Triad students in NT identified
ABOUT 275 students in 42 secondary schools in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi were identified as triad students or having connections with triads after a survey.
Organised by the Association of Heads of Secondary Schools, the survey was aimed at discovering the influence of triad societies in both Government-aided and bought-place secondary schools in the districts, as well as studying students' family backgrounds and habits.
Of the 46 secondary schools in the districts, 42 took part in the survey which attracted 6,947 respondents.
Form Three students made up the highest percentage (5.3 per cent) of triad students, while Form Two came next with 4.4 per cent.
Triad students were found to have a higher rate in smoking (64.9 per cent compared to 9.6 per cent of normal students), use of dangerous drugs (14.6 per cent to 1.3 per cent) and soft drugs (20.1 per cent to 2.1 per cent).
Of the 411 respondents with dyed hair, 113 were found to be triad students; while 30 out of 78 respondents with tattoos were also identified as triad students.
The survey revealed that the majority of students (63.4 per cent) joined triads for ''protection and to avoid being bullied by others'', while about 34.5 per cent joined ''out of curiosity''.
Many students, especially junior ones, were vulnerable to misconceptions about triad members due to a lack of information, the survey report said.
Therefore, ''guidance for junior secondary students is necessary''.
TWGHs S.C. Gaw Memorial College principal Anthony Cheng Man-wai said education was one way to boost students' awareness.
''Students should be given correct information on triads and should be made aware of the consequences of joining them,'' Mr Cheng said.
To achieve this goal, his school has a civic education team, discipline and counselling teams.
''Speakers from the police and social service organisations are invited to talk to students during the assembly. Some speakers may share with them real life cases,'' Mr Cheng explained.
