Police officers given another - and popular - way to bring triads to book

You may think police work is about fighting gangsters, chasing serial killers and generally catching bad guys. But actually, it's mostly about hitting the books and taking exams, at least if you want to be promoted up the ranks. It's usually tedious study like criminal law. This may be why one of the popular classes for officers has been the three-week triad course. Assistant commissioner Wong Fook-chuen recently congratulated the latest class of 23 officers, taking the number of the force's triad expert cadres to 93.

Organised by the police force's criminal intelligence bureau, it covers a wide range of related topics, including legends, history and backgrounds of triads, their rituals, underground literature, hand signals, code words, specific local triad groups and activities.

Some class members have worked undercover in operations against various triad groups. 'The course embraces both academic knowledge and practical experience, enabling us to combat triads more effectively,' a class graduate said.

That may be so. Just make sure the cadres don't end up acting like their targets?