<p>In 1970s Britain, Chinese-heritage migrants worked long hours in restaurants and takeaways to build their new lives. But as the diaspora established itself, the gangs they thought they’d left behind in Hong Kong began to follow, quietly feeding off the very people they claimed to protect.</p><p>Back in Hong Kong, Georgie Pai was already a senior member of Wo Shing Wo, one of the most feared Triad societies operating in the region's underworld. Triads are known for their rigid hierarchy, blood-sworn loyalty and reputation for ruthless enforcement. Georgie Pai travelled to the UK on a tourist visa and began working at his parents’ takeaway in Glastonbury. From there, he united scattered Triad factions around the country and recruited loyal foot soldiers. He built an extortion network targeting Chinese communities, with business owners ordered to pay protection cash. Those who refused were brutally punished. </p><p>Presenter - Livvy Haydock
Series Producer - Hayley Mortimer
Technical Producer – Richard Hannaford
Producers – Patrick Kiteley &amp; Matt Toulson
Fixer in Hong Kong – Michelle Chan
Music – Andy Simms and Reliable Source Music
Journalism Assistants – Hattie Valentine &amp; Ellie Dover
Commissioning producer: Sam Proffitt 
Commissioning executive: Lorraine Okuefuna and Louise Kattenhorn
Commissioning editor: Richard Maddock
Editor and Executive Producer – Clare Fordham</p><p>Archive – The Cook Report: Meet The Triads (Central Television, ITV)</p>

Gangster

BBC Radio 5 Live

Episode 1 - Enter The Godfather

MAR 6, 202627 MIN
Gangster

Episode 1 - Enter The Godfather

MAR 6, 202627 MIN

Description

<p>In 1970s Britain, Chinese-heritage migrants worked long hours in restaurants and takeaways to build their new lives. But as the diaspora established itself, the gangs they thought they’d left behind in Hong Kong began to follow, quietly feeding off the very people they claimed to protect.</p><p>Back in Hong Kong, Georgie Pai was already a senior member of Wo Shing Wo, one of the most feared Triad societies operating in the region's underworld. Triads are known for their rigid hierarchy, blood-sworn loyalty and reputation for ruthless enforcement. Georgie Pai travelled to the UK on a tourist visa and began working at his parents’ takeaway in Glastonbury. From there, he united scattered Triad factions around the country and recruited loyal foot soldiers. He built an extortion network targeting Chinese communities, with business owners ordered to pay protection cash. Those who refused were brutally punished. </p><p>Presenter - Livvy Haydock Series Producer - Hayley Mortimer Technical Producer – Richard Hannaford Producers – Patrick Kiteley &amp; Matt Toulson Fixer in Hong Kong – Michelle Chan Music – Andy Simms and Reliable Source Music Journalism Assistants – Hattie Valentine &amp; Ellie Dover Commissioning producer: Sam Proffitt Commissioning executive: Lorraine Okuefuna and Louise Kattenhorn Commissioning editor: Richard Maddock Editor and Executive Producer – Clare Fordham</p><p>Archive – The Cook Report: Meet The Triads (Central Television, ITV)</p>