XN000022-1989-01-09 — Page 16

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MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1989

POLICE TALK ON TRIAD EXTORTION AND CRIME PREVENTION

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE URGED ΤΟ REPORT то THE POLICE PROMPTLY OR CALL THE '999' DIRECT WHEN APPROACHED BY UNRULY OR TRIAD ELEMENTS FOR MONEY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE FORTHCOMING FESTIVE SEASON.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE TODAY (MONDAY) BY SENIOR INSPECTOR HONG SHING OF THE ANTI-TRIAD SECTION, KOWLOON CITY POLICE DISTRICT, DURING A TALK ON TRIAD EXTORTION AND CRIME PREVENTION WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 100 SHOP OPERATORS FROM WHAMPOA GARDEN.

ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY POLICE DIVISION AND THE WHAMPOA GARDEN ESTATE MANAGEMENT, THE TALK WAS HELD IN THE LIGHT OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED RECENTLY BY THE POLICE CONCERNING SHOP THEFT AND EXTORTION.

SENIOR INSPECTOR HONG POINTED OUT THAT ILLICIT ACTIVITIES BY THE LOCAL 'SUN YEE ON' TRIADS MAINLY CENTRED AROUND ILLEGAL QUEUEING FOR FLATS ON SALE, AND EXTORTION FROM SHOP OPERATORS FROM WHAMPOA GARDEN THROUGH DIFFERENT DEVIOUS MEANS.

"UNRULY ELEMENTS, WHO CLAIMED то BE TRIAD MEMBERS, OFTEN APPROACH SHOP OPERATORS FOR PROTECTION FEES,

" MR HONG SAID, "AND THOSE WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THEIR DEMANDS WILL BE INTIMIDATED."

ANOTHER POPULAR METHOD USED BY TRIADS, MR HONG ADDED, WAS TO FORCE SHOP OPERATORS TO PURCHASE AT A HIGH PRICE PLANTS, SUCH AS TANGERINES, DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON.

"USUALLY THE TRIADS WILL PLACE A POT OF TANGERINES OUTSIDE THE SHOP, AND COME BACK A FEW DAYS LATER TO ASK FOR MONEY RANGING FROM $200 TO $500. FAILURE TO PAY UP WILL ALSO RESULT IN INTIMIDATION.'

"UNLESS THE PUBLIC COME FORWARD AND REPORT ΤΟ THE POLICE, THERE IS LITTLE THAT WE COULD DO TO STOP THE

** MALPRACTICE, SAID MR HONG WHILE CITING A RECENT SUCCESSFUL CASE IN WHICH A MAN WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED AND FINED $1,500 BY THE COURT FOR BLACKMAILING A MEDICINE SHOP OPERATOR.

MR HONG ALSO URGED SHOP OPERATORS TO TAKE HEED OF A NOVICE MEANS USED BY TRIADS IN EXTORTION

THROUGH THE SALE OF BANQUET TICKETS.

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"THE TRIAD WILL FIRST MAKE BOOKINGS FOR SPRING GATHERINGS FROM A LOCAL RESTAURANT, AND THEN SELL THE TICKETS AT EXORBITANT PRICE.

HE REITERATED THAT PUBLIC CO-OPERATION WAS MOST ESSENTIAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL DETECTION OF BLACKMAILS AND INTIMIDATIONS.

MEANWHILE, ADVICE ON CRIME PREVENTION, PARTICULARLY FOR SHOP OPERATORS, WERE ALSO GIVEN DURING THE TALK BY STATION SERGEANT WING-LIN OF THE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU.

AU

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