Police pose as revellers to catch prostitutes

Police are posing as revellers at bars, karaoke lounges and nightclubs to catch mainland prostitutes who pretend to be customers to avoid arrest.

Undercover officers were sent to two nightclubs in Tsim Sha Tsui to collect evidence before officers mounted raids and arrested 141 suspected mainland prostitutes on Tuesday night.

It is understood that mainland prostitutes are given admission tickets to pose as customers by the operators of pubs, karaoke bars and nightclubs.

'The admission tickets are used by operators as their evidence to prove that mainland women are their walk-in customers and they have no knowledge of their vice activities,' a source said.

'If caught, mainland women will present their admission tickets, claiming that they are clients and that they spend $100 on the tickets to drink and meet friends there.

'To combat the problem, we have to send undercover agents to these vice establishments to collect evidence.'