Six Companies Official Seal
The Six Companies are ruling Chinese family association committees for the Tongs (堂, literally meeting hall) in San Francisco, California. The Six Companies operate in the United States of America in response to the need for benevolent organizations for new arriving Chinese immigrants, as well as taking charge of protecting their members from violence from other groups like White hoodlums and Chinese hatchet men. Some Six Companies are fully legitimate organizations, providing charity to needy immigrants, giving them jobs and such. Others are more criminal in outlook, engaging in drug smuggling, prostitution, and racketeering. But usually, the average Company was composed of both criminal and legitimate branches, with the criminal activity funding the charity (and the charity providing cover for the crimes). Many Triad members would join Tongs on reaching America, causing some Six Companies to be strongly influenced by the Tongs.