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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991
MR STRACHAN CITED THE INCIDENT ON APRIL 15 AS AN EXAMPLE WHEN OVER 200 GANG MEMBERS WERE REPORTED TO HAVE TAKEN ΤΟ THE STREET IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT.
HE SAID FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, OPERATIONS WERE CONDUCTED ON FIVE SUCCESSIVE NIGHTS AGAINST THE TWO TRIAD SOCIETIES INVOLVED, THAT IS, SUN YEE ON AND WO HOP TO.
"IN THIS OPERATION 13 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FOR A VARIETY OF TO THE 14 ARRESTED ON THE NIGHT OF THE
OFFENCES, IN
PI
ADDITION
INCIDENT, HE SAID.
MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT THE POLICE HAD ALSO HAD SOME NOTABLE UCCESSES RECENTLY AGAINST THE HIGHER ECHELONS OF THE MORE ORGANISED TRIAD SOCIETIES.
IN
"IN ONE CASE, THE POLICE INTERRUPTED A TRIAD INITIATION CEREMONY USING FULL TRADITIONAL REGALIA AND INSIGNIA WHILST IT WAS PROGRESS.
"THIS CASE HAS RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL CRIMINAL AGAINST THE ALLEGED INCENSE MASTER' HE SAID.
1
י!
CHARGES
OF THE 50 INVOLVED
MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT ALMOST A THIRD DIFFERENT TRIAD SOCIETIES IN HONG KONG WERE ACTIVELY
IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM LOW LEVEL STREET CRIME то SOPHISTICATED PROTECTION RACKETS.
SUCH GROUPS VARIED IN SIZE FROM SMALL ASSOCIATIONS OF PETTY THUGS TO LARGE HIGHLY STRUCTURED WITH THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS.
"THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INTER-GANG VIOLENCE.
LOOSELY-KNIT SYDNICATES
"TRIAD INFLUENCE PERMEATES VARIOUS LEVELS OF SOCIETY, AND SOME INFLUENTIAL PROFESSIONS," HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE ANTI-TRIAD OPERATIONS WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ BE CARRIED OUT AT THE DISTRICT, REGIONAL AND TERRITORY-WIDE LEVELS.
HE SAID RECENT MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN TO AUGMENT THE LEGAL POWERS IN THE AREAS OF ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND PROSTITUTION, TWO AREAS WHERE TRIADS WERE OFTEN INVOLVED.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION WAS CURRENTLY DRAFTING A BILL TO TACKLE ORGANISED CRIME.
"THE BILL, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION THIS SUMMER, PROPOSES HEAVY PENALTIES FOR ORGANISED CRIME OFFENCES AND INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR CONFISCATION OF PROCEEDS OF ORGANISED CRIME.
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AT THE ECONOMIC
THE INTENT OF THESE PROVISIONS IS TO STRIKE AND PHYSICAL POWERS OF ORGANISED CRIME SYNDICATES, HE SAID.
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/MR STRACHAN