According to a former city official surnamed Chiu who participated in the crackdowns, the vendors got together and hired lookouts to watch for police. When they saw someone "suspicious" coming, they'd immediately report to the vendors. "They'd shout out secret codes to the vendors to alert them," he says.
據市府當年一位多次前往取締的邱姓官員表示，由於店家很團結，為了逃避取締人員，他們出錢僱用眼線，定時守候在街角，只要發現「可疑」人物，立刻回來通風報信，「他們使用不同密語，再加上大聲呼喊，設法提醒店家注意！」