Son of Hong Kong triad boss gives ex-convicts a new start by hiring them for his firm
Roy Tang dealt in drugs, then turned his back on crime and found meaning in life through his air-conditioning company
As the son of a triad boss, Roy Tang Po-hei grew up in a bubble. From a young age, he watched gang members dealing huge bags of cocaine, threatening people with cleavers and demanding “protection fees”. He was raised thinking this was normal behaviour.
After being kicked out of school in Form One, he fell into a life of crime. It was not long before he was in charge of the marijuana business, and from there he started collecting protection fees from drivers. Those who did not pay up would come back to stuffed exhaust pipes or wedged tyres.
Tang never had to worry about making money to survive. He had a house powered by stolen electricity, water and gas. All the income he made was for spending on whatever he liked.
In his twenties, Tang was jailed four months for handling crime proceeds.
At the age of 33, he began to wonder if he would be doing this for the rest of his life. He talked to his family and friends about it, and started to question whether he really enjoyed it. He eventually decided he would leave the triad. Those around him were shocked he would give up what appeared to be so much.
At 35, he turned to Christianity, which further gave him purpose to renew his life and find meaning.