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What is the current situation of young girls taking part in gangs? Is there an upward trend? What are the features and phenomena for concern? The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, increasingly concerned about this issue, has now undertaken to examine this understudied area of juvenile delinquency through an in-depth study. This Study was conducted through (1) an opinion survey of girls involved in gang activities; (2) in-depth interviews with girls in gangs; and (3) interviews with educators and specialists. It is hoped that this study will provide a clearer picture of the issues surrounding girls in gangs and will result in specific recommendations for relevant authorities concerned with these issues.

In this study, ¡§girls¡¨ refer to females who are below the age of 21 and having experience in juvenile gangs. Gangs, as used in this study, consists of the following features: (1) having stable groupings with regular gatherings; (2) exhibiting deviant behaviour such as vandalism, bullying, and fighting; (3) affiliated with triad subculture or triad societies.

 In this study, data revealing the situations of girls taking part in gangs were collected mainly from questionnaires and case studies. To facilitate data collection, we targeted only the service recipients of two Outreach teams of the Federation. One of the teams serves in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung (¡§Tsuen Kwai¡¨), and the other serves in Sai Kung and Wong Tai Sin (¡§Sai Wong¡¨). Therefore, this study only presents the situation in these two geographical areas and does not cover the whole of Hong Kong.

 The questionnaire survey was conducted between late May and June 2005, and was accomplished by the social workers of two Outreach teams (Tsuen Kwai and Sai Wong) making contact with suitable service recipients. 70 questionnaires were successfully completed; 55 in face-to-face meetings and 15 completed by telephone conversation.

 As well, case studies were conducted between mid June and July 2005 investigating the causes, behavioral features, and their perception of those who take part in gangs. With the assistance of our two Outreach teams, interviewees who had completed questionnaires in the first round were invited to take part in the in-depth interviews, so that they could share their feelings and experiences about their life in gangs. 18 participants interviewed met at least one of the following criteria: (1) being an active member of a gang; (2) affiliated with triad gang members; (3) assuming a role in her gang; (4) having taken part in deviant behaviour.

 The major findings are as follows:

 1. From the following observations of the Study, including the latest figures of girls joining gangs, taking part in deviant behaviours, taking on specific roles within the gangs, and the emergence of "All-female Group", indicates the trend of girls' participation in gangs seems to be increasing.

2.                2. Gender differences in Gang Participation¡GAccording to foreign scholar Hilary Murrish, and evidenced by the case interviews and experts of this study, differences of gender in gang participation can be illustrated into 4 aspects: (a) Reasons for joining Gangs; (b) Getting into the Gang (c) Activities in the Gang; and (d) Leaving the Gang.

 3. Many of the respondents showed little alertness against triad societies. Some respondents became gang members after they had met boyfriends or friends with gang backgrounds, or they wanted to get away from family pressure.

 4. Three emerging phenomenon as illustrated by the study deserves our attention. They are: (a) Cross-district Activities; (b) Frequent ¡§Group Switching¡¨; and (c) Many deviant girls hang around in friends or boyfriend¡¦s homes.

5. Form 2 is the most vulnerable time period for girls.

6.  Becoming fed up with life in gangs and knowing there is no future in the male-dominated gang circle, which provides an exit point for girls to get away from the gang.

7.               7. From the results of the study, girls in gangs are in a disadvantaged situation. These girls may over-estimate their self-protective abilities and neglect the danger of being involved in gangs, which will inevitably end in harm.

8. Under the co-operation with different sectors, resources can be gathered in order to share information and experience in preventing and solving gang problems.

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