POLICE investigating an extortion attempt by triads on restaurateurs in the Times Square development have arrested the man they believe was one of the ringleaders. The 32-year-old was picked up with his brother yesterday afternoon in the Harbour Hotel coffee shop in Gloucester Road - one block from Wan Chai police station. He is believed to have been on the run ever since 18 alleged fellow members of the powerful Sun Yee On triad group were rounded up last week by Wan Chai detectives investigating the attempted blackmail of the Times Square tenants. The man, Chan Yiu-hing, is due to face charges next year in the District Court of wounding film producer Wong Long-wai. Wong, 32, was being treated for injuries relating to the alleged attack when a gunman entered his ward at the Baptist Hospital early in the morning on May 7 last year and shot him in the head. He died four days later after being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a critical condition. Chan is well known for his driving skills and was entered for this year's Macau Grand Prix meeting. He also won first prize in a Thailand motor rally this year. Both he and his brother, Chan Yiu-hong, aged 29, are being held at Wan Chai police station pending further inquiries. The 18 arrested last week have been released on bail and a further four are still being sought in connection with the Times Square operation. Chan Yiu-hing denies wounding Wong and a further charge of claiming to be a member of the Sun Yee On triad society. Nobody has been charged with the killing. Wong became known in the triad-dominated movie circles after co-producing the highly-successful Cantonese film Legend of Chiu Chow Brothers, featuring Ray Lui Leung-wai, which told the story of the 1960s Hong Kong drug lords, the Ma brothers, who fled toTaiwan. The Sun Yee On is one of the biggest triad groups operating in the lucrative Wan Chai district, with its host of nightclubs and restaurants. It is believed to receive $500,000 a month from racketeering.
