The Chairman

Hathaway is summoned at the U.S. embassy in London and given a mission to travel to China and locate Soong Li, who is said to have developed an enzyme that could make crops grow in any climate. The President urges him to undertake the dangerous assignment, while Hathaway worries about Kay, a close friend back in London.

A transmitter is implanted in Hathaway's skull as a tracking device, but he is not told about the explosive element. The authorities can remotely trigger the device in an emergency if he fails, adding a hidden danger to the mission.

Hathaway arrives in Hong Kong and is led to Ting Ling, who introduces him to Security Chief Yin. The meeting signals the start of the complex interaction between the spy mission and the Chinese regime over the enzyme.

Back at his hotel, Ting Ling waits in Hathaway's room and tries to seduce him as part of a plan to derail him. An intruder creates a disturbance, and Hathaway investigates, only to be knocked unconscious when Ting Ling uses a phone to strike him.

Hathaway is taken to meet the Party Chairman, where the enzyme and its global implications are discussed. Shelby, listening in London, debates detonating Hathaway's head device to kill the Chairman if necessary.

Hathaway is flown to meet Soong Li and is introduced to Li's daughter Soong Chu. The officials and guards suspect Hathaway is a genuine scholar rather than a spy, which complicates his mission.

Soong Li is attacked by guards seeking the formula and dies in the struggle. Before dying, he hands Hathaway a book containing quotations from the Chairman and a piece of microfilm, hoping Hathaway can safeguard the information.

Soong Li flees with the book and microfilm, trying to reach the Soviet border before Yin's men catch him. Hathaway chases to secure the material and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

Shelby orders the explosive device to detonate in Hathaway's head as part of the plan to eliminate the threat. Soviet border troops arrive at the last moment to help Hathaway cross into safety.

Hathaway crosses into Soviet territory and survives the encounter. The device is removed, revealing that it could have been detonated remotely at any time, a chilling reminder of the mission's hidden danger.

Safe for the moment, Hathaway discovers that the enzyme formula is hidden inside the Chairman's book of quotations. The discovery confirms the value of the information he is carrying and the trouble it could bring.

Having secured the information and survived the ordeal, Hathaway returns to Kay in London. The mission ends with him reuniting with his friend while the wider political stakes remain unresolved.