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Opinion | Dangerous resource for hire? Hong Kong’s triads have a long history of political involvement
- The violent attacks in Yuen Long are a reminder that while Hong Kong’s triads are today known to be business savvy, their special place in society makes them uniquely dangerous
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Following another mass anti-government march last month, Yuen Long MTR station became the scene of a campaign of violence by men dressed in white T-shirts against protesters and innocent passers-by on the evening of July 21, leaving at least 45 injured.
When it came to light that some of the attackers were triad members and some were known to pro-establishment lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu, the public were up in arms. They condemned what they claimed was government and police collusion with triads, setting the tone for yet another weekend of protests and clashes.
For most, triad societies are synonymous with organised crime, the existence of which runs counter to the values of a society premised on the rule of law.
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Some academics argue that Hong Kong triads will work for anyone for money and not for political ideology. However, this has not always been the case. While triads today are known to be business-savvy, triad societies have traditionally played a role in politics.
During Manchu rule in the twilight of imperial China, triad societies were established as political organisations that sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty and restore Ming rule. Although there was an influx of triad societies to Hong Kong when the Communist Party came to power in China in 1949, they were already active during the early days of colonial Hong Kong.
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The British passed legislation criminalising such societies to reinforce colonial rule, and the first documented arrests of triad members were made in the 1840s. Indeed, triad societies contributed to the 1911 Revolution that eventually toppled the Qing government. Dr Sun Yat-sen, who served as the first president of the Republic of China, was himself a triad member.
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