2
67
China within a short time. It has no military organisation
but its numerical force, wielded by an ambitious leaden
would be a great danger to the stability of the present
dynasty. This has been demonstrated by the Tai Ping rebellion.
The districts of Kai shing & Ka ying chou are almost entirely
peopled by members of this society who as far as I know
are generally Hakkas & Hoklos. Triad men were once far
more numerous in Hongkong than they are at present because
the society is now considered an unlawful society & its members
liable to imprisonment & banishment.
He was very anxious to know what methods are adopted
by the Hongkong authorities for the caprur of Triad men.
I told him that besides the regular police force a large
force of detectives are employed. These do not go about in
uniform & wear no distinctive marks or clothes. They are
dressed as ordinary people & mix with every class. The work of
the detectives & informers has made Hongkong an unwelcome place
for robbers, pirates, Triad men & other bad characters,
He hinted that it would be a good plan to inform
him beforehand whenever the Hongkong authorities are about
to banish a Triad man so that he may be captured on landing.
That I said might be arranged between the Hongkong & Canton
authorities without much difficulty.
H.E. said he is dealing with these pirates &
robbers with a strong hand. Nearly a thousand of them have
been decapitated & even Bannermen have had no mercy shown
them. He thinks that their object is wealth & that no
political significance can be attached to their motives. I
explained that they would join any local uprise, political,
anti-foreign or otherwise, & do their utmost to overthrow
order so as to have a free hand in plunders & robbery. Unless they are stopped quickly & vigourously there will be no end of internal troubles & international complications.
"that piracy
"I am surprised to hear" he said,