China will accept HK triads

(First Edition)

China is willing to accept triads in Hong Kong as long as they are patriotic and refrain from crime, China's Public Security Minister, Tao Siju, said yesterday, AFP reports from Peking. 'We oppose any of these organisations committing crimes,' Mr Tao said of the secret underworld societies, but 'if they give up past wrongdoing we should encourage them'.