Anti-triad officers demanded a sneak preview of a film premiering today about the exploits of 'Big Spender', according to its director.
Directed by Andy Ng Yiu-kuen and starring Simon Yam Tat-wah, Operation Billionaires will open in 23 cinemas as Cheung Tze-keung and his gang go on trial in Guangzhou.
The film was cleared for public viewing and categorised as IIB, which means it is unsuitable for children and young people.
But officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau were said to have set an extra hurdle for the film last week.
'The officers asked to see the film before its formal screening because they claimed it was sensitive. I have no idea why they needed to do that,' the director said.
Ng said he gave police a tape of the film last week. A force spokesman said officers had not seen the film. Under normal procedures, films are only required to be checked by the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority.
The film describes how Cheung and the now jailed and wheelchair-bound Yip Kai-foon allegedly kidnapped two property tycoons.
