Pretty big news. I heard someone even wanted the YUAN make the 29th of May a National Memorial Day. I don’t think that went very far.
[quote]Gangster’s funeral causes traffic foul-up
By Jimmy Chuang, STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, May 29, 2005,Page 1
Even as funeral services for the veteran gangster Hsu Hai-ching (許海清) caused a stir yesterday, Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智) urged the media not to turn Hsu into a hero when reporting the story.
“I sincerely hope that reporters will not exaggerate and praise Hsu like a hero when they cover his funeral services. What is more important is to tell the public how much his funeral services will impact local traffic or so,” Yao said.
Hsu’s funeral services were held at Taipei First Municipal Mortuary at noon yesterday, as more than 5,000 family members and friends – mostly local gang members – began to form a line outside the mortuary at 9am. Local police assigned officers to set up road blocks on the roads that surround the mortuary, which caused problems for the nearly 50,000 junior high school graduates in the city who were trying to take their high school entrance exams.b[/b]
taipeitimes.com/News/front/a … 2003257035[/quote]
[quote]Huge send-off for Taiwan mobster
Funeral procession in Taipei, Taiwan
Last Updated: Sunday, 29 May, 2005, 23:20 GMT 00:20 UK
The island’s main gangs attended the funeral in Taipei
Thousands of mourners have attended the funeral parade of a veteran crime boss in Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu Hai Ching, who died in April aged 93, was known as the “Ultimate Arbitrator” because of his skill in settling gangland disputes.
Members of the island’s four major criminal gangs, sporting black shirts and tattoos, joined the procession.
Local media carried reports on Hsu’s life describing his rise from a Taipei market and his ties with politicians.b[/b]
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p … 592285.stm[/quote]
[quote]Sea of mobsters send off chief
2005-05-30 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter / By Shih Hsiu-chuan
Police snatch opportunity to swell intelligence files on region’s network of gangsters.
Mourners march the streets of Taipei yesterday at the funeral of gangster Hsu Hai-ching, who is also known as "Mosquito Brother"or “The Final Arbitrator.”/rick yi, taiwan news
The funeral for veteran Taiwanese mobster Hsu Hai-ching (許海清) created serious traffic jams in Taipei yesterday as an estimated 10,000 people from different walks of life turned out to pay their last respects to the man better known as the “Mosquito Brother.”
Among the mourners to crowd around the Taipei First Municipal Funeral Home were organized crime figures from Hong Kong, Macau and Japan, local entertainers and city politicians.
Hsu, known widely as “Wen Ge,” or “Mosquito Brother,” (蚊哥) and “The Final Arbitrator,” has long been regarded as the godfather of Taiwan’s underworld, even though the man born in 1913 retired from criminal activities more than 30 years ago.
The network of influence he retained in recent decades was clearly apparent by the outpouring of support from gangsters of all stripes. To pay tribute to Hsu, the heads of Taiwan’s four major gangs - the Bamboo Union (竹聯幫) , the Four Seas (四海幫) , the Tiendaomeng (天道盟) and the Pine Union (松聯幫) - reached an agreement several days ago establishing May 29 as a “Truce Day,” meaning all gang members were forbidden to fight on the day of Hsu’s memorial service.b[/b]
etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/Socie … 415669.htm[/quote]
Ahhh Taiwan…Where high school kids come out for the bent nose funerals…
