+
162. The Office has played a prominent role in combating quasi-triad societies. One hundred and thirty-three p..mises were searched under the Societies Ordinance and the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance and 54 persons were apprehended for a variety of offences, including membership of a triad society, possession of offensive weapons, possession of dangerous drugs and defilement of girls between 13 and 16 years.
3. In addition to these, 356 other miscellaneous reports were received from private individuals and other government departments. The majority of these reports originated from Immigration Department, Registration of Persons Office, Registrar General's Department, Education Department, Joint Universities Committee and Secretariat for Home Affairs.
Triad Society Bureau
164. The charter of the Triad Society Bureau is to collect and collate information on triad societies and triad personalities with a view to suppressing their activities and influence.
165. There are two facets to the triad movement: the conventional triad and the quasi-triad. Conventional triad societies are the more traditional triad societies and have been present in Hong Kong for many years. Members have joined according to the elaborate traditional triad Hung Mun ritual. Since it is estimated that the use of this ritual ceased in Hong Kong as early as 1957, members of this category are now in the main in their late thirties.
166. By constant pressure by police over the years the power of the conventional triad has been reduced. Their activities are generally confined to passively endeavouring to find a living in the field of crime and vice. Others have continued lawful employment, in some cases never having become aware that they had in fact broken the law by being members of such groups.
167. Quasi-triads' is a classification used by police for administrative convenience when referring to gangs of young criminals who purport or claim connection with the triad movement. The majority of these groups came to prominence following the disturbances of 1967. In the main they are composed of young persons in the 16-21 age group from the more densely populated urban areas. For varying, albeit anti-social reasons, these groups loosely come together to form gangs, who for reasons of desired prestige profess triad affiliation. However, they know, and in most cases care little or nothing, about conventional triad organization and ritual. Again, for reasons of prestige, they do occasionally resort to the use of basic ritual, the taking of initiation oaths, One of the more common examples of this is often referred to as 'hanging the blue lantern'. Gangs of this type owe no allegiance to any specific triad society. They exist by preying on the weak, school children, bar girls, young prostitutes and other exposed young persons. Crimes committed by these groups are very often accompanied by extreme and unnecessary violence, leading to serious woundings, and on many occasions homicide.
168. During the year under review constant pressure was put on gangs by both the Triad Society Bureau and police District and Divisional duties. This pressure is considered essential to ensure that gangs of this type do not endeavour to become more organized.
169. The manpower strength of the Triad Society Bureau remained unchanged at 46 officers. The Bureau consists of three sections; a Headquarter and Research Section, an Operations Section and a Juvenile Protection Section, each under the control of a Chief Inspector. A Superintendent acts in overall command of all three sections.
170. In addition to the Triad Society Bureau, police districts operate their own triad society sections. These sections act in close liaison with the Bureau and in turn liaison with the various police divisions.
171. Between the 1st April, 1972 and the 31st March, 1973, 595 persons were arrested in connection with 132 gang-type offences. Prosecutions included membership of triad societies, criminal intimidation, possession of arms and ammunitions, blackmail, robbery, wounding and murder. Over the same period 1,128 triad cases involving 967 persons were detected.
172. Of the persons arrested and prosecuted, 721 were aged under 21 years, an increase of 47 when compared with figures for 1971.
Juvenile Protection Office
173. The primary function of the Juvenile Protection Office is to implement the juvenile liaison scheme. Within this scheme, juveniles (persons under 16 years of age), mainly first offenders, are assisted by police in avoiding risk of possible further criminal involvement for a period of two years, or until they reach the age of 16. This is done by way of advice, counselling and friendly and interested visits to their homes. In addition,
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Made In A Wa And Me, Nike
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