Not karma for a first post, but I signed up specifically to warn other hobbyists.

I was checking out Sai Wan (I usually like CWB) the past couple of days.  Went back to queen's road west during lunch today and saw uniformed police outside some of the buildings I was in earlier (248, 260, and I think 266).  I was a bit freaked out since many of these 141 rooms have security cameras outside recording images of bros going in and out so that the pimps who rent the rooms to the girls can get their right cut (girls usually pay a minimum daily rate plus a cut of each fee to the pimp).  I didn't notice any cameras in the buildings I was in, but I know they are definitely there in CWB.  Anyway, I speak Cantonese natively, so I said I live in the area and asked two police officers (one woman and one man) why there was so much activity on Queen's Road today.  They said that it was no problem, but that some residents complain that there are many people who do not live in the buildings going in and coming out, sometimes with girls, and that there is suspicion of illegal business activity.  So they were there asking people going in and out and also in the stairways to see HKID.  (they asked to see my ID also, but I was just on the street).  I know that 141 is legal in hong kong, so I think they suspect drugs or trafficking and are using the HKID test just to spook people.  But still would not be a good idea to get caught inside when the ID checks happen.

[ Last edited by  kb004 at 14-4-2009 16:53 ]

Good idea, if you do not cooperate they have the right to call your family I think, so act nice and everything will be fine.

Umm if you were a minor they could call your family!

Otherwise there are these funny things called privacy laws that prohibit them contacting your family without your permission.

By the way how old are you?

It is legal and no problem with being checked out. I was in a clip joint getting sucked off when the coppers cames in. They asked to see
My I'd but nothing came of it i- they didn't even write my name or number down even though that was illegal. The concern would be that another prossie killer is on the loose....

They won't even come anywhere close to calling anyone provided:

1. You show a valid form of identification
2. You aren't on the run from being arrested for anything and/or absconding bail
3. You haven't got a threesome (or more) going on
4. The girl is over 18 (or is it 16? Well...in 141, you'd be hard pressed to find anything under 24!)
5. You co-operate fully

Even if the girl herself is an II, you can't be done for anything. At most you give your details and sign a sheet confirming that you were present when she was arrested for overstaying her visa. The document is then used as evidence at HER hearing (not yours. It has nothing to do with you). Like with any other vice in Hong Kong (alcohol, tobacco...) the law punishes the supply - never the demand!

The police are just trying to deter murderers and drug dealers by being around. In fact you ought to feel grateful for their presence as it makes mongering a lot safer. That is, if you have nothing to hide.

[ Last edited by  hongtaiman82 at 14-4-2009 18:50 ]

Great post, lots of interesting info there. Cheers!

It's always nice being reaffirmed the dirty deeds we do are still legal.

I'm going to leave this thread here for another day before I move it to chat.

One should not be worried about the police visiting 141 buildings ...
the only thing they can ask for is your ID and to search you !

If they ask you why your there tell them the truth ... looking for girls !
THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE !!!  so don't freak out !!!

BTW ... I had an incident with the police while looking for 141 walkups a few years ago ... do a search, I explained
in detail what happened.

So what would the police do if you don't have ID on you? I usually leave my passport in the room safe at my hotel so I don't loose it. I'd hate to go to jail for not being able to show ID. I do carry my wallet which has my US picture ID, is that enough?

-G

Ok well I'm gonna hazard the guess that you don't have a HKID card, which would be what they expect from local mongers. Don't need to worry about going to jail IF you have ID, just not on you. The ones who go to jail are the visa overstayers, illegal immigrants, etc., and not tourists! Most of the time they will just fuck it and consider it not worth the trouble to get to the bottom of it with tourists. This is where showing your state's driver's licence may just indicate to them that you aren't in Hong Kong illegally.

However, not disparaging anything or anyone here, but Caucasians will get this benefit of the doubt WAY more than say, African Americans. If you happen to be black, better be prepared to walk with them back to your hotel room to show them your passport.

But in a nutshell, the cops here won't immediately think of throwing you in jail just cos you don't have your ID on you. If they are feeling anal, you'll get the chance to retrieve it with them in tow.

[ Last edited by  hongtaiman82 at 15-4-2009 03:48 ]

cheers for the heads up.
but like twice a week said, stay calm and say why ur there, they can't do anything unless ur with more than one girl.

I wonder what happen if they check my ID and i forgot my passport?

at worst ... the police will ask you to bring it to a police station within a specified time !
but I highly doubt it'd come to that.

A good rule of thumb for travelling anywhere in the world is to have a copy of the front page of your passport with you at all times.....

always treat the police with proper respect, whether or not they deserve it.  i was in a nice neighborhood a few weeks ago in the middle of the afternoon, when two police stopped me and asked to search my backpack.  i'm an average-looking, middle-aged ABC and certainly don't look like a criminal.

anyway, it caught me by surprise and pissed me off since i thought there was absolutely no reason for them to check me.  so i very rudely asked them why and made them explain.  since i don't speak cantonese (i speak mandarin), everything was in english and i thought they would back off.  his partner backed off and started chatting with a nearby storeowner once he heard i didn't speak cantonese.  but i think my rudeness and challenge to authority made the lead officer stand his ground.  he continued to press on and i laughed at him as i showed him the contents of my bag.  there was nothing in there except some papers, but he then asked for my ID and called it in.

i then asked him for his name and badge number.  fact is, i was thinking of reporting him.  fortunately, since absolutely no crime was taking place, he had no choice but to let me go.  

in retrospect, i realized i handled it the wrong way even though nothing happened.  he may have made a big mistake in misprofiling me, but i shouldn't have had such a bad attitude.  i'm sure if i was stopped by a NY cop, i would have been treated much more shitty.  he was just doing his job, and i should have appreciated that.

if this happens again, i would definitely be more cooperative and thank him for watching out for our safety.

You're making good points PP - Hong Kong is far and away one of the safest places in the World to live and hang out - why is that? - it's 100% down to the quality and thoroughness of the policing.  

Not all are good of course, but they're doing a job I wouldn't want to do, for sure.