What do you mean by quitting the business? I'm not a big shot.

Chapter 643 Chaos
Back at the company headquarters, Yin Zhaotang canceled the company meeting and specifically asked Zhuang Zhuoyan from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and Ren Darong from the police force to come over.

This is a purely political incident, unrelated to the business world or the underworld. Politicians like Hu Bochao and Liang Chaoying may at most voice their support, but the matter will ultimately be handled by the disciplined forces.

Ren Darong must have been paying attention to this beforehand. After entering the office, he immediately sat down and asked, "Mr. Yin, is it about the bill?"

Zhuang Zhuoyan entered the room later, glanced at him, and listened intently.

Yin Zhaotang nodded slightly and said with a smile, "It seems that Inspector Ren has heard about it?"

“Yes, it’s quite a commotion. The police have already heard about it.” Ren Darong placed a document on the table and explained, “Classes just started this morning, and there have already been mass gatherings at the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Polytechnic University.”

"Many students went on strike and held rallies on campus, with groups ranging from dozens to a hundred people. The impact was significant, and teachers from several schools have reported the incidents to the police."

Yin Zhaotang opened a drawer, took out a box of Cuban cigars, and handed them to the two officers, asking, "How did the police handle this?"

Ren Darong, dressed in a suit, took the lighter with a cautious expression: "For now, we'll send the uniformed team to evacuate them. These students are really troublesome."

"A hard approach won't work, and a soft approach won't work either, so maintaining the status quo is the best option."

Yin Zhaotang glanced at Huo Zhengting, who had just retrieved the documents and immediately said, "Boss, there are a total of nine universities in Hong Kong. The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University rank in the top three. There are also Hong Kong Baptist University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lingnan University, and the Open University of Hong Kong."

There are a total of 89,000 undergraduate students in Hong Kong, with the University of Hong Kong having the largest number, including postgraduate students, exceeding 13,000.

Some institutions of learning are called "universities" in name only, but in reality they are still specialized colleges with only a few thousand students in terms of size and enrollment.

Over the next twenty years, they will gradually obtain the "official university" designation as part of the Hong Kong Island Higher Education Expansion Scheme, expanding their subject areas, scale, and student enrollment.

In the 1980s, there were only two true universities in Hong Kong: the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. These two schools alone had more than 10,000 students, accounting for a quarter of all university students in Hong Kong.

The university's internal data can only be obtained from the municipal government; even the police force cannot access it directly. Ren Darong's expression changed slightly upon hearing the number 89,000, and he asked in surprise, "So many people?"

He didn't think there were too many college students, but rather he hadn't expected that the power the education sector could control would exceed that of the police force!

Although students are not controlled by discipline, the closed environment and the age when they have plenty of energy and nowhere to release it make them very easy to be encouraged.

Yin Zhaotang exhaled a puff of cigar, leaned back on the sofa, and sighed leisurely: "More than 80,000 students are a force to be reckoned with. If they really explode, they'll be enough to cripple the entire city of Hong Kong."

Ren Darong said with a serious expression: "Behind every student is a family. There are more than 80,000 families, which directly involves 200,000 to 300,000 people."

Yin Zhaotang said solemnly, "Yan sir, you have read my reform bill and know the inside story. What do you think of Sima Hua?"

After careful consideration, Ren Darong stated very objectively, "Uncle Hua is a leading figure in the education sector with high public prestige, but we have different paths and cannot work together. Inciting students to cause trouble has crossed a line and will not be tolerated!"

Yin Zhaotang said, "I expected the foreigners would do something to prevent the bill from being implemented, but I originally thought it would be delayed until the 90s. I didn't expect it to be You De who handled it."

"In short, the future of Hong Kong cannot follow the script written by foreigners. Any potential unrest must be nipped in the bud." When the reform bill was passed, everyone anticipated resistance from foreigners. Whether the bill could be implemented and the reforms could proceed smoothly would be the ultimate test of the reformers' abilities, determination, and courage.

He had already seen a similar scenario before, so he acted more decisively. Holding a cigar, he immediately ordered: "Mobilize all police forces in Hong Kong and seal off the nine universities. We don't care what happens inside the schools. But we absolutely forbid any movements from taking to the streets outside the schools, understand?"

Ren Darong stood up abruptly, saluted, and said, "Understood, team leader!"

Yin Zhaotang took a breath and slowed his tone: "The bad students are a minority, they are unaware of the situation, and the majority are being coerced. The lockdown should be kept as quiet as possible, and I will compile a list of the culprits who need to be arrested and send it to you so that we can make targeted arrests."

"Teachers, staff, and their families are all the same; they are allowed to enter but not leave. I will arrange for people to deliver living supplies and food. If they want to play house, let them have their fun."

"Officer Zhuang!"

Zhuang Zhuoyan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stood up: "Mr. Yin!"

After realizing the seriousness of the situation, he somewhat guessed that the big boss wanted to use the ICAC as a weapon. The ICAC is a weapon that foreigners can use, and so can the Chinese.

With expectation in his eyes, Yin Zhaotang said, "Twenty-four hours to arrest Sima Hua, is that alright?"

Zhuang Zhuoyan knew that the big boss was going to carry out a "decapitation" and arrest the most authoritative member of the education group. The students below, lacking political support, money, food, and a future, would naturally scatter and return to their studies.

He looked hesitant: "Since Sima Hua is a pro-democracy activist, he has the support of the entire pro-democracy movement and also holds the position of a legislator. I am not qualified to investigate him. I need to get a warrant from the Commissioner Against Corruption, which is essentially a matter of the Governor's opinion."

It is clear that the ICAC could not issue an investigation order when the Governor supported Sze Ma Hua.

Yin Zhaotang made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction, his fingers holding a cigar as he reminded him, "Inspector Zhuang, I feel it's necessary to say this: before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established, the Governor had the final say. After the ICAC was established, it became an independent department. Every department has its responsibilities, right?"

Zhuang Zhuoyan replied, "Yes!"

Yin Zhaotang said, "What do we care about that? Let's start an investigation right away. If Sima Hua wants to be clean and doesn't take any money, then so be it."

Chong Cheuk-yin took a deep breath: "I understand, the ICAC will resolutely carry out the order."

Yin Zhaotang nodded and said calmly, "Execution is execution, but don't break the law. You need a commissioner's warrant, right? Once you become the commissioner, sign the warrant yourself."

"Go for it, the police force and I are backing you up."

A look of horror flashed across Zhuang Zhuoyan's face as he looked at his boss, whose eyes were resolute, and a sense of fear rose within him. He knew that illegally investigating Sima Hua, once evidence was obtained, would at most result in a temporary suspension, but Sima Hua could still be imprisoned. But attempting to seize the commissioner's position was tantamount to rebellion, and could cost him his life.

Is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of a group of students?

Yin Zhaotang waved his hand and said, "Go get to work. If there are any issues, call me."

The turmoil in the education sector is no small matter; it far exceeds the imagination of Zhuang Zhuoyan and Ren Darong. Who would have known the Hong Kong government could stir up such a storm in the education sector without experiencing it firsthand?
If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly; if you're going to fight, fight to the death!
(End of this chapter)