Page 112 of 154
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
some of them are bad elements or said to be triad members but they are unable to turn these bad elements away. In fact it is impossible to help them get rid of their association with the triad affiliation and reform themselves. Even they spontaneously express their desire of leaving the triad circle, yet we are not in a position to give them any assistance. This indeed is a headacheing problem which is not easy to tackle with.
Seven years ago, I made a suggestion at the Annual debate that an amnesty be granted by Government to enable triad members to give themselves up within a specified period and no action would be taken against their triad affiliation. The main purpose is to give these people a chance to get rid of their membership in the triad societies and to start a new life. Unfortunately this suggestion was not accepted by Government and that is why nowadays the activities of the triad societies are even more rampant.
As far as I can see, the growth of triad influence is mainly due to the widespread infiltration of triad pawns into every section of the community in forcing and inducing the youths to join their societies. Of course many of them are unwilling to do so but under such circumstances they have no alternative but to join them. However, the authority often finds it difficult to uncover these secret activities of recruiting young people into triad societies. The reason is that, in the past, to enlist as a triad member involved quite ostentatious ceremonies: not only were joss-sticks and candles burnt, the head of a cock chopped, black oaths sworn and blood dripped in vowing mutual loyalty; but a large amount of money had to be paid as admission fee. Later, requirements of admission were lowered in order to recruit more members, such as cancelling initiation ceremonies; and some did not even have to pay admission fees, if only they pledged themselves to be members of a triad society. Even though there may not be any signification after being recruited as a triad member, "folks of the same family" will always cling together, and they are always under threat when committing crimes together.
Naturally, some members show themselves to be so enthusiastic and active that eventually, they become important in the triad circle. They then recruit their own subordinates and become established themselves. There are also many triad members who know repentance, but, just as what has been said before, members of the same society would always follow him, and even threaten him so that he can never be free from their influence. If he makes a determined effort to inform the Police about it, then under the present system of law, he
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
can never expect forgiveness. Usually, a case will be made out, he will be detained, prosecuted and lastly convicted by a court. The minimum penalty is to enter into a recognizance, and a criminal record is kept so that his whole life-time will be blemished by it. Moreover, in doing so, he will incur the enmity and hatred of the head and "folks of the same family", and tragedy will follow. Therefore, it can be said that unless one does not become a triad member, otherwise, he will be so deeply involved that he will never be able to free himself from it for the rest of his life.
Facts tell us that there are many youngsters from the upper-middle class families, who had been forced to join the triad societies. Their parents after discovering this, tried to help them to get away from the triad elements by changing places of residence, jobs or schools or even talking face to face with the "big boss" through the good office of other influential underworld elements to ask for permission to dissolve their children's membership from the triad societies, but to no avail. Under such circumstances, they had no alternative but to send their children abroad. It can be clearly seen what a menace and harm the triad societies have brought to the youngsters! We will have a ready answer in mind when we ask ourselves how many parents can afford to send their children abroad. Then what about most of those unfortunate youngsters who had fallen into the evil hands of the triad societies? Doesn't it mean that they are to be left forever in a miserable position in which their future will be ruined and they will become a big nuisance to the society without the hope of turning over a new leaf?
In view of this, I must reiterate my suggestion that the authority should be urged to issue an order of amnesty and call upon the triad elements to surrender themselves to the police within a specified period, during which their affiliation will be pardoned and no conviction record will be kept against them. Of course, in implementing such a policy, we should be alert against any person who feigns to surrender themselves only to commit illegal activities later. Therefore, in line with the issue of the amnesty, laws should be enacted or amended to the effect that heavy punishment will be imposed on those triad members who feign to surrender themselves but are later found committing crimes again.
As a prerequisite for their surrender, they must sign an undertaking to guarantee that they will never mix with the triad society members of their associates again in future, never force others to join these societies, nor take revenge on others or be engaged in fighting
Page 112 of 154
LL
Page 112 of 154
Page 112 of 154
191
190
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
some of them are bad elements or said to be triad members but they are unable to turn these bad elements away. In fact it is impossible to help them get rid of their association with the triad affiliation and reform themselves. Even they spontaneously express their desire of leaving the triad circle, yet we are not in a position to give them any assistance. This indeed is an headaching problem which is not easy to tackle with.
Seven years ago, I made a suggestion at the Annual debate that an amnesty be granted by Government to enable triad members to give themselves up within a specified period and no action would be taken against their triad affiliation. The main purpose is to give these people a chance to get rid of their membership in the triad societies and to start a new life. Unfortunately this suggestion was not accepted by Government and that is why nowadays the activities of the triad societies are even more rampant.
As far as I can see, the growth of triad influence is mainly due to the widespread infiltration of triad pawns into every section of the community in forcing and inducing the youths to join their societies. Of course many of them are unwilling to do so but under such cir- cumstances they have no alternative but to join them. However, the authority often finds it difficult to uncover these secret activities of recruiting young people into triad societies. The reason is that, in the past, to enlist as a triad member involved quite ostentatious ceremonies: not only were joss-sticks and candles burnt, the head of a cock chopped, black oaths sworn and blood dripped in vowing mutual loyalty; but a large amount of money had to be paid as admission fee. Later, requirements of admission were lowered in order to recruit more members, such as cancelling initiation ceremonies; and some did not even have to pay admission fees, if only they pledged themselves to be members of a triad society. Even though there may not be any signification after being recruited as a triad member, "folks of the same family" will always cling together, and they are always under threat when committing crimes together.
Naturally, some members show themselves to be so enthusiastic and active that eventually, they become important in the triad circle. They then recruit their own subordinates and become established them- selves. There are also many triad members who know repentence, but, just as what has been said before, members of the same society would always follow him, and even threaten him so that he can never be free from their influence. If he makes a determined effort to inform the Police about it, then under the present system of law, he
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
can never expect forgiveness. Usually, a case will be made out, he will be detained, prosecuted and lastly convicted by a court. The minimum penalty is to enter into a recognizance, and a criminal record is kept so that his whole life-time will be blemished by it. Moreover, in doing so, he will incur the enmity and hatred of the head and "folks of the same family", and tragedy will follow. Therefore, it can be said that unless one does not become a triad member, otherwise, he will be so deeply involved that he will never be able to free himself from it for the rest of his life.
Facts tell us that there are many youngsters from the upper- middle class families, who had been forced to join the triad societies. Their parents after discovering this, tried to help them to get away from the triad elements by changing places of residence, jobs or schools or even talking face to face with the "big boss" through the good office of other influential underworld elements to ask for permission to dissolve their children's membership from the triad societies, but to no avail. Under such circumstances, they had no alternative but to send their children abroad. It can be clearly seen what a menace and harm the triad societies have brought to the youngsters! We will have a ready answer in mind when we ask ourselves how many parents can afford to send their children abroad. Then what about most of those unfortunate youngsters who had fallen into the evil hands of the triad societies? Doesn't it mean that they are to be left forever in a miserable position in which their future will be ruined and they will become a big nuisance to the society without the hope of turning over a new leaf?
In view of this, I must reiterate my suggestion that the authority should be urged to issue an order of amnesty and call upon the triad elements to surrender themselves to the police within a specified period, during which their affiliation will be pardoned and no con- viction record will be kept against them. Of course, in implementing such a policy, we should be alert against any person who feigns to surrender themselves only to commit illegal activities later. There- fore, in line with the issue of the amnesty, laws should be enacted or amended to the effect that heavy punishment will be imposed on those triad members who feign to surrender themselves but are later found committing crimes again.
As a prerequisite for their surrender, they must sign an under- taking to guarantee that they will never mix with the triad society members of their associates again in future, never force others to join these societies, nor take revenge on others or be engaged in fighting
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