38
DOUGLAS W. SPARKS
Teochiu syndicates based in Thailand and Hong Kong. It is unfortunate, however, that the public media in Hong Kong has perhaps over-emphasized Teochiu involvement and helped create the impression that many Teochiu are involved in drugs and organized crime. Teochiu control of international heroin production and distribution in Asia can be related to two factors:
(1) Teochiu involvement in drug trafficking in China, particularly in Shanghai, prior to 1949 and the gradually established monopoly of the Hong Kong trade by Teochiu syndicates after 1949 (McCoy, 1972:224-229);
(2) the successful functioning of long established Teochiu international commercial networks in Southeast Asia.
Most Teochiu businessmen are of course engaged in legitimate trade within Hong Kong and with Southeast Asia.
With regard to the so-called triads in Hong Kong, I have been told that Teochiu triads are much more controlled and hierarchically organized within areas in which they operate compared with other ethnic triad organizations; such as the Cantonese 14K triad which tend to be splintered into local level groups with little, if any, control or co-ordination from higher levels. Needless to say, the highly organized nature of Teochiu criminal groups is partially a function of interethnic dynamics and hostility in Hong Kong. The question arises as to the role of Teochiu triads at the "street level" in the maintenance of Teochiu solidarity and ethnic boundaries. No definitive answer can be given as my research was not concerned with criminal organizations, but it would seem that Teochiu criminal networks, regardless of the fact that non-elite Teochiu are “victims” of triad extortion, etc., do provide a potential source of assistance in conflicts with members of other ethnic groups (and their triads) and with the police. Ethnic based criminal syndicates in all societies function as alternative authority structures to which some people, perhaps thinking that the "legitimate" governmental structure is irresponsive, turn when their immediate resources and contacts are insufficient in coping with a particular problem. The successful functioning of Teochiu criminal organizations is probably partially a result of strong feelings of ethnic identity and solidarity among many Teochiu and is in itself a probable contributing factor in the maintenance of Teochiu solidarity.
38
DOUGLAS W. SPARKS
Teochiu syndicates based in Thailand and Hong Kong. It is unfor- tunate, however, that the public media in Hong Kong has perhaps over-emphasized Teochiu involvement and helped create the im- pression that many Teochiu are involved in drugs and organized crime. Teochiu control of international heroin production and distribution in Asia can be related to two factors:
(1) Teochiu involvement in drug trafficing in China, particularly in Shanghai, prior to 1949 and the gradually established mo- nopoly of the Hong Kong trade by Teochiu syndicates after 1949 (McCoy, 1972:224-229);
(2) the successful functioning of long established Teochiu interna-
tional commercial networks in Southeast Asia.
Most Teochiu businessmen are of course engaged in legitimate trade within Hong Kong and with Southeast Asia.
With regard to the so-called triads in Hong Kong, I have been told that Teochiu triads are much more controlled and hierarchically organized within areas in which they operate compared with other ethnic triad organizations; such as the Cantonese 14K triad which tend to be splintered into local level groups with little, if any, con- trol or co-ordination from higher levels. Needless to say, the highly organized nature of Teochiu criminal groups is partially a function of interethnic dynamics and hostility in Hong Kong. The question arises as to the role of Teochiu triads at the "street level" in the maintenance of Teochiu solidarity and ethnic boundaries. No definitive answer can be given as my research was not concerned with criminal organizations, but it would seem that Teochiu criminal networks, regardless of the fact that non-elite Teochiu are “victims” of triad extortion, etc., do provide a potential source of assistance in conflicts with members of other ethnic groups (and their triads) and with the police. Ethnic based criminal syndicates in all socie. ties function as alternative authority structures to which some people, perhaps thinking that the "legitimate" governmental struc- ture is irresponsive, turn when their immediate resources and con- tacts are insufficient in coping with a particular problem. The successful functioning of Teochiu criminal organizations is pro- bably partially a result of strong feelings of ethnic identity and solidarity among many Teochiu and is in itself a probable contribu- ting factor in the maintenance of Teochiu solidarity.
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