When asked why he got a job in the first place I was told, "connections."

Indeed. Old China hands are often not surprised at all to hear this.

I am pretty sure the FAO here got the job by connections, and doesn't really want it, but hey it maybe a couple of extra hundred rmb in his paycheck, so why not take it, and lord it over the hairy white monkey right? I'm being sarky, but it's probably the truth:(