Enter the Godfather

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.

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 city’s underworld. Known for its rigid hierarchy, blood-sworn loyalty and a reputation for ruthless enforcement. He 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 soon built an extortion network targeting Chinese communities, with business owners ordered to pay protection cash. Those who refused were brutally punished.

Presenter: Livvy Haydock
Series Producer: Hayley Mortimer
Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford
Producers: Patrick Kiteley & Matt Toulson
Fixer in Hong Kong: Michelle Chan
Music: Andy Simms and Reliable Source Music
Journalism Assistants: Hattie Valentine & Ellie Dover
Commissioning Producer: Sam Proffitt
Commissioning Executive: Lorraine Okuefuna and Louise Kattenhorn
Commissioning Editor: Richard Maddock
Editor and Executive Producer: Clare Fordham
Archive: The Cook Report: Meet The Triads (Central Television, ITV)