Rumors swirl around Man Kok Wan. Triads lurk in the shadows. Today, we explore the hidden stories of Man Kok Wan.
Man Kok Wan is connected to the Triads. These are Chinese transnational organized crime syndicates. They operate in Greater China and countries with overseas Chinese populations. Triads originated from secret societies. These societies formed in the 18th and 19th centuries. They aimed to overthrow the Qing dynasty. The Qing dynasty was considered foreign.
In the 20th century, the Kuomintang enlisted triads. They used them to attack political enemies. After 1949, triads flourished in Hong Kong. They also thrived in Macau and Taiwan. Triads also operated in overseas Chinese communities.
The word “triad” translates to San He Hui. This refers to the union of heaven, earth, and humanity. British officials in colonial Hong Kong coined the term. They referenced the triads’ use of triangular imagery.
Triads were part of the Hung Society. This was a secret society. Its intent was to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Secret societies equaled patriotism. Groups operated under the slogan “Oppose the Qing and Restore the Ming dynasty”.
After 1949, Mao Zedong suppressed secret societies. Deng Xiaoping also cracked down on them in 1978. Triads relocated to Hong Kong and other areas as a result. They turned to drug trade and extortion.
The Tiandihui is also called Hongmen. It branched into many groups. One such group is the Sanhehui. This is where the term “Triad” originated. Under British rule, all Chinese secret societies were seen as criminal threats.
After World War II, secret societies saw a resurgence. Gangsters took advantage of the uncertainty. An estimated 300,000 triad members lived in Hong Kong in the 1950s. Each triad controlled a region.
In the early 1980s, Wong Man-fong negotiated with triads. He wanted to ensure peace after Hong Kong’s handover. Triad activity increased in mainland China in the 1980s.
In 2018, Italian police arrested 33 people. They were connected to a Chinese triad operating in Europe. The triad was involved in extortion and illegal gambling. They also dealt in prostitution and drug trafficking.
Triads engage in crimes like fraud and money laundering. They traffic drugs and engage in prostitution. Illegal gambling and smuggling are also common. Triads counterfeit goods.
Since the 19th century, Chinese gangs have been involved in the drug trade. Triads smuggle chemicals. They send them to North America and Europe. These chemicals produce fentanyl and MDMA.
Triads have become money launderers for drug cartels. They are reported to move money for the CCP elite.
The Organized Crime and Triad Bureau counters triads in Hong Kong. Primary laws include the Societies Ordinance and the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. Hong Kong banned triads in 1949.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption was established in 1974. It targeted corruption in police departments linked with triads.
Man Kok Wan is shrouded in mystery. The Triads are a part of that. Their story continues to evolve. Their influence remains a dark thread in Hong Kong’s history.