A Fujian gang is a crime syndicate, such as a triad gang, composed of Fujianese people; the term primarily refers to Fujianese immigrant gangs in Hong Kong. In some cases, the term "Fujian gang" can also refer more broadly to legal Fujianese community associations or to native crime syndicates in the province of Fujian. In recent years, Fujian gangs have come under global media attention due to their role in attacks against Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors such as the "2019 Yuen Long attack" and the attack at North Point on November 8 in Hong Kong.
According to Hong Kong media, North Point and Yuen Long are the "territory" of Fujian gangs and are districts with iron-vote support for the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions; both groups are considered left wing. As early as in the 1950s and 60s, the two districts, and especially North Point, served as the main "base of operations" for the Pro-Beijing camp in the Hong Kong 1967 leftist riots. Most residents of North Point, sometimes referred to as "Little Fujian", originated from Fujian, and the district was once home to many Fujianese-run storefronts. Prior to the 1960s, there had already been a large exodus of Fujianese people from the Chinese Mainland into North Point; the Fujianese later supported left-wing labour associations and students during the 1967 riots, in which the Hua Feng Chinese Goods store served as the command centre for the leftist faction. Between the Qing Dynasty and the reform and opening-up of the People's Republic of China, many residents of the Chinese mainland, including residents of the city of Fuqing, Fujian, smuggled themselves out of China. Fujianese people in Japan faced difficult conditions and therefore organized community associations for Fuqing emigrants. The associations later evolved into the Fuqing Gang, also called the Fulong Gang, a crime syndicate that became active internationally and monopolized underground casinos in Tokyo as its main source of income. Hong Kong media reports indicate that the Fuqing Gang has links to the Japanese Yakuza, the American Mafia, and Triads operating in Mainland China and collaborates with them in the operation of underground casinos and the trafficking of illegal drugs in East Asia.
21st century
On 20 July 2019, in the context of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, the radical pro-Beijing group "Grand Alliance for the Protection of Hong Kong" held an assembly in support of the police in which speaker Shek Kang Chuen advocated violent attacks on anti-government protestors. The day after, violent attacks against anti-government protestors occurred in Yuen Long. In the same year, a similar assault on protestors occurred on August 11 in North Point, in which some assailants identified themselves as Chinese or Fujianese. On 17 August, the aforementioned organisation once again held an assembly, also with Fujian gangs in attendance as supporters. Following the violent assaults on protestors, several unknown individuals attacked Chinese state-run enterprises and businesses run by Fujianese individuals in Hong Kong. Among the businesses targeted was Best Mart 360, whose founder's links to Fujianese community associations led to vandalism, arson attacks, and looting targeting the company's approximately 360 stores. In September and October of the same year, Best Mart 360 posted announcements that denied any relationship with "Fujian gangs". Following the violent incidents, pro-Beijing sources claimed that Fujianese residents of Hong Kong had demonstrated "patriotism", and state mediaPeople's Daily and Global Times called for "patriots who love Hong Kong" to come onto the streets and "prepare for battle". , director of Hong Kong Liaison Office from 22 September 2017 to 4 January 2020 and member of the People's Liberation Army in the 1980s. At the time of the violent incidents, the executive leader of the Hong Kong Liaison Office was Wang Zhimin from Xianyou, Fujian. A former member of the People's Liberation Army, Wang is suggested by media reports to have deep ties with Fujian gangs. In January 2020, Wang was recalled by the State Council of the People's Republic of China and replaced with Luo Huining.
