Long Arm of the Law III 1989
Directed by
Michael Mak Tong-Kit
Made by
Johnny Mak Production Co. Ltd.
Long Arm of the Law III Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Long Arm of the Law III (1989). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Lee Cheung-kong [Andy Lau] is an honorary soldier who is falsely accused of a robbery in China by his friends and is arrested by Officer Mo Heung-yeung [Elvis Tsui Kam-Kong]. His appeal is rejected and he is sentenced to death, but he stages a dramatic escape from execution, only to be stabbed by Mo during the chase. He illegally slips into Hong Kong, where he meets two illegal migrants, Seung Mun [Elizabeth Lee Mei-Fung] and Chicken Heart [Max Mok Siu-Chung], and a wary bond forms after she treats his wounds as they hide in a truck during a police sweep. Upon arriving in Hong Kong, Moon is sold into prostitution to repay debts, while Chicken Heart and his younger brother are taken in by triad boss Master Leung [Kirk Wong Chi-Keung] as labor. Cheung-kong owes HK$3,000 to Snakehead, the shipper of the illegal migrants, a debt his uncle refuses to acknowledge. Leung notices Cheung-kong’s fighting skills when he confronts Snakehead and his henchmen, and offers to cover the debt and hire him at a construction site.
Leung learns about Moon’s predicament and pushes Cheung-kong to join a jewel robbery gang led by Master Cheuk [Stephen Chan Tak-Gwong], and reveals to Cheung-kong the brothel where Moon is forced to work, but Leung tips off the brothel boss to anticipate Cheung-kong’s arrival. Armed with a machete, Cheung-kong rescues Moon and fights off the brothel boss and his henchmen, but Moon is taken away in a car. Leung convinces Cheuk of Cheung-kong’s fighting skills, so Cheuk arranges him to partner with Chicken Heart, whose brother was killed while taking a bullet for him. At this time, Mo is sent to Hong Kong to hunt for Cheung-kong. The Hong Kong police initially resist interference with the case, but the pursuit tightens as the operation progresses.
Cheuk leads Cheung-kong, Chicken Heart, and his gang to rob a jewelry shop where Cheung-kong shoots an off-duty police superintendent and Chicken Heart ends up trapped inside a safe with a manager. Cheung-kong breaks Chicken Heart out with a grenade and they flee from the police, while Cheuk refuses to release Moon, blaming Cheung-kong for the shooting and insisting on a new hiding place. Leung’s underling, 966 [Lam Kai-Wing], guides Cheung-kong and Chicken Heart to a new hideout on a boat where Cheung-kong reunites with Moon.
Cheung-kong discovers Mo’s arrival in Hong Kong to hunt for him and wants to leave, angering Cheuk, who orders his henchmen to capture Moon. Cheung-kong agrees to work for a full year for Cheuk so he can stay close to Moon, which Cheuk allows in exchange for his loyalty. Later, Leung is captured by Mo and beaten to reveal Cheung-kong’s whereabouts, and the two factions maneuver Cheung-kong into a confrontation with Mo. Cheung-kong shoots at Mo, triggering a gunfight that ends with Cheung-kong subduing Mo but ultimately letting him go. Enraged, Cheuk threatens to sell Moon, and Cheung-kong fights both Cheuk and Leung, as Leung clears the way for him to contact Moon by phone and continue the ruse.
Meanwhile, Leung and Cheuk sexually assault Moon while she remains captive, a brutal turn that underscored the depth of betrayal surrounding the escape. During the next armored-truck heist, the crew realizes they were given blank guns by Leung and Cheuk. They force 966 to lead them to an apartment where Moon is hidden, and in the ensuing confrontation Cheung-kong fires a submachine gun, hurls Cheuk out the window, and escapes with Moon as the police converge. Chicken Heart dies on the way to the dock, while Moon sustains gunshot injuries. Mo arrives to stop Cheung-kong, but Kong insists they should seek medical help and promises to return when China’s laws allow it. In the end, Cheung-kong and Moon reach Panama and begin a new life together.
Long Arm of the Law III Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Long Arm of the Law III (1989) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
False arrest and death sentence in China
Cheung-kong is falsely accused of a robbery committed by his friends in China. The truth is buried, and Officer Mo Heung-yeung arrests him as the case collapses under pressure. The court rejects his appeal and sentences him to death, launching a desperate chain of events.
Escape attempt and stabbing by Mo
Cheung-kong makes a desperate escape attempt from the execution ground but is halted mid-flight. In the chaos, Mo stabs him, wounding him and ending the immediate execution. The attack marks the start of his dangerous flight from China.
Escape to Hong Kong; fugitive life begins
Taking advantage of the distraction, Cheung-kong illegally slips into Hong Kong, beginning life as a fugitive. He slides into a new city where danger and opportunity collide in the shadows. Survival without the law’s protection becomes his new reality.
First encounter with Moon and Chicken Heart
In Hong Kong, Cheung-kong meets two illegal immigrants, Seung Moon and Chicken Heart. Moon treats his wound, and they hide in a truck during a police search, forming a fragile bond. The connection with Moon deepens as danger closes in on all of them.
Moon’s prostitution and Cheung-kong’s rising resolve
Moon is sold into prostitution to repay debts, and Cheung-kong learns of her exploitation. He vows to rescue her, a decision that pulls him deeper into the underworld’s web. The stakes rise as his personal mission clashes with criminal schemes.
Leung recognizes Cheung-kong’s fighting skills
Leung, a seasoned underworld figure, notices Cheung-kong’s combat prowess and offers to pay his debt plus a construction-site job. The assist provides a foothold in Hong Kong’s crime economy, binding Cheung-kong to Leung’s world. This alliance promises protection but increases danger.
Cheuk recruits Cheung-kong into a jewel gang
Master Cheuk, a jewel robbery gang leader, is introduced to Cheung-kong with Leung vouching for his skills. Cheuk explains Moon’s plight and tests Cheung-kong’s loyalty. Cheung-kong agrees to join the gang to gain leverage over his enemies.
Rescue attempt at the brothel
Armed with a machete, Cheung-kong infiltrates the brothel to rescue Moon, fighting the boss and his henchmen. Moon is seized and driven away in a car, heightening the peril Cheung-kong faces. The raid demonstrates his willingness to risk everything for Moon.
Cheuk pairs Cheung-kong with Chicken Heart for a heist
Cheuk arranges Cheung-kong to partner with Chicken Heart, whose brother was killed protecting him. The duo forms a team for the next major operation, testing their synergy under pressure. The partnership deepens Cheung-kong’s ties to the gang.
Jewelry shop robbery and police engagement
The gang robs a jewelry shop, and Cheung-kong shoots an off-duty police superintendent amid the chaos. Chicken Heart ends up trapped inside a safe with a manager, creating a tense standoff. They manage to escape as the police close in.
New boat hideout and Moon’s reunion
Leung’s underling 966 leads Cheung-kong and Chicken Heart to a new hideout aboard a boat, where Moon is briefly reunited with Cheung-kong. The boat becomes a precarious sanctuary amid pursuit. The forced separations continue to test their bond.
Mo arrives; Cheung-kong agrees to a year of service
Mo arrives in Hong Kong to hunt for Cheung-kong, intensifying the pressure. To remain by Moon’s side, Cheung-kong agrees to work for Cheuk for a full year. The arrangement offers a short-term hedge but drags him deeper into the gang’s scheme.
Nightclub confrontation with Mo
Mo closes in on Cheung-kong and the confrontation moves to a nightclub. A tense shootout ensues, and Cheung-kong fires at Mo, then subdues him without delivering a fatal blow. The uneasy truce leaves both men still in the operate-or-die orbit.
Moon captured and a brutal betrayal unfolds
Moon remains captive as Leung and Cheuk assault her, deepening the sense of betrayal. During an armored truck heist, they discover their guns are blanks thanks to Leung’s manipulation. Cheung-kong intervenes, blasting Leung and tossing Cheuk out a window to escape with Moon.
Panama and a new life
Chicken Heart dies on the way to the dock, leaving Cheung-kong and Moon to sail toward a new life. Heung-yeung arrives but ultimately allows them to seek medical help for Moon. The film ends with the couple reaching Panama to start anew and Cheung-kong expressing a wish to return someday when China’s laws permit it.
Long Arm of the Law III Characters
Explore all characters from Long Arm of the Law III (1989). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Li Cheung Kong (Andy Lau)
A skilled fighter who is falsely accused of robbery in China, he escapes execution and flees to Hong Kong. His journey traces his descent into the criminal underworld while clinging to a growing love for Moon. He is torn between self-preservation and a code of loyalty to those he cares about.
Moon / Seung Mun (Elizabeth Lee)
Moon is sold into prostitution to repay debts after Cheung Kong's arrival in Hong Kong. She becomes the emotional center of Cheung Kong's conflict, enduring exploitation while supporting their escape. Her resilience and vulnerability shape much of the film's moral tension.
Chicken Heart (Max Mok Siu-Chung)
A loyal gang member who partners with Cheung-kong; his brother dies protecting him, amplifying the stakes. He faces dangerous twists and ultimately dies during the escape with Moon.
Master Leung (Kirk Wong Chi-Keung)
Triad boss who notices Cheung-kong's combat skills and brings him into a debt-enslaved plot. He manipulates Cheung-kong, orchestrates captures, and creates obstacles for Moon’s safety.
Master Cheuk (Stephen Chan Tak-Gwong)
Leads a jewel robber gang and arranges Cheung-kong to work with his crew. He becomes a volatile rival who clashes with Cheung-kong and endangers Moon.
Mo Heung-yeung (Officer Mo)
A police officer who pursues Cheung-kong and reluctantly enforces the law in Hong Kong, pursuing the criminal through intense gunfights and interrogations. He embodies the friction between law and crime.
Senior Police Officer
Mo's superior who is involved in the broader pursuit and sometimes obstacles Cheung-kong faces within the legal system. The dynamic highlights the complexity of policing in a crime-ridden landscape.
Brothel Boss
Runs the establishment Moon is forced to work in; part of the exploitation Cheung-kong fights against. The boss becomes an antagonist in Cheung-kong's mission to rescue Moon.
Leung's Thug
Leung's enforcer who participates in capers, surveillance, and brutal acts to maintain control over Moon and the crew.
Long Arm of the Law III Settings
Learn where and when Long Arm of the Law III (1989) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Location
China, Hong Kong, Panama
The story unfolds across China, Hong Kong, and Panama, highlighting crowded streets, docks, and hidden hideouts used by criminals. It begins in China where Cheung-kong is falsely accused, moves to the neon-lit crime world of Hong Kong, and ends with a hopeful escape to Panama. The settings emphasize cross-border crime, debt, and the constant pursuit by law enforcement.
Long Arm of the Law III Themes
Discover the main themes in Long Arm of the Law III (1989). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Crime & Corruption
The film centers on a web of crime, coercion, and manipulation by triad bosses who exploit Cheung-kong and Moon. It shows how false accusations, debt, and greed propel characters into violent schemes, from brothels to jewel heists. Corruption threads through police complicity and the criminals’ influence on the legal system, shaping every decision.
❤️
Love & Loyalty
Moon and Cheung-kong form a fragile bond amid danger and exploitation. Love motivates his risky choices, from rescuing Moon to protecting their escape route. The relationship provides human stakes against the brutality of the underworld, even as it endures threats and betrayal.
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Escape & Survival
Cheung-kong survives by relying on combat prowess, quick thinking, and shifting loyalties. He negotiates with triads, dodges police, and makes dangerous alliances to stay alive and protect Moon. The chase spans multiple hideouts and culminates in a dangerous plan to break free.
Long Arm of the Law III Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Long Arm of the Law III (1989). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the neon‑drenched streets of Hong Kong, a city where commerce and danger coexist in a restless rhythm, the undercurrents of organized crime shape every shadowed alley and bustling market. The film paints a gritty, almost claustrophobic portrait of a metropolis that never truly sleeps, its pulse echoing the desperation of those who slip through its legal cracks. Amid the rain‑slicked sidewalks and crowded harbors, a tone of relentless tension intertwines with moments of stark humanity, hinting at a world where survival often demands uneasy alliances.
Lee Cheung‑kong arrives on this stage as an ex‑soldier haunted by a wrongful death sentence back home. His daring escape from the ultimate punishment forces him into a precarious existence far from the familiar confines of his past life. Stripped of rank and certainty, he must navigate an unfamiliar culture, relying on his combat instincts while confronting the stark reality of being an outsider in a city that judges strangers with suspicion.
There, he encounters Moon, the woman he loves, whose presence offers a fragile anchor amid the chaos. Their bond quickly becomes the catalyst for the film’s central conflict when a ruthless criminal network seizes her as leverage. Compelled by a desperate need to protect her, Lee finds himself drawn into the gang’s sphere, where his martial prowess is both a curse and a commodity. The uneasy partnership forces him to weigh his personal code against the brutal pragmatism of a world that thrives on power and coercion.
The atmosphere remains charged with ambiguity, as Lee wrestles with loyalty, guilt, and the ever‑looming threat of retribution. The narrative teases a relentless cat‑and‑mouse chase through Hong Kong’s underbelly, promising a tense exploration of love’s endurance when every choice could tip the balance between redemption and surrender.
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