Since meeting Huo Dongcheng and Zhang Cong, Gao Fei had been contemplating this issue.
If either of them was elected, wouldn't his front companies in Hong Kong become monopolistic?
Zhang Ziheng, on the other end of the phone, seemed to have read his mind. He explained, "Hong Kong is an administrative region, and some of its mechanisms differ from those on the mainland. There are reasons why they allow them to support front companies that I cannot disclose to you.
I can only tell you that since Hong Kong's return, the mainland has used this method to control half of Hong Kong's economic lifeline."
Upon hearing this explanation, Gao Fei instantly understood.
The intention behind allowing the support of front companies was to let competitors dominate the industries involved.
Then, the mainland could step in and seize those economic assets.
To completely control a returned territory, the first step was to gain control of its economy.
Having figured it out, Gao Fei immediately moved past this sensitive topic. "Uncle Zhang, when does the technology project exchange conference start?"
"Soon, probably next month. Don't worry, I'll have someone convey your requests, but I can't guarantee how many countries will agree."
"As long as the message gets out, that's enough. Thank you, Uncle Zhang!"
With the technology project exchange conference, Gao Fei's primary task was complete.
What concerned him more now was which countries would ease their restrictions against him.
After all, with his novels, movies, and songs being banned for various reasons, his income from the entertainment industry had plummeted this month.
Furthermore, if the targeting against him didn't lessen, it would be difficult for Fei He Pictures' films to go abroad in the future.
This would only change once the civilian navigation system of that beautiful country was fully mature.
As Gao Fei was about to hang up, Zhang Ziheng suddenly called out to him. "By the way, Xiao Gao, to prevent those people from coming after you.
Before calling, I've arranged for you to stay at the State Guest Hotel in Hong Kong. You know the hotel's background. Pack your things now and wait for the hotel staff to pick you up.
From now on, when you go out on business, the hotel will arrange a driver for you and keep your movements confidential!"
"Okay!"
Gao Fei understood that Zhang Ziheng was worried that if he continued to stay at the Berlin Hotel, who knew what kind of people might show up after tonight.
It was one thing to deal with the front companies of competitors, as a phone call could easily get them removed.
But if it were foreign forces with ulterior motives, or triad organizations, and so on.
Even with his combat prowess, he couldn't stand up to a "Big Black Star" in their hands.
Guns are fast from ten meters away!
Within ten meters, a gun is accurate and fast!
After arranging his accommodation, Zhang Ziheng continued, "I heard from Old Ye at the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television that your main purpose in coming to Hong Kong is to find a way to resolve your unapproved films?"
"Yes, Uncle Zhang."
"Alright, I'll make a few calls for you tomorrow. Once the unapproved films are arranged for release, you should return to Kyoto as soon as possible and avoid staying in Hong Kong, lest any other incidents occur."
"Thank you for your help, Uncle Zhang. I truly appreciate it!"
"You kid, as long as you are a talent of the nation, they will never treat you poorly!"
Zhang Ziheng laughed and cursed a couple of times, then hung up after some small talk.
Gao Fei put down his phone and let out a heavy sigh of relief.
He also wanted to finalize the film releases as soon as possible and leave Hong Kong.
There were only two months left until the major transition, and who knew how much bloody struggle would occur during this period.
With Zhang Ziheng's help, it was as good as pre-booking his flight back to Kyoto.
After packing his luggage, Gao Fei cautiously stepped out of the room. After confirming that no one was monitoring the surroundings, he knocked on Jin Qiqi's door.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Jin Qiqi, wearing a black lace nightgown, poked her head out. Smelling the alcohol on Gao Fei, she guardedly said, "Boss, if you can't control yourself, I can find you a Hong Kong girl, soft and tender, much better than me!"
"What are you thinking, I have something important to tell you!"
Gao Fei shot her a glare and pushed the door open, walking directly into the room.
Upon seeing Jin Qiqi's unclad figure beneath the black lace nightgown, his face flushed red. He immediately turned away and coughed awkwardly.
"Uh, Sister Jin, change your clothes, pack your luggage, we're leaving this hotel tonight."
"Checking out tonight, where are we going?"
"We can't stay here anymore. Someone has already arranged another hotel for us. Pack your luggage and wait for my call. When the car arrives, we'll leave immediately!"
After speaking, Gao Fei immediately pulled open the room door and quickly walked out.
Jin Qiqi watched his retreating figure, a sly smile on her face, humming two words: "Little punk."
Twenty minutes later.
The two of them, dragging their luggage, took the elevator downstairs.
As soon as they reached the first floor, a tall young man with a crew cut and sharp eyes walked towards them.
"Mr. Gao Fei?"
The young man asked, confirming.
Gao Fei glanced at the bulge around the man's waist and nodded.
"Please follow me."
After confirming, the young man stopped talking and led them out of the hotel.
As they stepped out of the hotel, a black Hongqi sedan with hazard lights flashing was parked outside. The license plate was quite impressive: 00006.
After loading their luggage, the young man started the car and sped away with them.
As soon as the car left the hotel's vicinity, six or seven vehicles with fake license plates followed.
These cars trailed them all the way to the State Guest Hotel's vicinity before finally stopping and leaving.
Gao Fei looked at the vehicles turning around and leaving in the rearview mirror and let out a helpless chuckle.
If he hadn't been arranged to stay at the State Guest Hotel, he would have been under constant surveillance in Hong Kong.
After completing the hotel check-in and putting away his luggage, Gao Fei went to Jin Qiqi's room again.
As soon as he entered, he heard Jin Qiqi say gleefully, "Boss, you're trending again, did you know?"
Gao Fei was slightly taken aback. Before he could speak, Jin Qiqi pointed to the computer on the table. "As expected of my boss, you've only been in Hong Kong for less than a night and you're already the front-page news for Hong Kong's gossip weeklies."
Upon hearing this, he looked at the laptop on the table. A very prominent headline appeared on the colorful webpage.
"Shocking! Renowned Hong Kong business magnates, Mr. Huo, Mr. Zhang, and Mr. Li, nearly got into a brawl over a young man!"
Looking at the highly suggestive headline, Gao Fei's face immediately darkened.
This reporter was truly a talent!
He clicked on the headline, and the page refreshed.
But soon, this misleading news directly became a 404.
Looking at the 404 page, Jin Qiqi couldn't help but be stunned.
"The news was taken down less than two minutes after it was published?"
She clicked refresh in surprise, but the result was the same.
"Boss, what happened tonight?"
Gao Fei hesitated whether to tell her.
The shrewd Jin Qiqi, recalling the information she had gathered earlier, asked, "Boss, you didn't get caught up in the November transition as soon as you arrived in Hong Kong, did you?"
His truth exposed, Gao Fei sighed helplessly and then roughly recounted the encounter with Huo Dongcheng and the meeting with Zhang Cong and others at the hotel.
After a while, having heard the whole story, Jin Qiqi's face showed surprise, and she looked at Gao Fei with an extremely strange expression.
Although Gao Fei didn't mention how he made Huo Dongcheng and the other two leave,
given that those three were front companies of competitors and had personally visited him,
and that they were suddenly arranged to stay at the State Guest Hotel,
it was enough to show that the circle her boss was now interacting with was beyond the current public's perception.
"So, Boss, we were arranged to stay at the State Guest Hotel to prevent your identity from affecting the election transition?"
"Something like that!"
Gao Fei nodded and changed the subject, asking, "When I left, didn't I ask you to research the screening policies for Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the regulations for Chinese films in countries like Malaysia and Singapore?
How is the research coming along?"
"The screening policies in Hong Kong and Taiwan are not much different from the mainland, and the intensity of review is not too demanding!"
Jin Qiqi said, handing over the files she had compiled.
Then, she pointed to the files for Malaysia and other countries and continued, "However, the policies in countries like Malaysia and Singapore are different, mainly concerning box office revenue.
They impose higher tax rates on the revenue from domestic mainland films, but the tax rates for film and television companies from Hong Kong are no different from those of their own domestic film and television companies."
Gao Fei's eyebrows shot up, and he also noticed the tax rate policy.
He frowned in confusion and asked, "Although Hong Kong is a special administrative region, it is still Chinese territory. Why do these countries treat it differently?
I remember that when 'Black and White Edge' was released in those countries, the tax rate on its box office revenue was very low."
"Big brother, your movie was the one that won China its first film festival grand prize. China is a big country after all, so they would definitely treat this movie specially."
Jin Qiqi rolled her eyes at him and continued to explain the previous question. "Let me put it this way, mainland films are subject to high tax rates on their revenue because our country also has high tariffs on their imported goods.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, has lower tariffs on imported goods than the mainland, so it is treated specially by countries like Malaysia."
Gao Fei nodded thoughtfully and continued to carefully review the documents.
After a moment, he narrowed his eyes and said, "So, as long as it's not initiated by the General Administration, the revenue from the entertainment industry will be subject to higher taxes."
"That's the idea!"
Jin Qiqi agreed.
Gao Fei tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.
Because of his identity as Chief Engineer, except for the Asian region, other regions followed the beautiful country in imposing various sanctions against him.
Any commercial project related to him would be targeted.
Although countries in the Asian region did not target or sanction him, the taxes were alarmingly high.
"Hong Kong!"
Gao Fei murmured, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Jin Qiqi. "Sister Jin, if Fei He Pictures were to set up a branch company in Hong Kong, who do you think would be suitable to manage it?"
"What? Branch company?"
Jin Qiqi was dumbfounded.
Gao Fei leaned in and whispered a couple of sentences in her ear.
Listening to Gao Fei's plan, Jin Qiqi's eyes lit up, and she blurted out two words: "Feasible!"
....
For the next week.
Under the arrangement of the State Guest Hotel, Gao Fei completely disappeared from the surveillance of Huo Dongcheng, Zhang Cong, Li Jiaguo, and others.
No one knew his purpose or attitude in coming to Hong Kong.
Finally, the candidates had to abandon this line of inquiry regarding him.
But just as everyone gave up on Gao Fei.
A new film and television company suddenly appeared in Hong Kong's film and television industry.
The company was named 'Gaoyue Pictures'.
After Gaoyue Pictures was successfully registered, it had only one film under its name, titled "The Old Corpse in the Mountain Village."