Nurturing Triad Experts

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The Force has built-up a most credible and useful cadre of officers who are accepted by the Courts of Hong Kong as Expert Witnesses in cases involving triad-related activities.

Joining this cadre are an additional 23 officers who have just completed a three-week long "Triad Expert" course held at the Police Training School. Detective Senior Inspector Mr Dave Wan Man-chung of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau said, "The officers, ranging from police constables to senior inspectors, were selected from a large number of applicants throughout the Force, who all met the basic requirements for attending the course."

This intensive course covered a very wide syllabus, including the background and development of Hung Mun, triad societies in Hong Kong, initiation and promotion ceremonies, writing, poems, hand signs, rituals, jargon, triad-related activities, related legislation and mock court exercises. At the end of the course, officers had to pass a written examination.

OffBeat spoke to three officers who, after many months privately studying Triad Lore, had just completed the course. Hong Kong Island Regional Anti-Triad Unit Detective Sergeant Mr Pong Hay-koon joined the Force in 1984 and was first transferred to crime duties in 1992. In 1999, he was actually involved in a major anti-triad operation against the Wo Hop To Triad then active in Wan Chai.

"It was an undercover operation," he recalled, "and involved a great deal of surveillance work. Most of the thugs were involved in intimidation in support of extortion rackets involving shops and places of entertainment. Once you fully appreciate the misery their activities cause to so many law-abiding citizens, motivation for playing an active role in their suppression comes easily.

"I was most happy to have been selected for the Triad Expert Course. I had been studying on my own for quite a long time and certification by the courts will be an acknowledgement of my professionalism, expertise and dedication."

Mr Pong is married and has two young daughters. "It was not easy playing a full parental role in my family and still finding time for lifelong learning. But we soon worked out a plan that we could all live with and enjoy," he said.

"The last three weeks have been quite tough. The course itself was pretty hard. There was so much stuff to be covered. But we all helped one another as much as we could and I hope that all my comrades will earn their well-deserved Triad Expert status," he concluded.

Detective Sergeant Mr Lai Chi-ming is currently with a Lantau District Investigation Team. He joined the Force in 1988 and then, five years later, was transferred to crime duties.

"I was with New Territories South Tsuen Wan District when I first became involved in triad-related law enforcement. It involved an operation against trafficking in dangerous drugs and the hawking of obscene DVDs. I realised what a menace the triads were and began reading about their origins and how they were corrupted. I know that they are a very real threat to society and I am proud to be a member of a Force dedicated to fighting them.

"Of course, there is always a satisfaction in learning something new. When your learning enhances your professional expertise it is even more satisfying. I shall keep abreast of my subject throughout my Police career. Hopefully, I will be awarded Triad Expert status and the opportunity to use my knowledge to help keep Hong Kong a safe and secure city for everyone," he concluded.

Detective Police Constable Mr Joe Chan Wun-cho has been in the Force since 1989 and engaged in crime duties since 1997. "Crime duties can be quite challenging," he said. "They can be extremely interesting but, at the same time, they may involve anti-socially long hours of stressful work.

"I am married and my wife recently had a baby girl. Fortunately she understands me and my career and the need for shiftwork. She is supportive and it's nice to go off-duty and relax with your family.

"Of course, there hasn't been much relaxing over the last three weeks. The more you learn the more you realise how much more there is to learn. I guess that even if I am accorded Triad Expert status, I shall have to keep studying for the rest of my service.

"I did my hardest work as an undercover cop on a construction site where triads were extorting protection money from the company and some of the staff. I guess it was that which prompted my desire to learn all I could about triads.

"I certainly learned a lot on the course. It was especially useful to have the opportunity to practise court delivery of evidence in mock trials. It's so easy to get yourself into a muddle when an aggressive defence lawyer fires questions at you," he said with a smile.

"I hope that my new found knowledge and expertise can be put to profitable use to curb triad activities and remove the threat triads pose to everyone in the community. It was great to be on a course where instructors and students were so united in a common goal and determined to achieve the highest possible qualifications to further their careers and strive toward a crime-free environment," he concluded.

Three enthusiastic would-be Triad Experts: Detective Sergeant Mr Lai Chi-ming (left), Detective Police Constable Mr Joe Chan Wun-cho and Detective Sergeant Mr Pong Hay-koon