IN HIS OWN WORDS : Cheung Tze-Keung
On kidnapping Li Ka-shing's son Victor Li Tzar-kuoi in 1996: Li Ka-shing has billions and billions; he wouldn't clash with a rascal like me. He was very polite when he handed over the money. I patted him on the back and promised never to touch any member of his family again.
While negotiating for Victor Li's release: I said to Li Ka-shing: 'I take unconventional steps to get rich. Money is the most important thing in life but it's only me who can pull off kidnapping tycoons.' On Victor Li as a hostage: He was a good boy, very co-operative and never resisted so I treated him very well and gave him what he wanted. After I got the money, I kissed and hugged him. I told him: 'Your father has kept his word and so have I. Your family has nothing to fear from me again'.
On the kidnapping of Walter Kwok Ping-sheung: There aren't many tycoons in Hong Kong. Kwok was the next natural choice. He at first refused to call his wife, thinking I wasn't serious. We had to beat him up every day, lock him in a black box and make repeated threats about killing him. He broke down on the fourth day and called his wife.
On settling for $600 million, less than the $1.38 billion the Li family gave: I was only interested in money, and I took it to get the whole thing over with. But I didn't anticipate it would take so long and that the Kwok family would nickel-and-dime me.
On his only two regrets: I regret I won't be able to take care of my two kids again. And I underestimated the abilities of Guangdong security officers. That was my biggest mistake.
