The Chief Detective Inspector is dead. I'm now the top police officer in Hong Kong!

Chapter 104 The First Step to Getting Ashore (14)

Yang Sihai suddenly widened his pupils and said in a deep voice, "What are you talking about? Using box office revenue to launder money?"

"That's right, the Hong Kong government only collects a 10% entertainment tax on film box office revenue. In the New Territories and Kowloon suburbs, you can pay a movie theater a sum of money to hire a bunch of gangsters to sit in the theater late at night."

"The cost is less than 30,000 to 50,000. Even with the investment in filming, it's only a few hundred thousand. The percentage is no more than 15%, and the money can be laundered cleanly." Lin Tiansheng did his homework and even learned from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau's (OCTB) files that the cost of money laundering by local triads is generally around 20%.

A five-point price difference!
Yang Sihai became serious, his face showing longing: "If it's possible to launder money through movies, it's worth a try."

Telling the gang elders that a certain director has potential and that making movies can make money is utterly unconvincing. But if you say that making movies can launder money at a 5% discount compared to outside, the elders will risk their lives to do one and see for themselves.

The Hong Kong government is developing into a financial center and aims to capitalize on the trend of reform and opening up in mainland China to expand its advantages as a gateway. Many international capital investments going north are first deposited in trading company accounts on Hong Kong Island.

This lays the foundation for a massive money laundering industry. In the future, all the black money in Asia will flow into Hong Kong Island, be laundered, and then go back to be spent.

The fees involved are astronomical, and this is already becoming apparent, with many organizations setting up money laundering companies.

Lin Tiansheng certainly understood that "low-class" things were the most attractive to the gang, and compared with Lao Fu's other black businesses, money laundering was relatively clean.

Even foreign trading companies, law firms, accounting firms, and even the stock market and securities market are rife with black money.

If you don't make this money, Singapore will.

Moreover, money laundering was just bait; once Yang Sihai took the bait, he would invest in the film.

Last year's box office champion was Jackie Chan's "The Young Master," which grossed 11 million Hong Kong dollars. Since then, the box office has been increasing every year. It has also been distributed overseas and can make money in the domestic market by renting and selling DVDs.

Before the 1990s, a blockbuster film could generate a net profit of over 50 million. A good film company could earn hundreds of millions annually, while its costs were less than one-tenth of that.
To restore and strengthen his remaining party forces, Lin Tiansheng naturally needed to constantly explore new avenues for revenue. However, film production, besides requiring a director and actors, also involved assembling a crew, navigating cinema chains, and negotiating with distribution companies.

It requires a lot of capital and a lot of effort.

Lin Tiansheng's money for investing in the film is a major problem. As a policeman, how can he show his face in public? Therefore, driving Yang Sihai to do it is the best solution at present.

In Hong Kong, there are too many relationships to manage when making a movie. Lai Chung-ying, who works under him, is already struggling to run a real estate company, so he has no energy to make movies.

"Don't just think about money laundering. The market is hot right now, and making movies can really make money," Lin Tiansheng said. "I have friends in film companies who can recommend directors and actors to you. There won't be any problems."

There's no need to even think about the script; Wang Jing is a "script maniac." If there's investment, he'll start filming immediately, and if necessary, he'll write the script as he goes along.

Occasionally, they can even produce a best-selling item.

If it weren't for pursuing art, Fat Boy Wong would be the top star when making movies in Hong Kong.

Yang Sihai picked up the cigar on the table, took a puff, and said shrewdly, "I understand, Young Master Sheng, you've got a good plan. If the box office makes money, you get a share; if it loses money, I'll launder the profits. It's not that you're in charge of the white side and I'm in charge of the black side; it's like we're in the same industry, doing both sides. You take the white side, and I take the black side."

Lin Tiansheng said cheerfully, "Say whatever makes you happy, are you in or not?"

Yang Sihai said magnanimously, "Fine, it's not easy to get Young Master Sheng to give us a hand, of course we'll do it. You guys still have people in the Commercial Crime Investigation Department?"

Without protection, even the most convenient money laundering industries will be investigated by the police. And if competitors enter the market later, without a moat, he won't be able to compete.

Lin Tiansheng laughed, "There's no way to give you the title of Justice of the Peace, but it will protect you when you make movies." Among the remnants of the gang, Senior Inspector Zeng Xiangrong is working in the Commercial Investigation Department.

"OK, OK, I'm relieved to hear that. The director's name is Wang Jing, right? I'll go invite him later." Yang Sihai agreed, straightened his suit jacket, stood up, and put his hand on the doorknob. Suddenly, he turned back and said, "By the way, you don't need to invest in the movie. As long as it makes money, I'll give you 30% of the net profit!"

Lin Tiansheng clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute: "Then I won't stand on ceremony, Brother Sihai."

"Goodbye."

Yang Sihai arrived at the door and left in a hurry, as if he were desperate to be robbed if he arrived late. You see, Lao Fu's money laundering methods were still rudimentary: money was transferred through overseas accounts, and each additional transfer increased the cost. By managing to reduce costs by five percent, he allowed his clients to make a two percent profit, earning three percent more than his competitors.

Extremely competitive!
Lin Tiansheng threw the leftover cup noodles into the trash can.

He hoped Yang Sihai would do well, continuously providing benefits to the remnants of the regime on his path to legitimization. Once Yang Sihai successfully gained legitimacy and entered the mainstream, the remnants would undoubtedly have grown powerful, and their covert operations could become public knowledge, making Yang Sihai an ally of the remnants in the political arena.

Two weeks later, on a Friday evening.

Li Shaifeng, dressed in a dance costume, stretched her long legs across the bay window. The nylon threads stretched with her movements, the thick threads becoming thinner, revealing glimpses of her flesh-colored skin.

When Lin Tiansheng got home from work and changed into slippers, he saw the stove was still on and asked in bewilderment, "Ah Feng, are you out of your mind? Do you have to practice cooking?"

Li Shaifeng looked serious, turned around, did a split against the wall, and answered in a clear voice, "Brother Sheng, a director has asked me to act in a movie as the female lead. Filming starts next Wednesday, and there are action scenes. He told me to practice my skills well."

Lin Tiansheng, like a cat staring at a crotch, stood frozen at the doorway and asked in surprise, "Just finished filming your first drama, and you're already on the canvas?"

Which film company?

While it's true that "The Land of Love" had high viewership ratings, historically, Lee Shai-Fung also filmed several other television series before gradually transitioning to movies.

Li Shaifeng laughed and said, "It's a new company called Sihai Film Industry. They contacted the school and said they really appreciated my acting. They offered me a salary of 20,000 yuan, and I didn't even need to audition."

"The director's name is Wang Jing, right?" Lin Tiansheng couldn't help but laugh, thinking to himself, "Yang Sihai is quite sensible."

Li Shaifeng's eyes lit up: "Brother Sheng, you know him?"

"I don't know it yet. What's the name of the play?"

“The King of Gamblers vs. the King of Gamblers, the script is over there.” Li Shaifeng pointed to the sofa. Lin Tiansheng had no interest in looking at the script and reminded him, “That fat guy is a lecher. Stay away from him during filming. If there are any scenes in the movie where he's wearing shorts and a nightgown, doing splits and flying kicks, tell him to call me.”

Lin Tiansheng understood Fat Boy Wang's "vulgar style" all too well. It was fine for him to film other girls, but Ah Feng was his woman, and he couldn't let her sell her body for a movie ticket that cost a few dollars.

"Oh."

Li Shaifeng lowered her legs, a few beads of sweat on her forehead, and strolled to the stove. Wearing her dance costume, she worked, her graceful figure exposed to Lin Tiansheng, completely unobstructed. The sensuality she exuded in everyday life was even more alluring than the temptations in the bedroom, igniting a burning passion within him.

"Dinner's ready, Brother Sheng."

(End of this chapter)