Headed by CFO and Hong Kong GM Joe Tsai, the Hong Kong office performed service and strategic functions including investor relations, international marketing, alliance and business development , and finance. Twenty people worked in the Hong Kong office in September 2000, though Ma had joked that he'd need 40 staff to run overseas operations to match the "40 thieves in Alibaba." His China staff would match the 108 heroes in the winter margin, a popular Chinese adventure tale.