SENIOR office bearers of Hongkong's notorious Sun Yee On visited Beijing at the end of last month, and are believed to have met China's public security minister only days before his astonishing remarks supporting ''patriotic'' triads.
The revelations from Hongkong detectives came as pressure mounts on the territory's Police Commissioner, Mr Li Kwan-ha, to confront the minister, Mr Tao Siju, over the comments.
One legislator described the remarks as ''appalling'', and said she planned to ask Mr Li to address the Security Panel on the issue.
Concern was also expressed by United States security officials. A US-based intelligence officer said the FBI was troubled by Mr Tao's open acknowledgement of his government's contacts with triads.
He said it posed a question mark over China's dealings with US law enforcement agencies over triad investigations.
The meeting between China's most senior security chief and the heads of a Hongkong crime syndicate was monitored by the territory's anti-triad detectives. It took place at the glittering gala opening of a new venture in Beijing.