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  • Walter's Blog.
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Walter
    • 1980 Joining Up - Grafton Street >
      • Arrival and First Impressions
      • First Week
      • Training
      • Passing Out
    • Yaumati Cowboy >
      • Getting on the Streets
      • Tempo of the City
      • Jumpers, pill poppers and the indoor BBQ
      • Into a Minefield.
    • Why Tango in Paris, when you can Foxtrot in Kowloon? >
      • Baptism By Fire
      • Kai Tak with Mrs Thatcher.
      • Home; The Boy Returns
  • 1984 - 1986
    • PTU Instructor & Getting Hitched
    • Having a go: SDU
    • Starting a Chernobyl family
    • EOD - Don't touch anything
    • Semen Stains and the rules
  • 1987 to 1992 - Should I Stay or Go?
    • Blue Lights, Sirens & Grenades
    • Drugs, Broken Kids & A Plane Crash
    • 600 Happy Meals Please!
    • Hong Kong's Best Insurance
    • Riding the Iron Horse
  • Crime in Hong Kong
    • Falling Crime Rates - Why?
    • Triads
  • History of Hong Kong Policing
    • History 1841 to 1941
    • History 1945 to 1967
    • Anatomy of the 50 cent Riot - 1966
    • The Fall of a Commissioner.
    • History 1967 to 1980
    • Three Wise Men from the West
    • The Blue Berets.
    • The African Korps and other tribes.
    • Getting About - Transport.
    • A Pub in every station
    • Bullshit Bingo & Meetings
    • Godber - The one who nearly got away.
  • Top 20 Films
    • 2001 - A Space Odyssey.
    • The Godfather.
    • Blade Runner
    • Kes
    • Star Wars
    • Aliens
    • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
    • The Life of Brian
    • Dr Strangelove.
    • Infernal Affairs
    • Bridge on the River Kwai.
    • This Is Spinal Tap.
    • Chung King Express
    • An Officer and a Gentleman
    • PTU
    • Contact
    • Saving Private Ryan
    • Family Guy Star Wars
    • Zulu
    • Hard Day's Night
  • The Long Read
    • Machiavelli on Hong Kong
    • War in Ukraine - the narrative and other stuff.
    • The Hidden Leader
    • The Big Game
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PTU - "Everyone in uniform is a brother"

Picture
This 2003 Johnny TO film had me nodding along with a wry smile from the get-go. It captures the atmosphere of foreboding that revolves around a missing police gun. The rush to find it before a report can be made and the tension that builds. In 1995 I was in PTU when one of my officers thought he’d lost his handcuffs in a struggle with a couple of hooligans. We held off reporting the loss. Then at daybreak, the handcuffs are found tucked into the fold of police van seat. Nothing as exciting as this movie, but I understood the intent of the characters.

Lam Suet is perfect as the inept disheveled CID officer LO. I know the type. I’ve worked with him, recognising all his foibles and actions. He misplaces his revolver in a rumble with a couple of triads guys. Meanwhile, the killing of the triad boss sets off investigators suspecting LO's involvement. Sergeant  Mike of the Police Tactical Unit determines to help LO.  His fellow Sergeant Kat is not impressed with this blatant breach of the rules. At the same time, the triads are fighting amongst themselves. Whilst rival police units are scouring for a case. 

Sergeant Mike and his team shake down everyone they can find. All the while keeping their interfering and guileless commander at bay. The nuance of relationships between ranks, colleagues and police units are well crafted. Again, I was nodding along in agreement.
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The ending is poetic. LO prevails and Sergeant Mike has done the honourable thing by sticking with him. Some reviewers have held that PTU is all style over substance. I agree that Simon Yam as Sgt Mike is playing it understated. Yet, I see the substance in the subtle hints about tension between supposed comrades. Sergeant Mike has a simple philosophy “Everyone in uniform is a brother”. 


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