3rd January 2025 – (Hong Kong) Ng Wa-hei, a prominent elder of the 14K triad, reportedly passed away last month. A vigil was held yesterday evening at the Universal Funeral in Hung Hom, drawing a large number of underworld figures to pay their respects.
The police’s Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB), along with the West Kowloon Anti-Triad Unit, Kowloon City Anti-Triad Unit, and the Mobile Unit, maintained a heightened presence around the funeral venue. They erected roadblocks on Cheong Hang Road to inspect vehicles and established a registration area in the parking lot for attendees.
Ng Wa-hei is survived by two children and died on 11th December, 2024, at the age of 78. Historical records indicate that he was once regarded as the most notorious leader within the 14K. Early in his career, he was a protégé of the infamous “Big Nose Tung”, initially managing gambling dens and nightclubs. By the 1970s, he had assumed control in Shek Kip Mei and famously clashed with another member over territory on Kowloon Street, successfully establishing dominance and earning the moniker “Kowloon Street Buddha”.
In addition to internal rivalries, Ng frequently found himself in conflict with other gangs. Notably, in the late 1980s, he had a violent dispute with the Sun Yee On’s “Tiger of Wan Chai”, Chan Yiu-hing, resulting in significant damage to both sides. In the 1990s, he faced off against another member from the Wo Shing Wo gang in a nightclub altercation, ultimately leading to his defeat. Following these incidents, he relocated to Macao and Vietnam; upon returning to Hong Kong, he adopted a more discreet lifestyle, gradually stepping back from the criminal scene.
The 14K, a prominent triad group based in Hong Kong, is recognised as the second largest triad organisation globally, with an estimated 20,000 members divided into thirty subgroups. Established in 1945 by Kot Siu-wong, it has a significant criminal focus, engaging in activities such as drug trafficking, particularly heroin and opium from Southeast Asia, illegal gambling, extortion, and human trafficking. The group has a reputation for violence and has been involved in numerous turf wars, both among its factions and against rival gangs like Sun Yee On. Over the decades, the 14K has expanded its operations internationally, infiltrating communities in North America, Europe, and beyond, solidifying its influence within the global organised crime landscape.
