This study examined the characteristics and processes of four youth gangs operating in the Chinatown of Vancouver, Canada over a 3-year period (1975-1978). The gangs were composed entirely of teenaged immigrants recently arrived from Hong Kong, who were engaged in a wide variety of antisocial and criminal behavior (e.g., extortion, shoplifting, trafficking in soft drugs, gang fighting, and beating Canadian-born Chinese). Data were collected and analyzed from interviews with the gang members, victims, and with individuals from the community who had contacts with them (e.g. school personnel, police). School, police, and welfare records were consulted and observation of gang activities done on site. Three sociocultural antecendents were identified as important in the development of the gangs: the weakening among many Hong Kong immigrants of the traditional Chinese pattern of close parental guidance and supervision; the resultant emergence of youth peer groups that challenge parental authority and traditional Chinese values; and the strong attraction of North American success symbols for gang members, coupled with their perceived inability to achieve success through legitimate means because of difficulties in learning English. The rise of gangs can be inhibited only if immigrant youth are able to find and acquire new, permanent and recognized social roles and to participate in close personal relations with the old inhabitants. In addition, the immigration policies which admit to the country youth with limited chances for success, should be changed. Statistical data and 14 references are included.