ABSTRACT
After the Joint Declaration signed by the Chinese and British governments in 1984, Western governments were concerned that triad members would emigrate to their countries before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control on 1 July 1997. This view has a historical basis. After the Communist Party came to power in China in 1949, it took tough measures to combat organised crime. After a few years nearly all organised crime groups which had existed before 1949 had been broken. Since China has this successful record of dealing with organised crime, it was believed that the Chinese government would suppress Hong Kong triads after 1997. In the words of Maguire (1996):
The Triads have followed the Chinese communities across the world to Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Although initially confining their activities to the Chinese community and keeping a low profile outside it, they have gradually taken a more prominent role in the world’s drug trade, especially the heroin business. Coupled with their growing role in areas such as video and software piracy, they seem set to surpass both the mafia and the Colombian cocaine cartels as the greatest international threat in the field of organised crime. The return of Hong Kong to Beijing will see the Triads facing greater dangers from their most longstanding foe, the Chinese Communists. Inevitably, many Triads will attempt to flee Hong Kong before 1997 and seek refuge among the overseas Chinese communities.
