Triad syndicates have only 'occasionally' been involved in piracy, police have declared. The comment surprised legislators who have asked to extend a powerful anti-triad ordinance to combat rampant piracy. Acting Secretary for Trade and Industry Yvonne Choi Ying-pik said yesterday police had found no evidence of involvement of organised criminal syndicates or triad members in piracy activities. 'According to police, although individual infringers may have triad backgrounds, there is no evidence that such activities are controlled by criminal syndicates or triads,' Ms Choi said. 'The police advised that triad involvement in the sale of pirated discs is mostly occasional, unlike offences such as extortion and blackmailing which are more commonly associated with triad members.' But Ma Fung-kwok, who represents the entertainment sector, said: 'Some $10 billion is involved in piracy activities a year, and producing pirated products is costly and complicated. 'There must be a very big organised gang behind the scene.' Ms Choi said the police had their own definition of 'triads' and 'syndicates', although she would not elaborate. The Government has received more than 500 submissions concerning the consultation paper on combatting piracy. Most submissions were against fining buyers of pirated products, but there was general support for including piracy in the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance.
