Corruption Doesn't Pay (廉政英雌之火槍柔情) is a 1995 Hong Kong police procedural television drama starring Sheren Tang, Esther Kwan, Kiki Sheung, Waise Lee, and Cheung Kwok Keung. The series was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong from 8 May to 2 June 1995. The 20-episode long series focuses on the Independent Commission Against Corruption solving different cases of a financial nature. Insurance fraud in episode 1–3; immigration stamp fraud in episode 5–7; credit card fraud in episode 7–10; drug smuggling and police corruption in episode 10–13; shell companies and money laundering in episodes 14–20. Tang, Kwan, and Sheung portray the armed women investigators who help crack the cases.[1]
| Corruption Doesn't Pay | |
|---|---|
 poster | |
| Genre | Police procedural, Action Romance |
| Written by | Lam Shiu Chi |
| Starring | Sheren Tang, Waise Lee, Esther Kwan, Kiki Cheung, Cheung Kwok Keung, Li Shing Cheong, Betty Mak, Lau Kong |
| Opening theme | 出色女子 "Outstanding Woman". lyrics by Sandy Cheung, sung by Cass Phang |
| Composer | Andrew Tuason |
| Country of origin | Hong Kong |
| Original language | Cantonese |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Amy Wong |
| Production locations | Hong Kong |
| Running time | 45 minutes (each) |
| Production company | TVB |
| Original release | |
| Network | Jade |
| Release | 8 May – 2 June 1995 |
The television serial was written by Lam Shiu Chi, who also wrote the similar themed, and similar Chinese titled TVB direct-to-video television movie Sharpshooters (廉政英雌) in 1994. That movie, starring Kara Wai, Elvina Kong, and Lee Kwai Ying, also focused on the armed women crime fighters of the ICAC.[2]
Synopsis
editThe Independent Commission Against Corruption has many talented people who help fight financial crime and corruption. Poon (Sheren Tang) a senior investigator in the Operations department is the only female Arms Issued Officer (AIO) among the nearly two dozen armed officers within the organization. Her bravery in rescuing Polly (Ester Kwan) in a hostage situation impresses upon Polly to join the ICAC to work with Poon. Together, Poon, Polly, and colleague Si Lai (Kiki Sheung) solve major cases, undergo dangerous missions, and become best friends.
While the trio has demanding work careers, they also have personal lives. Their relationship with their family and partners soon come into conflict. Poon separates from her long time boyfriend; Polly deals with her estranged stepfather; Si Lai's husband grows closer to the babysitter.[3]
Cast
editICAC Operations Team B
edit| Cast | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Waise Lee | Cheuk Ming (卓明) aka "卓官 Cheuk Kun" | Senior Investigative Officer Team B Arms Issued Officer Crystal's husband loves Poon Wai Yan |
| Sheren Tang | Poon Wai Yan (潘慰欣) | Senior Investigator Arms Issued Officer Cheuk Ming's love interest Kei Cheung's love interest |
| Kiki Sheung | Chee Zhong Lin (池中蓮) aka "師奶 Housewife" | Kwok Ka On's wife |
| Esther Kwan | Kam Bo Lai (甘寶妮) aka "寶莉 Polly" | Po Siu Chung's stepdaughter Calvin's love interest |
| Li Shing Cheong | Kan Kwok Piu (簡國標) | Arms Issued Officer |
| Tony Ho | Yee Kay Fong (余其方) aka "余公子 Prince Yee" | |
| Cheng Pak Leon | Cheung Sa Kun (張志權) aka "Cool man" | |
| Marco | ||
| Deon Cheung | Gordon | |
| Bobby |
Supporting Characters
edit| Cast | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lau Kong | Po Siu Chung (布少祥) | Dietitian Polly's stepfather |
| Cheung Ying Choi | Mr. Poon aka "Ah Dac (阿德)" | Poon Wai Yan's father |
| Lai Suen | Mrs. Poon "Mama" | Poon Wai Yan's mother |
| Alex Fong | Chong Man Hin (Calvin) | Yu Fung Financial executive Playboy loves Polly |
| Savio Tsang | Kwok Ka On (郭家安) | trading company executive Chee's husband loves Miss Yip |
| Bessie Chan | Yip Lai Yu (葉麗茹) aka "Miss Yip" | School teacher Chee Zhong Lin and Kwok Ka On's babysitter Kwok Ka On's love interest |
| Henry Lo | Ng Lap Kwong (伍立光) | Poon Wai Yan's boyfriend |
| Jane Ma | Crystal | Cheuk Ming's wife |
| Cheung Kwok Keung | Kei Cheung (祺昌) | Boss of Asia Pacific Century Group Boss of Sing Sai Group shell company loves Poon Wai Yan Villain, episode 14-20 |
| Ricky Lee | Lau Tung Wing (劉東榮) aka "John" | Financial Director of Yu Fung Financial, episode 14-16 |
| Betty Mak | Lai Yuk Ha (李玉霞) | Happy Travel travel agency owner Song B's girlfriend Insurance fraudster Villain, episode 1-3 |
| Ma Sai Hung (馬世雄) aka "Song B (喪 B)" | Lai Yuk Ha's boyfriend Insurance fraudster Villain, episode 1-3 | |
| Carrie Ho | Liu Siu Wan (寥小芸) | Insurance agent Insurance fraudster, episode 1-3 |
| Jiang Wenduan | Sun Hong (孫紅) | episode 5-7 |
| Koei Leung | Kitty Wong | Reporter, episode 5-6 |
| Wong Man Piu | Ng Zan Lung (吳振龍) | Fence witness, episode 19-20 |
| Mickey Chu | Tsui Cing An (徐正安) aka "Stephen" | Student Identity fraudster, episode 8-9 |
| Chan Wing Chun | Chan Dak Wing (陳德榮) | Postman Identity fraudster, episode 8-9 |
| Chan Hon Man aka "Bob" | Drug smuggler, episode 10-13 | |
| Lai Siu Yee (黎少芝) aka "Sam" | Flight stewardess Drug smuggler, episode 10-13 | |
| Charles Tam | K.W. Tsim "詹Sir" | ICAC Director of Operations |
| Ben Wong | Go Luo (高佬) | ICAC Technical Services Department technician |
| Gregory Rivers | Lu Tsu (陸徐) | ICAC Firearms Training Director, episode 10 |
| 張成剛 aka "張Sir" | ICAC Senior Investigative Officer Team A |
References
edit- ^ "Corruption Doesn't Pay". SPCnet.
- ^ "Sharpshooters movie info". HKMDB.
- ^ "Episode List". Wang Chao.
- ^ "廉政英雌之火槍柔情". Douban.