Gangsters use eccentric epithets in bid to elude investigators
IF CRAZY Broken Nose, Dracula and Lollipop ever teamed up, Hong Kong could be in real trouble.
But the Pink Panther and the Blonde Chinese would be sure to have the low-down on their plotting.
The nicknames, identifying some of Hong Kong's shadowy underworld figures and their crime-fighting opponents, leave the Joker and the Penguin floundering.
Many Chinese people are known by nicknames - a favourite is fei-lo or Fat Man - based on a person's appearance, deeds or character.
But it is the territory's gangsters and criminals who have bagged some of the most colourful tags.
The police narcotics branch staff officer Clive Tricker - known as ''The Blonde Chinese'' for his formidable command of Cantonese - has interviewed a plethora of nicknamed suspects and defendants.
''Many Chinese names are very common, such as Wong, so people always use nicknames,'' he said.
''With triads they serve a double purpose. They don't want anybody to know who they really are because then they can be traced through their identity cards.'' One suspect was well-known as ''Applehead'', because his head looks like an apple and another was called ''14 Shot'' after police fired 14 shots at him, all of them missing.
A former Crown prosecutor, who asked to remain anonymous, said witnesses commonly referred to defendants by their nicknames in court.
In one case, the Chinese jury tittered with embarrassment each time the judge addressed a triad member accused of raping a prostitute.
''His nickname was Golden Pubic Hair,'' the lawyer said.
A scar-faced defendant was referred to throughout his trial as Pineapple Face. Another was known simply as ''Lollipop''.
''Before becoming a getaway car driver, he had driven an ice cream van,'' the lawyer explained.
''One gangster was called Dracula because, as a young boy, he'd had both front teeth knocked out.'' The man had false teeth made, but found they could be cumbersome.
''Whenever he went out drinking beer or playing soccer with his friends, he took his teeth out,'' the lawyer said.
Similarly, child molesters are known as ''Little Goldfish Men'' after an infamous 1950s case where a man offered children a peek at his goldfish in order to lure them into his home.
A well-respected Hong Kong policeman is called the Pink Panther in deference to his cool head, although colleagues claim his likeness to the bumbling Inspector Clouseau ends there.
Meanwhile, police are keeping an ear out for news of Crazy Boy Ming, Flying Dragon, Gold-Toothed Kong, Big Mouth, Crazy Chicken and the Big Brown Bear.
