'Triad Boss' Hacked To Death: Four Held

Four people have been arrested in Hong Kong after a man, thought to be a triad boss, was hacked to death outside a hospital.

The 30-year-old man, with the surname Tse (Taiwan OTC: 5296.TWO - news) , was struck multiple times with an axe and meat cleaver by two masked men, according to The Standard newspaper.

Reports said he had been nearly disembowelled.

The paper cited a police source as saying he was a senior member of the city's Wo Shing Wo triad society.

Television news footage showed blood splattered on the ground at the scene, along with a yellow-handled axe, walking stick, smartphone and glasses.

"Police officers sped to the scene and found the man lying unconscious on the ground," said a police statement, adding that Tse sustained multiple wounds. He was rushed to hospital but declared dead an hour-and-a-half later.

The arrested men are aged between 18 and 30, police said.

Tse had just seen a doctor in rural Sheung Shui district and was limping with the help of a walking stick when he was attacked, The Standard reported.

Around 100 people thought to be members of the Wo Shing Wo group were seen burning incense and offering prayers at the scene of the killing late on Sunday.

Hong Kong's notorious triads have a hand in extortion rackets, prostitution, drugs and copyright piracy - although violence is rarely seen in tourist areas.

In 2011, three Hong Kong triad members were jailed for life for the grisly murder of a crime boss who was rammed by a vehicle and then hacked to death outside a luxury hotel.

Hong Kong police last August said they had arrested nearly 1,200 people in raids on illegal gambling dens and brothels during a month-long crackdown on triad activities.