Overheard 3 (竊聽風雲 3)

Ding

The Chinese colloquial term for a male heir

The Ding Grant

The Hong Kong British government began to develop the New Territories (NT) in 1972

Facing strong opposition from the NT indigenous residents the government granted them a privilege

Each NT Ding was permitted to build Ding a house on premium-free land

Up to 3 stories high, each story under 700 square feet

You created a miracle, Uncle To

The villagers were united

I was just their spokesman

No false modesty, Uncle To!

You accomplished a lot!

The Ding House Policy...

has kept things stable for decades

But things are different now

The number of Dings in the NT has grown to more than 200,000 Dings

Hong Kong (HK) is short of land

If every Ding builds a house... Ding

it'd be a waste of land

And it's unfair to other HK people

So the Ding House Policy...

has run its course

You met with officials yesterday

and treat me to a drink today

You must have good news

The government will stop...

authorizing Ding Houses...

from next year onwards

And in exchange?

We're allowed to...

pool our rights...

and put up 30-story buildings...

in the form of co-ops

With each Ding Grant...

you can build...

one 1600-square-feet apartment

In other words...

a 1600-square-feet luxury flat

So, over 100,000 Ding Grants...

means over 100,000 luxury flats

Congratulations!

Welcome to big-time property development

Cheers

But building a high-rise is harder than putting up a Ding House

Without financial support from you...

a bumpkin like me...

would be helpless

You're too kind!

What about the Legislative Council?

We'll return any surplus land...

to the government...

without charge

But...

what about the local property tycoons?

What would they say?

With you in the picture, Wan...

they'll understand

HK is happy

We're happy

Harmony prevails!

Right, harmony is paramount

Cheers!

We've pooled more than 500 grants already

With an official green light, we can start work

Mr Wan will have to

invest $720 million in our company

We'll need the extra $200 million...

because there'll be bribes to pay

when we sell the flats

is a sensitive issue Ding high-rise

No-one would agree to it, if it isn't worth their while

Keung

Whatever your ways may be...

I don't know...

and I don't care

Uncle To and I are talking billions

$200 million is chicken feed

Mr Wan

ls something else worrying you?

Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, cheers!

That brother of yours, Yuen

Where is he tonight?

Well, he's been quite busy

On the recently approved site for Ding high-rise...

Yuen own the biggest piece of land

He's been close with Szeto from the Developers Association

And Szeto represents the 4 major property tycoons

The Ding high-rises will devalue

the lands... Ding high-rises

they've been hoarding for years

Their only hope of scuppering the plan lies with Yuen

We'll talk to him, don't worry!

Yuen!

You're welcome to eat here...

but not talk here

Come on, Yuen, we need to talk!

There's nothing to talk about!

I've heard that...

he can be a bit difficult

What's there to say?

We're brothers!

Calm down

Let's talk...

Uncle To

If Yuen's land goes to Szeto's hands...

If Szeto gets that land...

not wanting trouble, the government...

will ask us to handle it peacefully

In that case...

I'd be in no position to say anything

We'd have to give the tycoons...

parts of our Ding high-rise project

That would take our company back to square one...

working for the interests of real estate tycoons!

As for you...

You'll be a nobody in HK

We didn't team up just to return to the old ways

Did we?

Let's put all that aside for now

Come...

it's the Mid-Autumn Festival!

We should watch the fireworks!

Aren't fireworks illegal in HK?

Out here...

we make our own law!

Look!

You can only see this in the NT

It's more beautiful than the display on Victoria Harbor

Bringing eco-friendly planning to the countryside!

HK's largest real-estate development

Harmony, development, heritage

NT Land Group will hold its IPO soon

Apply now!

What is this NT Land IPO bullshit?

How come I've never heard of it?

Where did you find this shit?

That doesn't matter

Press the button

See how many shares we get!

Which button?

Don't bother

None of us here...

will get a single share!

What? We're getting nothing?!

What does that mean?

Now they're kicking down the ladder?

That's right

Hang on

It was the Luk clan who pitched us the Ding high-rises

If we haven't handed our Ding Grants and land to you... Ding Grants

you wouldn't have this project!

Now you're listed on the stock market...

without consulting us

And we don't even get one share?

You think we're stupid?

Not exactly

We've given up the right to build a Ding House

What will my kids live on?

What about their kids?

Listen to me!

As Chuck just said...

no one here gets a share...

including us, the 4 Luk brothers!

You're kidding!

Shut your traps!

All of you!

We're fucked anyway

When we...

sold our Ding Grants and land to NT Land last year... Ding Grants

we got paid, didn't we?

So what if they're listed now?

It has nothing to do with us

And there's not a damn thing we can do about it!

Anyone can buy those shares

The NT will be overrun with outsiders!

That's right

Calm down!

Keung

You're Uncle To's right-hand man!

Say something!

I heard someone urging a rebellion

Was it you?

You?

Or you?!

You want to rebel?

Let's fight!

Hey!

Are we really going to rebel?

Yes!

You'll back us if we take NT Land on?

Yes!

That's good!

And that guy Wan is behind this!

I say we go for him first!

Yes!

"Which is the demon?"

"Which is the angel?"

"The two can look so much alike"

Nobody's seen Uncle To for months!

No one would believe...