GANG members who blackmailed a shopowner and then warned witnesses against identifying them were yesterday given custodial sentences.
Deputy Judge Davies said the four young men involved had been described as amateurs who did not intend to carry out their violent threats. However, the shopkeepers had been genuinely frightened.
He jailed Li Kong, 23, whom he called the leader of the protection racket, for 21 months.
Li admitted blackmailing Fong Chun-chun, who ran the Wui Chun Yuen Chinese medicine shop on Wah Fu Estate, in May 1992.
But Li was acquitted of trying to extort $2,000 a month from the owner of the Wah Fu Dispensary, Wong Shing-kin.
Wan Yee-tin, 17, also denied that charge but was found guilty and sent to a detention centre.