Films blamed for creating child triads

LOCAL films glamorising triads are to blame for a recent influx of children joining or claiming to be members of gangs, say experts.

The movies, which first appeared in the territory five years ago, are still creating an unhealthy subculture, leading to a world of vice and crime, warn police and social workers.

Some experts believe triads on the silver screen, depicted as heroic and even socially acceptable, have prompted slang and extortion in schools.

''We're looking at children as young as 10 or 11 going around playgrounds . . . happily declaring themselves as triads or under triad protection,'' said a police source.

''Extortion among school children here is becoming quite extreme. Anywhere in the world you may find a child punched up, because some bully wants his football or his chocolate bar. But in Hong Kong children are now beating each other up over money, and it's getting worse.'' He said many of the beatings and threats went unreported because of fears of retribution from the bully's proclaimed ''big brothers''.

But he believed many of the younger bullies did not have the triad connections they claimed. Instead, they ''lived in a fantasy world''.

Outreaching social work service co-ordinator for the Hong Kong Playground Association, Choi Kam-fat said: ''The films project a strong image of power, money and brotherly faith.