cheng
and gave loans to Carmen Century.
The Hong Kong government
charged Cheng again.
This time,
with new evidence from the FBI,
we couldn't lose.
Court.
LIU: Who'd have thought
the judge's wife had brought
1000 Carmen shares 7 years prior.
Cheng's lawyers
cited conflict of interest.
At the end, the judge
Had to declare a mistrial.
Cheng walked.
Yes!
Thank you.
Well done sir.
Congratulations.
I need a drink.
Ronnie!
Congratulations, boss.
- Thank you. - My pleasure.
Your extradition order.
The court decreed that
you should stand trial in Hong Kong.
I appealed that decision.
The High Court dismissed your appeal.
I'm applying for political asylum.
The Ministry of Interior
rejected your application.
I will appeal at the UN.
Will you stop!
Please come in.
Hey,
do you know the cost of an apartment these days?
HK$15K per square foot!
Had you not brought me down,
my shareholders would be filthy rich by now.
Would you like some?
Join me.
I'm fine.
Go ahead.
How many times have you arrested me?
This is the 8th.
Last time, you confiscated my house.
I've been living in a hotel since.
In the presidential suite.
Must be tough.
By my calculation,
through these years,
Litigation costs must ran north of HK$200 million.
Investigation costs, say HK$100 million?
10 years of your life spent on one case, no promotion.
What's it all for?
To punish wrongdoers? For justice?
Come on,
get off your high horse.
Ask yourself,
are you doing this out of spite?
You hounded me all these years,
what's the beef?
Did I murder your family?
Look,
you endangered certain people,
that's why they came for you.
Don't pin that on me.
If they really wanted you dead,
would you still be here today?
My son is in middle school now.
He tells me that
canned food
was invented in 1772.
But the can opener
wasn't invented until 1858,
some 80 years later.
Late, perhaps
still plenty useful.
As you said,
every being under heaven has its purpose.
Without a guy like me,
who will look after guys like you?
For more than a decade,
we worked with many countries,
And arrested over 50 criminals
connected to this case.
Courts handed down over 200 hundred years of prison time.
We've frozen
and confiscated over US$80 billion.
And most importantly,
they've all testified against you.
Do you really think you're going to get away?
HENRY: Hong Kong is supposed to be a goldmine.
Now where's the fun
when crooks have to submit to the law?
Case number:
High Court Criminal Case 116.
1996.
Mr. Henry Cheng...
and Mr. Musharra Hafa
are charged with violations against section 9
of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance
between 1980 and 1983.
On multiple occasions, the defendants
offered pecuniary advantage
to the Directors, CEO dan CFO
of Bank Persekutuan of Timurlaysia,
in order to obtain billions in bank loans.
Defendants,
how do you plead?
Your honor,
my client pleads guilty.
Order in court!
First defendant,
do you understand the charges against you?
First defendant,
do you understand the charges against you?
I do.
The defendants' unlawful conduct
seriously undermined
the rule fo law long established in Hong Kong,
an international financial centre.
For well over a decade,
the defendants used every possible means to imped this inevitable indictment.
Such crimes must not go unpunished.
As the defendants pleaded guilty,
and returned most of the pecuniary resources,
I shall consider carefully the sentences.
I now order that the defendants be remained in custody
until sentencing.
LIU: Over ten years of work to put one person away.
Was it worth it?
I ask myself the same question.
The High Court of Hong Kong sentenced Henry Cheng to three years in prison.
A few years later, Carmen Century Group completed the liquidation process.
Proceeds were distributed among major creditors,
while general shareholders received nothing.