S. P. Chung (father of the groom)

Anna Plains
(S. P. Chung buys a ranch bigger than the State of Rhode Island)

S. P. Chung
at Anna Plains

After being on the run for several years, and losing his business in Brunei, S. P. managed to purchase the Anna Plains cattle station near Broome Australia.

From the book:

In the summer of 1987, S. P. splurged for his most grandiose acquisition, with the purchase of a one million acre cattle station called “Anna Plains.”

This crown jewel included 15,000 head of Brahman cattle, several hundred horses, an airplane, a helicopter, houses, and even some humans. To put things in perspective, this enormous property, of 1563 square miles, was larger than the famed King Ranch in Texas by several hundred square miles. Anna Plains was larger than the entire state of Rhode Island!

“This book out-Dallas, Dallas. No one has written so well of the other side of paradise, ”

Francis T. Seow, former Solicitor General of Singapore

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Escape from Paradise

S. P. Chung

Father of the Groom, Tycoon, and Mystery Man

S. P. Chung
& Wife, Lillian

S. P. Chung is a major player in Escape from Paradise. S. P., as he likes to be called, is a Machiavellian schemer. He is astute, bright, polite, and ruthless, even with his own family (and daughters-in-law), making him a real winner.

S. P. - the Tycoon

S. P. Chung was born in Brunei, the number one son of a Chinese shopkeeper. Being the eldest son, his father sent him to China for University studies. S. P. returned to Brunei to become a schoolteacher for the equivalent of $2 a daya decade later he was a very rich man.

For the wedding of his son, Hin Chew, S. P. spared no expense.

From the book:

For the Brunei guests, S. P. chartered two Royal Brunei Airline Boeing 737s, scheduled to depart from Brunei at 6:00 P.M., the Friday before the wedding, returning the following Monday at 7:00 P.M. The guests would be put up either at the Shangri-La or Mandarin, a single hotel was not large enough.

S. P. - the Humble Chinaman

S. P. got his start (it seems) by contracting day labor to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP). He knew how to work the BSP's European managers, one of which was a Mr. Peter Tapper.

From the book:

His head bowed still lower, and peering over his tinted glasses, S. P. continued, “I have to work, to feed my family. My wife, Lillian, she is the boss and in charge of the house.” S. P. took a sip of his drink, inviting the Tappers to do the same.

“Oh S. P.,” laughed Peter Tapper, “I’m sure you’re doing quite well, quite well, indeed.”

“Thank you, Mr. Tapper, you are most kind,” replied S. P., nursing his drink.

“Please, S. P., you must call me Peter,” said Tapper, with his broadest British accent.

Bowing his head again, with a toothy smile, S. P. answered, “Yes, Mr. Tapper, yes, Mr. Tapper.”

S. P. - the Mystery Man
(His Darker Side)

At the time of Hin Chew's one-year arrest and detention in Brunei, S. P. and his wife, Lillian, disappeared for several years, on the run from country to country. A year later, S. P. surfaced briefly for a Hong Kong meeting with ex-CIA agent, Dan Arnold, and then disappeared again for another year. Only once during this period did May Chu see S. P., her father-in-law. It was in London.

From the book:

One quiet evening, after we had been in the Kensington apartment for a little over a week, the doorbell rang. Strange, we weren’t expecting anyone, at least I wasn’t.

I opened the door, and there stood S. P. Chung!

He was wearing an expensive black trench coat, had a black umbrella in hand, and looked very smart.

“Pa!” I said.

“Chu,” he gave me a hug.

I don’t know what I expected to seesunglasses, a slouch hat, fugitive attire, but, as S. P. took off his trench coat, I saw he was immaculately dressed. He was wearing a black three-piece suit, Savile Row style, white shirt, and tie.

I was genuinely happy to see him. He was looking very good, and seemed his old self, although a bit subdued.

Hin Chew said simply, “Hi, Pa.”

We were behaving as though we had all seen each other yesterday. Polite denial.