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Internal Management Methods

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Chinese Criminal Entrepreneurs in Canada, Volume II

Part of the book series: Transnational Crime, Crime Control and Security ((TCCCS))

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Abstract

Non-violent dispute resolution techniques were employed amongst the Big Circle Boys (BCB), where they exercised restraint with each other in finding peaceful solutions instead of resorting to open altercation or violence. Reputation was the mechanism used within small and closed groups such as off-track wagering rings or between the trio (Ho, Lee, and Tao) to create dialogue and strategy. The transmission of behavioural information among the BCB was efficient and timely. The BCB had a way of construing appropriate etiquettes and norms in social and business settings. The reciprocation of favours was a useful technique to keep distant contacts close, weak ties active, and workers on hand. Personal character as a positive human capital helped maintain trusting relations, while the prospect of repeat partnerships contributed to a lower likelihood of cheating.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Ho’s working relationship with Yeu Wing also went sour in a similar way due to the debt he owed to Ho; they had not worked together for more than a year by the time of Project E-Congee (SCBC 2002b: Jan 21).

  2. 2.

    In addition, there is evidence to support the idea that there was implicit competition between the Chans and Lee within the BCB core network, where a wider division between the two cliques was perhaps starting to develop towards the end of the 1990s. Bao Kang and Yeu Wing appeared to be close to the Chans while Ho was on Lee’s side.

  3. 3.

    A study by Lo and Kwok (2016) illustrates reputation that results from the use of credit in gambling.

  4. 4.

    Ho’s perception of this deal was that it involved very minor risks, which was why he was bold enough to undertake it. This was due to the following reasons: the receiving company belonged to Wei Bo, who Ho considered as his ‘own guy’; Ho did not need to invest his own money to receive the shipment; and the shipment was guarded by Sa’s people upon arrival. Therefore, Ho did not have much pressure in respect of the most crucial segments of the operation that involved finance and security. As for the risk of shipment exposure and police seizure, he thought the chances were very small, otherwise he ‘would not have engaged in this at all’ (SCBC 2002d: Sep 23).

  5. 5.

    Even though in Ho’s mind, Wah Leung was a more powerful criminal than Sa, Wah Leung still tested ecstasies himself through ingestion, which showed his extroverted personality since ecstasy consumption in China usually involves dancing at discos (SCBC 2002j: Oct 4).

  6. 6.

    According to an exchange between Ho and the prosecutor, Lee and Tao did not exchange telephone numbers after their initial meeting. When asked how he knew that, he replied (SCBC 2002f: Sep 25):

    A:

    That would be the case for sure if they met through me.

    Q:

    So, you mean that anyone who meets someone else through you, they don’t exchange phone numbers?

    A:

    Basically that’s the case.

    Q:

    And if they want to get in contact with each other they have to go through you?

    A:

    Yes

    Q:

    You’ve told...

    A:

    This is just common courtesy.

  7. 7.

    Lee had made remarks that revealed a similar principle with regard to the favour Ho had asked of him, when Ho needed help in finding their mutual friend Chan Din Hei’s contact.

  8. 8.

    Dama is the VIP room junket business in Macao run by operators registered with casinos, where they offer to lend ‘dead’ gambling chips to casino visitors and make travel and entertainment arrangements during their stay.

  9. 9.

    Ho described the situation in Southeast Asia between 1999 and 2000 as a period during which less people were visiting the casinos due to the economic downturn. Thus, a lot of people failed to pay back their money, which led to a difficult time for those in the dama business to make a living (SCBC 2002g: Sep 26).

  10. 10.

    The difference between Tor Tor and Bao Kang was that while they both owed money, the former actively sought out Ho who was a friend of the lender to see if he could help mediate the situation, whereas Tao and Ho had to find a mutual friend of theirs and Bao Kang’s to help them recoup their money which Bao Kang was in a financial position to repay at the time (SCBC 2003c: Jul 2).

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  1. University College London, London, UK

    Alex Chung

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Chung, A. (2019). Internal Management Methods. In: Chinese Criminal Entrepreneurs in Canada, Volume II. Transnational Crime, Crime Control and Security. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05135-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05135-8_9

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

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