In pre-independent Singapore, any form of commercial activity within territories controlled by Chinese secret societies was subjected to “protection” by these gangs. In this print, a tattooed gang member, dressed in a manner that identifies his affiliation, is blatantly asking the stall owner for “protection money”—a form of extortion guaranteeing that the stall owner could run his business without gang interference. These gangs were a major social problem during the late 1950s to early 1970s when they attempted to enlarge their territories in violent turf wars.
