Most of the 160 people, many allegedly members of Hong Kong criminal gangs, held when police raided a restaurant in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, have been released, officers said yesterday.

Members of "Heshenghe," Hong Kong's largest gang, were reportedly holding a meeting to appoint a leader, with figures from other gangs in attendance, when officers burst in on Thursday evening.

Most of those held were freed after investigations, police said yesterday.

Among those said to be present were 14 leading figures in Heshenghe, plus senior members of several other gangs.

Police speculated that Heshenghe gang members were holding discussions at the restaurant to appoint a new leader, Hong Kong media reported.

According to reports, many of those held were later freed by police and returned to Hong Kong late Thursday.

High-ranking members were questioned through the night and 10 were among those seen leaving a Shenzhen police station on Friday afternoon, Hong Kong newspaper Wen Wei Po reported.

Shenzhen police said they were informed on Thursday evening that a large number of gang members were gathering at a restaurant and nearby entertainment venues in Futian District, and some were likely carrying guns.

Some 350 officers, including armed riot police, blockaded the area and then stormed restaurant, seizing 160 people.

Some of those held had been performing a traditional Chinese lion dance and others waving flags, when officers arrived, it was reported. Police said they faced no resistance. Witnesses told the newspaper that the group was dining at 20 tables at the restaurant, with many taking part in a lion dance while senior members of the group talked.

Movie actor

Hong Kong movie actor Michael Chan Wai-man, well-known for playing gang member roles, was among those held. He was released on Friday.

Heshenghe, is currently the biggest mafia gang in Hong Kong, claiming to have more than 200,000 members, according to China National Radio.

The gang makes its money from a number of illegal businesses, such as selling drugs and pirated DVDs, and its activities cover many areas of Hong Kong, the radio program said.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police have announced that they have detained 63 suspects in an anti-gang campaign.

The police said they had learned useful gang information in a nine-month-long undercover operation.

The information includes evidence that 80 people with gang backgrounds have been involved in a number of crimes, said police.

Police said the suspects were aged between 13 to 43, and 20 were female.

Officers added that 57 of the suspects are still under investigation.

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