In the shadows of Hong Kong's underworld, the relationship between police and triads - the violent gangs that hold sway over wide swathes of the city and often do battle for each other's territory - is not always what it seems.
According to an experienced anti-triad officer, the two sides shared a 'special relationship' that often saw senior triad members helping the police, and indirectly themselves.
Senior detective inspector Cheung Man-shing said the gangsters, for whom 'loyalty and unity' were all-important, usually maintained strict silence during interviews under caution, meaning what they say can be used as evidence.
But off the record they can be much more forthcoming - especially with information that might harm a rival and not themselves, said Cheung, a triad expert with the police criminal intelligence bureau.
'When police officers interview triad members during an investigation, they normally remain silent under caution but are very willing to tell the whole story when they are interviewed not under caution,' he told the Court of First Instance yesterday.
Triad informants would tip off police officers about matters concerning other triad branches and matters that did not concern themselves, he said, describing this as a 'special kind of relationship' between the police and triad members.
