Hong Kong police fine 219 diners for flouting social-distancing curbs at birthday banquet, including ‘dozens of suspected triad members’
- Force says officers discovered 219 people, consisting of 156 men and 63 women, aged between 19 and 75, in attendance at banquet
- Dinner held to celebrate 70th birthday of suspected Sun Yee On triad member, force insider says
Dozens of suspected triad members were among 219 diners fined a total of about HK$1.1 million (US$140,188) for breaching Hong Kong’s social-distancing rules at a birthday banquet over the weekend, the Post has learned.
According to a force insider on Monday, anti-triad officers from Tai Po police station coordinated the operation hours after intelligence indicated that a dinner to celebrate the 70th birthday of an alleged Sun Yee On triad member was to be held at a restaurant on Ting Kok Road on Saturday evening.
About 50 officers, including members of the Police Tactical Unit, raided the venue at 8pm, soon after the dinner began.
The force said officers had discovered 219 people, consisting of 156 men and 63 women, aged between 19 and 75, in attendance at the banquet.
The source said the attendees included dozens of suspected Sun Yee On triad members, with four allegedly serving as office-bearers for the organisation.
The insider added that the other attendees were relatives and friends of the suspected triad members.