Local reporter Jim Denholm is suspicious when the beautiful Belinda McDonald arrives at the airport, on the eve of the Chinese "Year Of The Snake," to be surrounded by provincial politicians and backroom boys for a high-profile press conference. Even through the bottom of a glass, Denholm knows something is not right about McDonald's claim to represent an American cosmetics company intent on building a factory in the city. Supported by the local Asian community, themselves looking forward to the Hong Kong handover, and a wave of immigrants to swell their numbers, Denholm is vindicated when McDonald leads him to Charles Taylor, the ruthless vice president of a huge U.S. conglomerate with a history of considerable influence in the region - and even more so when a snap election is called.