Cold-blooded robberies by gangs that hit their victims on the head from behind have hit Hong Kong's headlines. For the year until November 15, 1999, there were 139 of these types of crime, called pu tou dang in Cantonese.
All were committed with a disregard for the life and limb of the victims, as some of these recent cases show: On November 10, a 36-year-old man was seriously injured when he was robbed of a $10,000 gold Rolex watch in Tuen Mun.
On August 24, a 68-year-old woman sustained life-threatening injuries when she was robbed in Tsim Sha Tsui of $1,000.
On August 12, a 77-year-old man was in a similar critical state after he was robbed in Shekkipmei of $1,000 cash and $2,000 worth of cigarettes.
On July 29, a 60-year-old man was robbed and killed in Shamshuipo for an expensive watch.
Eighteen of these crimes - about one in eight - have had any form of successful monitoring, with 35 arrests, 17 prosecutions and four convictions. Sentences ranged from 2.5 to five years.
