The bank runs depicted in the mini-series are significantly smaller in scope and significance than those depicted in the novel. In the mini-series, Dunross is a widower and no family members are mentioned. In the novel, Dunross is married and his wife, eldest daughter, sister, and two brothers-in-law (his wife's brother and his sister's husband) are involved in significant subplots while his youngest daughter, son and a cousin also appear in minor roles. Several subplots involving Ian Dunross' family were removed. In the miniseries, Tip Tok-Toh was changed from a mysterious, unofficial contact of the Bank of China to a good friend of Dunross who often appeared at parties. A further story line involving visiting UK Members of Parliament was removed, as was another involving a former prisoner of war, which provided a link to Clavell's novel King Rat.
A significant story arc involving KGB espionage in Hong Kong was deleted as the mini-series aired near the close of the Cold War. Many of the subplots from the novel were left out of the miniseries to simplify the plot. Tcholok becomes head of Bartlett's company, allying the organization with Struan's. Dunross gains access to the Bank of China, whose funding allows him to foil Gornt's scheme. Wu's son redeems his father's stolen half-coin for a highly paid position in Noble House. Wu and Bartlett are killed in a natural disaster. Half the coin is acquired by crime lord Four Finger Wu ( Khigh Dhiegh), who aims to ask the Tai-Pan to help him smuggle opium. Whoever possesses it may ask any favor of the Tai-Pan. He romances Bartlett's second-in-command, Casey Tcholok ( Deborah Raffin).Ī subplot involves the missing half of an ancient coin. When Dunross realises that Gornt is suddenly strong enough to ruin the Noble House, he must urgently forge new alliances or reshape ancient ones. Bartlett decides secretly to back Dunross' arch enemy, Quillian Gornt ( John Rhys-Davies), who will stop at nothing to destroy Struan's. As a result, he is courting a private investor, American billionaire Linc Bartlett ( Ben Masters). Even this, however, has not given him the capital he needs. Overextended by the previous management, new Tai-Pan Ian Dunross (Pierce Brosnan) has had to issue public stock to improve the company's financial standing.
Despite its impressive history and its reputation, the international trading company Struan's (the Noble House of the title) is in trouble.
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