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SCMP Reporter

THE latest estimate shows there are 56,000 members in the Sun Yee On - the largest triad society in the territory, a triad expert told a District Court trial yesterday.

   Entertainment company proprietor To Luen-shun, 28, faces a charge of being an office bearer of the society after a district judge dismissed two other triad-related charges.

  Deputy Judge Wright ruled at the end of the Crown's case that To had no case to answer on a count each of assisting in the management of the Sun Yee On triad society and claiming to be a Sun Yee On member.

   To had been accused of conducting a triad initiation ceremony in the Harbour View Seafood Restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui in May, 1992.

     To still has a case to answer on the charge of being an office bearer of the the Sun Yee On between 1989 and 1992.

   Earlier, defence counsel Simon Westbrook had submitted no case to answer on the three charges which To has denied.

   In reply, prosecutor David Tolliday-Wright urged the court to consider convicting To of a lesser count of being a Sun Yee On member should the deputy judge rule that To had no case to answer on the charge of being an office bearer.

   Peter Ip Pau-fuk, Detective Chief Inspector of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau's research unit, said he was appointed in 1984 to give expert evidence for cases in the Magistrates Court, District Court and High Court. He has also given expert evidence at the Old Bailey in London in 1992.

   Inspector Ip said the Sun Yee On was an old Chiu Chow group dating back to 1886 in Hong Kong.

  He said the Sun Yee On was active in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon East, Central, Wan Chai, Tuen Mun and Castle Peak.

   The court heard the activities of Sun Yee On ranged from prostitution, extortion and gambling to drug trafficking.

  Inspector Ip said the society's initiation ceremony could be held on a hillside, in a restaurant or even at a hall where, for security reasons, only members of Sun Yee On would be allowed to attend.

   The court heard the society is ruled by a dragonhead who is followed by two deputies.

   In the mid-level is a fighter known as red pole who is responsible for settling disputes. He is followed by an administrative rank called white paper fan and then a liaison officer.

   The liaison officer is followed by ordinary members and hanging blue lantern members - people who are accepted by an office bearer but have not yet gone through the initiation ceremony.

   Mr Ip said an incense master would remind all recruits that there are 36 oaths which they have to obey.

   The court heard that during the ceremony the incense master might set up an altar, dashing joss-sticks on the floor, or even put up a poster which had triad poems and the names of triad ancestors on it.

         The recruits would then give a red packet to their protector, serve him a cup of tea or even shake hands with him as a gesture of the acceptance of membership.

     Deputy Judge Wright reserved judgment until Wednesday.



Sun Yee On membership put at 56,000