'No evidence' of triad gang problem in film industry

There is no evidence of a serious triad problem in the entertainment business, Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Brian Chau Tak-hay said.

Only one triad-related crime involving someone from the industry had been reported to police in 1996. There were no such cases last year, Mr Chau said.

Ma Fung-kwok, who works in the film industry, asked whether the Government had responded to overseas media claims that the entertainment business was manipulated by triads and that some stars were triad members.

Mr Ma is vice-chairman of the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Motion Picture Industry Association.

Mr Chau said the Government responded to inaccurate or blatantly biased reporting of its policies and to reports that damaged the Government's image or that of the SAR.

'We have not responded to the recent report by the overseas media about the local entertainment business because the affected parties have already made a strong rebuttal and initiated appropriate legal action.' Mr Chau said one of the newspapers concerned had apologised.