The Triads
The Singapore underworld is mostly dominated by the Triads, as most
Asian criminal elements have been for hundreds of years. They control virtually
all drugs and have a hand in just about all black market weapons, dealing
with rivals in those areas harshly. There are five major Triad groups –
the 14K Triad Society, one of the oldest and largest, the Wu Fan family,
the Hung Fat Shan Loyalty Association, the San Ho Hui and the Society of
the Jade Dragon. Smaller groups include the Chow On Triad, the Hing A Kwee
Kan and the Iron Shins.
Triads and Gangs
Triads tend to outsource for simple muscle. They have their own stock
of killers, and a few thugs. Then they have their gangs. These gangs do
the day-to-day enforcing for the Triad, ranging from beating up people
to collecting protection money. They also serve as cannon fodder for them.
Gangs are generally fairly large, large enough to provide a cast of extras
for major characters to mow through. Gangs range from respectible-looking
to downright barbaric.
14K Triad Society
14K is the largest of these, with direct control over /all/ bootlegged
alcohol (alcohol is readily available, but spirits are expensive and require
forms to be filled out – 14K provides it cheaply) following the utter destruction
of their only rival in that area, and a near-stranglehold on blackmarket
weapons. They steal weapons from police, they make their own, they resell
them. They also have contacts in many smuggling rings, and have extracted
a promise that those groups will deal with them and them alone. About 90%
of the weapons sales involve 14K. Prostitution, embezzling, gambling, blackmail
and the like are favored sidelines. They only control about a third of
the drugs in the city, despite their attempts to crush the other families
in control of that resource. They are ruthless, capable of any acts, including
massacring whole families in order to prove a point.
In Singapore they are represented by the Li family,
headed up by Li Fat. His second-in command Wo Yuen is reputed to be a sorceror
of minor power. He is certainly an adept advisor, and his kung fu is the
best, he claims. He’s certainly defeated all comers, if only via trickery
in some cases. Li Fat has never committed a murder, but Wo Yuen takes pleasure
in executing policemen personally.
Their front man, Chen Wa, has extensive connections
throughout the government, mostly through blackmail, letting them stay
one step ahead of the police. He is a incredibly harsh in his appearance
and mannerisms. He is perfectly capable of (and very skilled at) diplomacy.
They have a personal stable of 20 elite assassins
(moderate characters mostly, some major) with whom they enforce their own
laws. One of the best killers in Asia, Li Hong Teng, is Li Fat’s son and
the leader of their strike forces. They control three street gangs (14K
Riders, a go-gang; Jade Lotus, expatriate Japanese and Koreans, being the
two major ones), giving them cheap assassins, as well as having anywhere
between 50 and 200 men of their own to throw at their enemies (this number
is the remainder of two gangs that were subsumed into 14K’s structure).
The number is not known to any but the higher echelons of the Triad. They
are also able to summon reinforcements from China and Indonesia, where
the society flourishes.
They are one of the few triads that pays only lip
service to the traditions – might makes right, they feel, and they need
not cling to history. Rather, look forwards.
Wu Fan Family
Active only in Singapore, Wu Fan himself died only seven years ago,
his daughter taking over his position. The only Triad to have a woman in
charge, she has had to cope with many a challenge to her leadership. One
of the smaller Triads in the city, they do not deal in drugs, although
they sell most of the weapons that are not dealt by 14K. They have sidelines
in gambling, controlling a significant portion. They once brewed their
own liquor, but they have been forced to stop that. Their other interests
are white-collar and often victimless. They cling most tightly to the old
traditions, interpreting them more truly than virtually any other Triad
since the 19th century. They actually have honour, loyalty and a sense
of duty – that isn’t twisted like the Jade Dragons. They are Triads, however,
and still criminal; although hated less than the 14K.
Rebecca Lin holds sway over Wu Fan, playing the
twin roles of Empress and maiden, sometimes ruling with the iron fist,
other times hiding behind her second-in-command, her cousin Kei. He is
not known by any other name, although he has been in Singapore, and a meber
of the Wu Fan Family, since its inception 50 years ago. Kei also doubles
as the society’s frontman, using the family surname when dealing with outsiders
(so, is called Wu Kei).
Their base of enforcement is relatively small, being
kept almost entirely in-house. Their assassins, hitmen and troubleshooters
(they shoot trouble... and rivals), however, are amongst the best, exceeded
only by the cream of 14K’s crop. They have approximately 10 enforcers on-hand,
with control over three gangs – one guardian, one motorcycle and one the
heavy enforcer gang, who collects dues from shops in the area. They keep
from being crushed by 14K by having allied with San Ho Hui, a more disreputable
organisation. This is the shame and disgrace of Rebecca Lin, as it was
her decision to ally. Wu Fan can only go down now. They also, however,
have many allies amongst the smugglers, who may well simply stop trading
to 14K, or Singapore at all, if Wu Fan was destroyed out of hand. Loyalty
exists even amongst thieves. So, there’s an uneasy balance.
Society of the Jade Dragon
The most mystical and history-oriented of the Triads, the Jade Dragons
believe that their mandate is divine. They have a /right/ to do whatever
they will. They follow virtually all the traditions of the Triads and their
leader is rumoured to have the original Peach Wood Sword in his home. Several
members claim to be magicians and indeed there are some possibly paranormal
activities around them, although many have been proven to be bogus. They
nevertheless are better at intimidation than even the 14K, and this is
how they have carved out their niche: playing on superstitions.
They deal somewhat in weapons, as well as keeping
certain policemen happily bribed. It is said that, once bribed by the Jade
Dragon, an honest man will never be honest again. In return for their favours
for 14K, the larger triad has not made any moves to take over Jade Dragons'’control
of fully half the drug trade into Singapore, the source of most of their
income.
They are also the most mysterious of groups. Not
even other Triads know the identities of their two top leaders, and no
member of the Society has ever given in to questioning, no matter how skilled.
They have all died first, even under mind-bending treatments. Their front
man is Raymond Jing, a respectable-looking man who is mostly unassuming.
He is quiet and extremely manipulative. He rarely actively participates
in debates, yet he is able to swing favour in his direction. A dangerous
man, to be sure.
On top of their mysticism, it is rumoured that they
worship a great being, the Jade Dragon, who they claim is the most powerful
of all Dragons. They have sworn publically that they will destroy Siam,
as any man who claims they have divine right to rule is insulting the Big
Dragons. It is not known what action, if any, they have taken to this end.
Hung Fan Loyalty Association
San Ho Hui
Smugglers
Gangs
Miscellaneous Criminals
In Triad areas, or neutral but still criminal neighourhoods, just about
everyone is involved in crime one way or another. Whether by gambling,
tapping electricity, scamming phones, running cons, stealing, blackmailing,
dealing drugs for the Triads or anything, virtually no-one is clean. Those
who are clean are usually known for it. The police get a lot of stool pigeons
in the petty criminal areas – all the more reason for Triads to keep some
level of secrecy.
There are many factions of crime that are, mostly,
independent. Gangs of thieves, blackmailers, forgers. Almost all of them
are tied to one triad or another, however, paying dues to their bosses.
They won't do business with someone the Triad says not to work with and
they can't refuse that Triad anything. In return, they get to continue
working. Some, however, manage to keep independant. It's a very small minority,
however.
Business
Military
The Singapore Military is the most advanced of all those in Asia, with
the possible exception of Japan. They, however, are not technically part
of Asia any more. They are a mostly self-contained organisation, subject
to few orders from outside their command structure. They are employed by
the government, and to approve military action the Senate must back up
the Prime Minister’s decision to deploy them (however, the President can
order emergency action by himself). The details, however, are then left
up to the military leadership, headed up by General Cheung, a man approaching
his 60th birthday.
Because of their mostly self-contained nature, their
technology has not yet leaked out to much of a degree. Computer and communications
technology have trickled down, but their vehicles and weapons are still
their own. In addition, they have access to much better power generation
tech than anyone else, enabling their energy weapons and advanced vehicles
to function. They are rarely seen in the city, only venturing there either
socially, or if they have official business. Their major base is on the
west of the island, taking up much area – no-one is allowed inside unless
military personnel, without permission of the base commander. The Prime
Minister and anyone with him is the only exception. Technically, soldiers
are still subject to normal laws, but pressure is placed on policemen to
turn soldiers over to the military for a trial. It is widely assumed that
family connections within the government, as well as blackmail, bribery
and other issues are the cause of this behaviour. The military cannot,
however, abuse this advantage too often, as it may be rescinded – as it
it not strictly legal, simply ‘done’. Occasionally, soldiers have ended
up dead after committing murder or rape. These crimes are rarely solved,
although the military makes life for most policemen hell for a month or
so.
They are regarded with awe, fear, respect or hatred
by most people, perhaps a little of all. They are, after all, one of the
main reasons why Singapore remained independent and neutral throughout
all the troubles. Most people distrust them nowadays, however. And everyone
keeps out of their way.
Government
Singapore is a democracy, although the one party has held sway for
fifty years, ever since the turn of the millenium. This is largely attributed
to the people wanting to keep a steady leadership through times of crisis
– this is certainly part of the truth. Other rumours persist, including
ballot-fixing. Much of it is also to do with the efforts of Jason Lim,
Asia’s Great Stateman. The Reform Party, as they are still known, has won
over 85% of the vote ever since 2020.
Since Jason Lim’s retirement, however, there have
been a spate of politicians who have been shown to have Triad connections,
and given stiff prison sentences, as well as having their property taken
away, as it is all assumed to be blood money. This is assumed by many to
be a sign of the weakening of morals. It is more accurately the new leadership
discovering many of the excesses of Jason Lim’s overly-long rule. The man
wasn’t the saint many know him as, although in his defence, he did what
he needed for Singapore to survive. That included cutting deals with Triads,
and allowing their claws into politicians. The extent of Triad involvement
in government is unknown, but they certainly resist any change to current
liquor laws – it’s far too profitable for them. The group most involved
in government is 14K.
The current Prime Minister, Lee Fon Kwuk (also known
as James Lee), is surprising in that he’s actually honest. He hates the
triads and many of the oustings are his personal crusade against them.
This, of course, puts his life at risk. There have already been failed
blackmail attempts – he holds on, despite all odds. This is aided by several
of his close friends in cabinet, all of whom are intelligent, loyal and
capable. Perhaps the government may well be cleaned up – but more likely
14K will simply assassinate him.
The government structure is similar to the British
model. The Prime Minister heads up the leading party, and the party members
are divided between two houses – the Senate and the Diet, taking its name
from the Japanese government, which in turn was inspired by the Prussian.
The Prime Minister has power, however, more similar to the old US President,
in that he is a wing of the government all on his own and the personification
of power (that is, official power) in the country. Bills may start in any
branch, and must be voted on by all three (Senate, Diet or President) before
they become law. Rulings from law courts can also be overruled with 2/3
majority votes in both houses, and the Prime Minister, with the exception
of the Supreme Court. Elections are held once every six years for both
houses.
Police
The People
When talking about the people, there are so many different sections
and substrata to bring into focus. Wealth, class, criminal nature, ethnicity,
occupation. It’s impossible to clearly give impressions of them all.
The old two faves – sexism and racism – are both
alive and well in Singapore, sometimes openly, sometimes not. With only
80% of the population Chinese, they’ve either reached out and learned to
live with foreigners, or they’ve drawn insular. More of the former than
the latter. This is coupled by a relaxing of old strictures, especially
ones regarding women. As for the foreigners, they’re pretty much divided
between the ones who are willing to try to make a new home with the people
here, and those who want to make a home apart from the Chinese.
It’s a fair melting pot, some ingredients of which
refuse to mix together. On the whole, on the street, people can mix – although
there are definite areas that are Chinese-only. Most of these are run directly
by the Jade Dragons, the most racist of all Triads. Wu Fan are the most
open Triad, employing Gwailos as well as Chinese, but in fewer numbers.
Additionally, they have to prove themselves first. Most Chinese hold foreigners
in at least some suspicion until they prove themselves to be friendly,
breaking down the thin barriers. For some, especially those who do not
speak English, those barriers are thicker, perhaps unbreachable.
Not without some reason, of course. Chinese don’t
have the monopoly on racism. Most non-Chinese have a very bad impression
of people who don’t speak English, and who don’t follow their customs.
Surprisingly, whites tend to be the most spread out through the rest of
the communities, the least ghetto-ised minority. Arabs, blacks and the
small colony of Japanese tend to be fairly insular, all populating their
own section of town.v
Women, similarly, are treated rarely as equals in
the Chinese areas. They are almost always treated with respect, but they
will have to prove themselves twice as much, go twice as far, push themselves
twice as hard to get as far as a man. It’s never okay for a women to have
affairs, unless she’s in a very powerful position – but with men
it’s almost expected. In most social circles, men only do wrong when they’re
caught. In other, more ‘traditional’ (read, decadent) Chinese circles,
it’s expected that the men in power have many mistresses. Sons are still
prized more highly than daughters. This hasn’t changed and likely won’t
inside hundreds of years. Again, there are many more progressive people
inside the Chinese community – but these are individuals, the community
sentiment still sexist.
Weapons are frowned upon in almost all circles,
as are cybernetics (see tech sheets for more info on cyber). Having a gun
almost always marks you as a Triad member. See below on Triad society.
Additionally, most criminals in Singapore are petty thieves, con-men, smugglers
and the like. Guns are an indication that killin’s about to happen. Someone
who carries a gun openly is going to get people giving him a wide berth.
If he carries a weapon in a law-abiding area, people will vacate streets
tog et away from him and police will be called. Heavy weapons will often
summon the army.
Triad Society
The Triads are here. This is accepted. The police continue to fight
them, but this is made incredibly hard by both the loyalty to the association
that members display, as well as the strange mix of fear and respect of
the communities they live in, who end up sheltering them. Everyone in a
Triad area pays protection money, collected usually by the gangs that the
group control. Anyone who doesn’t regrets it – and ultimately ends up paying
either with money or their life. Gambling machines are forced upon store
owners, with profits collected by the gangs. The threats of violence and
worse keep people in line.
Juxtaposed with this is the respect shown to the
Triad leaders. These people don’t engage in violence themselves and are
usually respected community leaders in their area. This power makes them
twice as hard to bring down. Not everyon in the Triad areas loves their
masters – but no-one can do anything about them without exposing themselves
to a lot of danger. This respect comes from the fact that there is little
random crime in Triad-controlled areas. People who don’t pay protection
are hurt. But if they /do/ pay protection, and someone else breaks into
their shop, that person is usually killed as an example to anyone else
who does the same. It’s part of honour – if you promise to do something,
you better do it. Thus, gambling dens in Triad areas are safe – as long
as they give free money to gang members, pay their dues, provide rooms
and in general keep their masters happy. The respect also comes from a
simple recognition that these people have bested them. A master/slave relationship.
On the other hand, many people who live inside Triad
areas may simply be unaware that Triads operate there at all. It’s all
under the surface – unless you’re a shop owner, you may simply miss what’s
going on. Triads rarely mention their affiliation even in business dealings.
This secrecy is the third weapon of the Triads against the police – the
fourth being political manipulation, bribery or blackmail to stop investigations,
the fifth and last being violence and assassination.
The majority of the people, however, hate the triads.
Outside of Triad areas this is usually universal. Inside, those who either
don’t know about the Triads, or know and can’t do anything about it. Or
even those who try and die, or are actually skilled and lucky enough to
have some successes. This is part and parcel of the respect, in some areas.
The respect is that of a beaten man – it easily turns to anger and enmity.
The Law
The law is mostly the generally-accepted English/American law, but
simplified for the new millenium. There are fewer loopholes for people
to escape through, although arrests must still be carried out properly.
The death sentence is in force, but rarely used, only in cases of mass
murder and people convicted of being a Triad member (in this case, it is
mandatory). Politicians are exempt from investigation by police, except
if permission is granted by the Whip’s office, and only then if it is deemed
that police investigation is needed, as opposed to handling it in-house.
The latter was more commonly used all the way through Jason Lim’s leadership,
more recently police have been granted broader access to politicians’ houses.
Warrants must be issued for arrests and searches,
much as in America today – unless people are reasonably likely to have
just committed a crime (say, they are running away from a scene and they
don’t stop when police tell them to, etc). Houses can be searched if suspects
flee into them and there is reasonable suspicion something has been stored
in them, etc. If a politician or foreign dignitary commits a crime, they
cannot be arrested, but their passport may be siezed. Negotiations with
their country follow, determining who will try them and under what law.
There are no firm Diplomatic Immunity laws – only guidelines, to avoid
abuses.
Weapons are mostly illegal, even pistols being outlawed
without special permits, which can only be gained for security guards in
high-risk jobs, policemen, etc. Security guards working with money can
get weapons – rentacops cannot, unless they can prove they are in danger,
a clause used to arm many major corporate buildings’ guards with weapons.
Police carry pistols, usually medium-sized. There is a heatlthy black market
trade in weapons, although gun-running carries a possible life sentence,
and possession of an illegal gun will almost certainly send you to prison.
To have a gun, much less use it, marks you as a criminal – triads, however,
tend to have healthy supplies of weapons, most of them ‘clean’.
Nicotine and alcohol are legal, although any cigarettes
stronger than 8mg and alcohol more potent than 30 proof are restricted
– they are available to anyone over 21 (smoking age being 18, drinking
age being 21), but are expensive and there are many forms to fill out.
Blackmarket trades in both these areas exist. Simple medical drugs are
still available, but anything possibly dangerous is restricted or illegal.
Possession of even simple narcotics such as Cannibis is highly illegal
and drug trafficking... well, since almost all drug traffickers are triad
members, the sentence doesn’t much matter. Addicts are treated harshly,
as there are no programs to let people come off drugs easily. Instead,
they are simply made to go cold turkey. A couple of rehabilitation centers
exist, nothing more than holding cells to keep people isolated, fed and
safe during withdrawal. If they go insane, they become permanent residents.
The law is strictly enforced mostly, but it is,
of course, up to the individual cop. The hierarchy does understand the
need for informants, for instance, and so some criminals have effective
immunity to prosecution... as long as they keep feeding information. A
dangerous practice, as informants have no honour and are therefore despised
by cop and criminal alike.