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The golden age of Hong Kong cinema saw the production of blockbuster titles like A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Conman (1998), and Infernal Affairs (2002). Packed with action, suspense, and good ol’ “nonsense” humour that’s representative of local comedies, these iconic crime films not only offer gripping stories but also capture the essence of life in our city in the 70s and 80s. Now, cinephiles and cultural enthusiasts can relive their favourite scenes from these classics at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station. Opened on January 2, the ‘Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey’ delves into local cop film classics through reconstructed sets, collectibles, original scripts, and much more.
Organisers couldn’t have picked a more apt setting for an exhibition spotlighting Hong Kong cop vs triad films. Not only did the façade of the Old Police Station appear as a backdrop for a good number of iconic titles, but the restored building also retains its original Edwardian architecture that’s representative of colonial buildings in the 20s, while the majority of the two-storey structure is opened for the public to explore. This nostalgic location definitely sets the stage for an immersive affair.
Visitors enter through a retro-style cinema entrance before moving onto five immersive spaces: CID Office, Identification Parade Room, the Armoury, Surveillance Room, and Detention Cells. Designed by local filmmakers and inspired by police stations of decades past, each zone pays homage to classic titles by embedding real props from films like Raging Fire (2021), A Better Tomorrow, and New Police Story (2004) throughout the exhibition space. Highlights include a recreated scene from Infernal Affairs where Andy Lau’s main antagonist deletes his colleague’s undercover records from the police database, a functioning two-way mirror in the Identification Parade Room, an interactive replica firearms prop display, as well as restored, original detention cells where suspects were actually held before and during questioning.
The ‘Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey’ exhibition is now open at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei. Tickets are priced at $30 per person, with concessionary tickets available at $10 per person. Children aged six or below can enter the exhibition for free. Book your tickets online at cultural.cityline.com as there will be no ticket sales onsite. Find out more at fpf.ccidahk.gov.hk.
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