documents, the more involved of which were dealt with by the Passport Fraud Investigation Office.
104. Despite the seizure in January 1958, of a printing press and plates used for forging U.S. currency, and a successful prosecution in relation to this, a quantity of forged U.S. $20 banknotes again appeared in Hong Kong, late in 1958. Three seizures totalling 426 notes were made and one successful prosecution instituted. Another 104 similar banknotes were seized after they had been uttered at local banks, and were subsequently confiscated. An interesting feature of investigations into the forgery of U.S. currency is the apparent connexion with the illicit trade in narcotics.
105. Also appearing during the latter half of 1958 were a large number of forged cheques drawn on U.S. banks, many of which were non-existent. An intensive investigation by the Commercial Crime Office uncovered a well organized gang engaged in the printing and uttering of these. 23 cheques were traced, 20 of them having been cashed by money changers or small Chinese banks. A total of 22 persons were arrested, 17 of whom were prosecuted in Court, the remaining 5 being scheduled for banishment from the Colony.
Triad Societies (Unlawful secret societies)
106. Members of these societies prosecuted for actual membership totalled 3,476, many being bound over by the Courts or placed under Police supervision, while others were given various terms of imprison- ment, followed by Police supervision. The gang fights of past years were almost non-existent although triad activity of a less violent nature still continued. There are few leaders now left who can muster a following of more than twenty or thirty members. The action against these societies continues, the majority of arrests being made by divisional C.I.D. units, while the Triad Society Bureau collects and correlates information generally and acts, and directs action, against the leaders. Besides processes through the Courts full use is made of the provisions of the Deportation of Aliens Ordinance and the Emergency (Detention Orders) Regulations.
107. The widespread belief that Triad leaders are powerful men in command of thousands of followers against whom the police are power- less, represents a major obstacle to Police investigations. The fact that this belief is wrong cannot easily be brought home to the general public. To help dispel this picture, and to encourage the public to come forward with information, a number of interviews took place towards
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