INTRICATE NETWORK.

Shannon News, 21 July 1925, Page 4

INTRICATE NETWORK.

CHINESE SECRET SOOTHES. The story of the war between Chinese secret societies in American cities may seem fantastic (writes Geoffrey Lucksted in the “Daily Mail”). After police arrest of professional gunmen hired by the “Tongs” to terrorise enemies, the competition between these organisations is being settled by a conference in New York. This is not such strange news, though to those who have had dealings with Cliinese settlers and emigrants in Eastern colonies.

Understand three things and you understand all. First, and paradoxically, the Chinese are the most unionridden and faction-split folk in the world. Second, wherever his countrymen are in any number the Chinese finds it very difficult to escape the influence of the “Kongsis” or trade societies of the “Tongs.” Tljird, the individual Chinese abroad who makes money, and wants to keep it, has to keep away from China. The Kongsis, the Tongs, and, above them all, the Triad link him with China. The intricate network of Kongsis interlaces Chinese society, which is separated by trades and vareties. of race. There is a greater race difference and opposition felt between Chinese of different provinces than between peoples of different countries in Europe. Hylams, Cantonese, Hokkiens, Fukiens, or Manchus, arb a few, for instance, of the distinctly different types of Chinese who “don’t mix.” They all look about the same to the man at home, but are readily distinguished by features, build, and manners by the “old hand” who has been out East for long.

As the Kongsis swallow and control the labouring classes, or form rings in trades, so the Tongs blind, or are used by, the more prosperous Chinese and envelop the Kongsis. The Tongs are more political than provincial (in the racial sense), and more commercial in motive than political. Engulfing all is the mysterious Triad, the all powerful and wealthy secret society. It intervenes and interweaves. It pulls strings and demands services. And over all, and always, exacts heavy monetary tribute. The Triad almost is China today. Ask a Westernised Chinese to explain or discuss the Triad, and he will be evasive or embarassed; but he has to acknowledge it and obey it

The Kongsis organise the emigrant Chinese hundreds to thousands of miles from their own country. In modern European-controlled Eastern towns even the as rickshawpullers pay their cents for hire as human draught-beasts to their Kongsis, and hote boys and servants in all their subdivisions of duties pay their wages into their different societies, to be pooled: "Cumshaw” or tips they may retain. The society remits to relatives in China, deducts for passages outward or advances for journeys home or to employment, allots a portion to organisation funds, and holds another portion to the member’s credit; from it he may have grants for special purposes, for unemployment, or for the festivities and payments of debts of the Chinese New Year.