Images (clockwise starting from upper left): lucky's apartment, lucky holding a photo of his boss, his watch shop or what's left of it, his broken drawers that held his fake rolexes
I made a friend. His name is Lucky. Lucky sells copy-watches. Lucky called Robin at midnight and told him to meet him. Robin thought this was strange. Robin left his camera and all his belongings in the room where it was safe.
So I saw him standing in the street and he was like, "don't worry man, follow me.." When we got to the end of the alley way there was a tan colored van and they told me to get in. "There is no way I'm getting in that van." I replied. They showed me identification, they were part of the CID of Hong Kong. I should say something prior to this night:
Lucky asked me to find out where another copy-watch location was. I was going around anyway trying to get photos of the places so I didn't see any harm. Ok back to the van:
So I got in. They introduced themselves (i don't remember their names) and said they wanted my help. Lucky told me that he has to help them every once and a while so they don't bust him for selling copy-watches. I looked at Lucky. I looked at the police. They took out a map of the building that I had been earlier in the week... There was no possible way I would be able to tell them with that map -- the place was like a maze. So they said, "Ok I'll go in with you and protect you in case they're there." "Are you really police?" I replied. I looked at Lucky. He was laughing. Lucky said, "Hey man help me out and I'll take time off to get you into an apartment to take photos." I had had some difficulty doing this because of all the illegal refugees living in the building.
These copy-watch sellers are like gang members. In fact they ARE gang members -- they sell illegal goods, drugs, prostitution, work with the police. If one of them saw me I could be in trouble. Although it was really late and I was pretty sure none of them would be out and about. So I said, "ok, but don't come in with me just follow behind and I'll point to the door." We walked in and everything went as planned. But after I pointed they told me to leave quickly. I couldn't get out of the building. The elevator only goes to odd floors -- so I had to take the stairs. The stairwell did not lead to an exit. After a few minutes I found the police again and they asked why I was still here. We ended up going out together.
Anyways the next day Lucky was no where to be found.
The day after that I found him. He had been arrested anyway and taken to prison. One person in the Indian Mafia (as I now call them) took the wrap for the entire group. Lucky found out that his boss had turned him into police in order to save his business. Lucky's apartment was now ransacked, everything was taken from his store but he did let me photograph inside his apartment anyway. The people inside redecorating from the police party were resistant at first but by the time I left they were laughing and even posing.
That pretty much sums up my last couple of days in the Chungking Mansions.
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