Happy Chinese New Year 🧧! I chose to put no promotions on this one, keeping it focused on the Triad experience. If you appreciate the videos though consider checking out my Patreon. See you in the next and final video from Hong Kong.

Actually, you'll find triads in pretty much all working class and night life areas in Hong Kong, not just Yuen Long and Kowloon. Lots of places on Hong Kong Island too, Wan Chai etc. Beside things like trafficking, drugs and gambling, the triads are also into the protection racket, prostitution and the movie business. Sun Yee On is still the largest gang, with 14K being the second, followed by Wo Hup To, Wo Sing Wo, Wo on Lok etc. I grew up in Hong Kong in the 90s and you could easily spot the triads... I used to go to Ricky and Pinkies Tattoo parlor in Wan Chai, and Magic Tattoo in Tsim Sha Tsui to get tats, and there would always be triads in there getting the usual triad style tats down. The triads would also come to schools to recruit kids, so we become very familiar with them, especially Sun Yee On who recruited from our school... and another popular place to recruit from was the housing estates. The 90s film series "Young and Dangerous" really popularized the triads, and romanticized them, portrayed them with a sense of honor... and it was not secret that those movies were not only made by the triads (as Sun Yee On owned EEG, the largest movie and entertainment group in HK), but a number of real triads actually had roles in it. Those movies were almost like promotional materials for the triads, and worked well to attract young people. I remember going to see one of those movies on opening night, and the cinema was full of young triads with their bosses, who were openly and loudly bragging about how certain people were portraying them in the movie. Another popular recruiting ground was local martial arts schools. I met a number of members and bosses going to an opening ceremony at a Thai Boxing gym in the new territories. The reason those people at the Mahjong parlor turned you away is because gambling (apart from horse racing) is illegal in Hong Kong, and while the police know it happens in those places, they look the other way as long as no trouble starts, like fights etc. You going in there with a camera, and filming, would have worried them that they might get too much attention, as police seeing the footage would force them to raid the place. They also don't want people who can't really play, because it's a gambling business for them, so if you're not really playing, you're not gambling. They also have loansharks taking advantage of gambling addicts... they basically don't want you filming any illegal activities and getting them in trouble. As for as the triads attacking people in the Yuen Long MTR station (train station) back in 2019, there is a very clear reason why they did that. It was during the time when a large amount of Hong Kongers (over 2 million of the 7.5 million population) were protesting the amendment to the anti-extradition law, which would have allowed mainland China to extradite Hong Kongers to the mainland for crimes committed in Hong Kong. The chief executive of the time, Carrie Lam, proposed this amendment to get in good favors with the mainland government, but there was huge backlash from the public in the form of mass protests, often getting out of control with police brutality, but also property damage, and rival groups of pro mainland groups attack the local protesters. What happened in Yuen Long was a pro Beijing Hong Kong politician encouraged local triads (who were all wearing white that night), to attack protesters (wearing black) coming home from the protests... they beat, men, even women, kids were there... and attacked them with weapons. It's all on video and is clear as day. There's footage of 2 police officers walking away from the scene, and even though police were called, they didn't show up for an hour, and let all the armed triads go, but arrested the unarmed protesters for "fighting". Of course with the National Security Law, which is basically a blank cheque for the government to arrest you for anything that they deem a threat to national security, which included holding up a blank sheet of white paper in protest of government censorship, or chanting slogans like "liberate Hong Kong" or calling for independence... Anyway, those triads were nothing more that hired thugs to carry out the agenda of a pro Beijing politician to try to intimidate protesters into submission through violence and fear, simple as that. Despite the turbulence of 2019, and triads being a part of local Hong Kong society, Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world, with extremely low crime rates. You will not see trouble unless you actively go out looking for it. You don't have to worry about the triads, because they're only interested in making money and doing business (not petty crime), so unless you mess with their businesses, you won't have any trouble from them. I absolutely loved growing up in Hong Kong, still have family there, and visit annually, and I feel so much safer there when I get off the plane compared to my daily life in the US... There's no threat of violence, no worries about being a victim of muggings, assaults, home invasions, gun crime etc. I never feel unsafe anywhere I go in Hong Kong, there are no "bad" areas, which is great for anyone traveling there to visit, cause you have the freedom to visit different areas without any worries. Worse thing you have to worry about is getting ripped off at Temple Street (touristy night market), because you don't know the price of stuff and don't know how to haggle in Cantonese.

Born and raised in HK for 19 years. Haven’t been to Yuen long once. Family’s now uprooted and gone back to Canada, and my lens to see what home is Like I guess these days is Sabbatical. Please continue uploading and sharing HK with the world!!! Can’t wait to see what you upload next

Your laidback way of storytelling is one of a kind and I’ve learned many things from all of your different videos. Keep up the great work. :)

Dude I'm so pumped. Found this channel 4 days ago and already binged like 30 episodes. More asian video please! lol

Tommy, you are absolutely incredible. You are a magnet for your followers. It's about time I helped out, as no one comes close to your channel. Thank you, sir.

Really like the way you add all kinds of history into each and every one of your videos, thank you!

New Sabbatical video right when I wake up in the morning. Yes, please. 🎉❤ Thanks for meaning it so well with us, watched all ads to their end.

Your videos are always great but your Hong Kong ones feel deep from the heart, I love them!

Just discovered your channel today and binged Japan, Hong Kong, suranam, Brasíl, Guyana, and a few episodes of Mexico and Argentina. Excellent series! Can’t wait to see which country you visit next!

Hell of a video my fellow New Yorker it seems like you’ve accustomed well with the locals. Great seeing a pov of China from the ground with an open mind. Wish you well.

Love your last 2 sentences. 🤩 Great video!!!

Really cool you're so open about everything and not afraid of the haters.

Awesome! We were just checking earlier on for one of your videos! Now we ll be able to gather together as a family, and watch your video after lunch 😀

I'm born and raised in HK for 20 years and had never been to Yuen Long once. HK has changed a lot recently years, but glad to see foreign travelers coming to explore until it's forever vanished years later. Mad respect for your videos and keep up the work🙏

Thanks for the awesome clip. I like how the girl is all giggly and soft spoken but the moment you played out of your turn in Mahjong, boy oh boy

Happy that I’ve found your channel. Spent plenty of time in Yuen Long when I’m visiting HK for work - always a nice contrast to central. And love seeing everyone in their thick winter coats! Not cold compared to the UK at the moment, but people don’t understand the ‘humid’ cold is very different. Looking forward to your next one.

I enjoy all your episodes. Keep them flowing 👍

Waking up to a Sabbatical upload hits different 🙌🏽

Love this channel. Brings back great memories of HK.

I haven't seen a language Sabbatical doesn't know yet. Keep up the good work!

That’s so awesome bro useful advice you use everyday is amazing, always loving your vids

Always love the content Tommy. Excited for the next one ❤

that attack in Yuen Long is called '7.21', which, and other political incidents happened in 2019, are banned from mentioning now in Hong Kong, glad to hear you talk about it again.

Enjoy your episodes! You really try to understand the locals ! Greetings from Ireland and when you plan to visit here!

Been hooked on your channel ever since your first Yakuza video popped on my feed (I don't watch any other travelers/vloggers). Having seen your trips to Morocco and Argentina, you'd love it here in Egypt when you're back to visiting Africa. Keep up the great content, thank you.

Another great video. I've been all over Hong Kong, so it's interesting for me to see this video.

Thanks man , really enjoyed that vid. The history of the triads was so interesting and the arrest of Tse Chi Lop and Lee Chung Chak very topical. It’s been open slather for laundering money in Australian casinos, about time the law caught up.

The red packets @15:41 were not HKD$100 (一百蚊). The owner said HKD$28 (廿八蚊). They sound very similar😂

Great video, I enjoyed this one much more than your previousHK episode. I like to see the non-touristy stuff

Just found your channel … this video was amazing, as have been all the others I’ve binged 😄🍾

This video brings back memories, I missed my old neighborhood

I really enjoyed the tour and history lesson.

Brilliant as usual Tommy 😘

Awesome, as always! Thank you.

Much respect @Sabbatical... first gweilo that speaks about the real blue-collar HK districts like MK, SSP, YMT, and YL.. your canto is good, considering how hard it is for non-native speakers

Yo Tommy! Love this one! Seriously though You might live out on the island, but you could have done this in flushing 😀 love the style, there is a captivating authenticity to how you approach your situations. Keep up the good work!

Watching your videos is like breathing fresh air

Sabbatical，I appreciate your sense of humor

Thank you, it is so interesting to learn about another country I have not yet visited. You show the good the bad & the ugly & I wait in anticipation for your uploads, loving it :)

I was living on Lamma Island and later got a job in Yuen Long. That was an insane commute, taking almost 2 hours across HK. But it allowed me to see the hidden parts of the city. BTW, the outter islands are not that busy. Some villages only have a few residents in them. God, I love HK, coolest place on the planet. Thankfully, now I can go back.

I wasn’t a fan of the title but I enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek tour of my hometown. It’s not the fanciest or the most crime-free place in Hong Kong but it still has a bit of that small town charm. I miss it a lot.

Awesome as allways Tommy!

You hit half my spots today. I sat in that “park” in YMT at 3am a few times just to people watch. Wild! I was worried about safety at first cause if you are gonna get into trouble, it’s gonna be somewhere like YMT at 3 AM right near the….uhhh “salons” but the longer I stayed in HK the more I realized I’d be fine if I just minded my business at those hours. I actually started writing my novella series there!

Thanks for bringing me to places I haven’t been as a local HKer

Love the vids. Inspire me and many others to see these places. Start of March I’m starting a 2 month trip in Asia. First stop japan 🇯🇵 that was the first vid I saw from your channel. Keep it up and safe travels

Always thought I was set on Japan being my first international trip but after watching a few of your video's (I got recommended thank goodness!) I kinda want to see Hong Kong but I'm too vested in the Japanese learning right now but wow so beautiful and the people do seem nice too!

Seeing the Yuen Long Station brought me back many sad memories, things went way beyond from able to return ever since. And the last line totally hit it LOL

Hello, I'm a Hong Konger from Yuen Long, of course not a member of the triads lol, but I love your videos! Please keep it up!

We are wating you brother and welcome back

Thanks for your share bro. Wish you have a good day

龟苓膏 the turtle shell jelly.. it's a dessert but no one actually makes them from actual turtles anymore... I think

Never been to Hong Kong so having you go around makes me feel like I know it a bit better. Always interesting to learn about different places!

I only watched your channel properly a few weeks ago.I'm into some history and culture also. I love how you asked the girl, want to play mahjong? Hahaha

Hi i just subscribed to your channel .im from South Africa and i really love your videos you are such a kind person to others .God bless you

another boss video my man !

Love the videos bro.

I'm extremely interested how this man manages to have beautiful lady friends all over the world. Lmfao. Good man.

Interesting story. Thanks for sharing mate

Lived in Yuen Long for 15 years, I can literally see my home in your video. Triads are a big problem here, especially for those with many properties and control villages.

What an interesting video! I didn´t know about Tse Chi Lop and triads in Asia... Tommy makes everything clear and easy to understand, thank you!!

Interesting! I pretty like the videos that are released by you! Keep moving on!

This was awesome!

you are really good to find local place in HK...

The HK police museum has a pretty good Triad section. Well worth a look next time fella. I'm enjoying your perspective on my old home town - you're making me want to brush up my Cantonese!

Happy I've stumbled upon this channel. Another Travel KZfaqr added to my mix. Also, Selena is gorgeous! 😍

I really enjoy watching your videos introducing about Hong Kong. Meanwhile I can learn English :) By the way, I think the man at 15:34 said 廿八蚊 which is HKD$28 in Cantonese. (a little bit tricky pronunciation)

Thanks Tommy MORE

love watching and learning about hong kong history/culture edit; ps i hope the deer horns helped

you crack me up bro hope you are doing well

the incident on 21/7 in Yuen Long still haunt us until this day

Brilliant videos of China and Hong Kong keep it up

great video!

Good one mate !! Love hong kong vibe, hopefully more video :D Dont spell to much triad in there :P

I love how even the tagging looks to be in english

I lived in Hong Kong for over 7 years between 1992-93 and 1995-2003. My job involved fieldwork in the northwest NT including Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Kam Tin. I also had a pass to survey the Closed Border Area. I used to walk around with a clipboard, camera and binoculars for recording the flora and fauna (see my channel for photo essays). Occasionally, I'd get challenged by someone in the villages asking what I was up to, to which I used to say "I'm here about the drains." Which was actually true as these areas were flood-prone. It was a very effective line as they all wanted the flooding to stop and would tell me where they thought the problem originated. It always used to amaze me that in the remote villages, I'd get talking to some wizened old person who would turn out to have spent years working in the UK and had retired back to the NTs. I never had any threats or problems. I do remember a hilarious story that was reported in the HK Standard about Yuen Long district council officials turning up at some illegal village houses that exceeded the 3-storey limit. They had to run for their lives after being chased off by the villagers and decided to ignore the buildings thereafter. Best years of my life were spent in HK.

Thank you for this. Always quite daring. I watched your video even wandering inside Tondo without saksak😅 (I thought sucksuck at first). Btw you should try those razor clams I tried them once theyre really good bbq. Also those red envelopes are too overprized.

Tommy was given clear advice by Doctor to avoid certain foods i.e. cold spirited foods then goes to a wet cold spirited food market to eat cold spirited foods lol - great video Tommy!

I wish Sabbatical can time travel back to the early 90s when Kowloon Walled City existed and document what he saw.

Make sure you visit the Kowloon walled city park! It used to be the biggest slum before they demolished it. And the Chungking mansions is another point if interest if you’re interested. It’s another slum area in a big building that’s has walled city vibes. Thanks bro love the videos.

Love your videos, I just want to tell you that think a better microphone would be a huge improvement to your videos.

Traveling across to Hong Kong island on the Star ferry would be a good thing to include in your next video,

Your way of telling a storey is now legendary, I always think you’ve had a few lol , but I love the content, do keep it up maybe show us the pubs in hongkong too

Just discovered your channel and first time see a foreigner trying to explore this topic. Be honest, it is not difficult to find a gang related place in there. You have correctly pointed out one of. Red brand mini bus is another. Night club and snooker house in mongkok also. Anyway, glad to watch your clip.

I used to go to Yuen Long quite often when I lived in Shenzhen because all the consumer electronics are cheaper there. If you're looking for spare parts then Shenzhen is the best place in the world with Huaqiangbei and other places, but if you want end consumer stuff then Hong Kong is where it's at since Mainland China has a 20% tax (on top of the regular VAT) on electronics sales while Hong Kong has 0% tax.

Thanks for telling the true story of Hong Kong.

Loved the video. Check out Fuk Man Road and Wan King Path in Sai Kung for your next video.

I like the way you react to HK people :)

Hey Tommy ,you are becoming quite a connected fellow these days ,what with being pals with ex gang bosses and the Triads ! Are you the vlogging world's first made man ? Honourably ,of course ! Nah ,I'm just bursting your chops .... Your videos are still the most educational out there ,as far as I'm concerned .

Where you going next Tommy? Can't wait for next series.

Love the hong kong content

Dude reminds me of Steve Buscemi! Awesome video man 😅

元朗，it takes me a long time to recognize which location you are talking about. in fact, 深水埗also a gang area

Honestly speaking, Yuen Long is quite safe. I am confident to take the MTR alone in Yuen Long at night but I don't dare to take the Subway in New York at night as I am not sure if I will be stabbed, shot or robbed 😅

721唔見人 Since 21 July 2019, from Yuen Long, triad and police have been good good friends, and the rest is History. Cheers for Asia’s Knife City! 🎉🎉🤭🤭

Awesome!!!!!!❤

I've visited Hong Kong but this gives it an entirely new perspective I didn't see. Great video 👍

Good video loved it! but please get a little mic or something there is more Volume on the right side

Well, I'm glad I didn't go to bed early tonight!

I was born and grew up in Cheung Sha Wan which is very close to Yau Ma Tei that Tommy was exploring.