New | Hong Kong prostitution ring smashed as police raids net 14 arrests

A triad-linked vice racket that ran about 30 one-woman brothels housing mainland prostitutes in Tai Po was smashed by police in an undercover operation that ended in a series of raids.

Officers have arrested the ringleader – a 58-year-old woman – and three suspected Sun Yee On triad members along with 10 mainland women.

Investigations indicated the syndicate brought mainland prostitutes into Hong Kong and arranged for them to live and work in the brothels in three tenement buildings in the district, according to police.

“The syndicate provided cleaning services in the rooms and arranged food for prostitutes, but pocketed half of the money the women charged their clients,” a police source said.

“It also hired triad members as security who acted as lookouts.”

The syndicate installed surveillance cameras outside each brothel and the entrance of the buildings so that the mastermind and members of the triad security team could monitor its business through computers and mobile phones, according to police.

“The prostitutes charged clients HK$380 for sex, but they had to pay between HK$180 and HK$200 to the syndicate. Investigations showed one woman could serve more than 10 clients a day,” the source said.