Island of Greed

Island of Greed

Year: 1997

Runtime: 126 mins

Language: Cantonese

Director: Michael Mak Tong-Kit

CrimeDramaThrillerAction

A determined police detective and his squad of officers dive deep into the extensive illegal operations of a cunning crime lord, who hopes to cleanse his reputation by seeking elected office in Taiwan. Their relentless investigation uncovers the mastermind’s network and the dangerous intersection of crime and politics.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Island of Greed (1997)

Trace every key event in Island of Greed (1997) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Fong infiltrates Chow's arcade to prosecute him for underground gambling

Captain Fong Kwok-fai infiltrates Chow's Taipei gambling arcade and prosecutes him for running an underground casino. The evidence points to Chow as mastermind behind the operation. However, the case falters when the presiding judge is paid off.

early in the investigation Taipei arcade
2

Bribery collapses the case as the judge dismisses

Chow's influence reaches the judiciary and the underground casino case is dismissed by a bribed presiding judge. The victory demonstrates Chow's ability to bend outcomes with money and power.

shortly after initial prosecution Taipei courthouse
3

Lam reports Chow's blackmail and bid-rigging

Fong convinces Lam Ching-piu to report Chow for blackmail and to expose bid-rigging in the Coastal Highway project. Lam's testimony begins to link Chow to multiple corruption schemes.

soon after dismissal Lam's office and Coastal Highway project site
4

Lam is dragged by Chow; Fong rescues him

Chow captures Lam and drags him on a fishing hook through a plantation, attempting to intimidate witnesses. Fong and his squad pursue Chow through the plantation, evading attack dogs, and manage to rescue Lam.

shortly after Lam's report plantation near Coastal Highway construction
5

Public exposure forces political consequence

Fong exposes Chow's crimes to the public, prompting a political response. The Kuomintang then nominates Chow's rival Ting Chung-shu to run for the Legislative Yuan.

after Lam's rescue public arena and political sphere
6

Chow announces independent bid for Legislative Yuan

Chow crashes Ting's press conference to announce his own bid for the Legislative Yuan, running without a party. The move signals Chow's transition from crime figure to political contender.

around the same period Ting's press conference
7

Fong is suspended amid corruption investigations

Fong is suspended from his duties as his superior, Suen Ching-lim, is revealed to be corrupt. The suspension halts Fong's anti-corruption campaign and complicates his fight against Chow.

early/mid campaign Investigation Bureau headquarters
8

Rival taxi wars escalate into a riot

Rival taxi companies Country and White Cloud, backing Chow and Ting respectively, clash for customers and escalate into a riot. Chow leverages the chaos through his ally Country Taxi's director Kwan to amplify the disruption.

during the campaign Taipei streets
9

Ball scene to manipulate police sympathy

Chow orders his wife Miu-heung to attend a ball where the National Police Agency Commissioner's wife is present, hoping the commissioner will urge Chow to stop the riot and boost Chow's hero image.

during riot ball in Taipei
10

Fong saves his father and escapes a blast

During the riot, Fong's taxi-driver father is caught in the chaos, and Fong himself rescues him. The pair narrowly escape an explosion that rocks the area.

during riot city streets
11

Ling Fei helps reinstate Fong; anti-corruption push resumes

With journalist Ling Fei's help, Fong convinces Justice Minister Fung King-chung to reinstate him and publicly support his anti-corruption efforts, reinforcing his comeback.

after riot Ministry of Justice; press/public sphere
12

Ting's killers and Nicotine's murder; Miu-heung aids Chow

Ting sends killers after Fong; one subordinate, Nicotine, is killed, leading Ting to attempt to frame Chow for the murder. Miu-heung aids Chow to sustain public support.

mid-campaign various locations in Taiwan
13

Chow ascends electorally; Ting's murder plot intensifies

Chow hires a prostitute to seduce and murder Ting, and soon after is elected to the Legislative Yuan with 125,000 votes, marking a powerful political rise.

shortly after mid-campaign campaign events and election
14

Climax and aftermath: pursuit, death, arrest, and political fallout

Fong's squad infiltrates Chow's circle and collects damning evidence from Chow's computer. In the climactic sequence, Chow kills Deputy Minister Hau, flees in a thirteen-vehicle convoy, and a helicopter assault destroys parts of the convoy; an explosion kills Miu-heung and Chow is arrested. In the aftermath, Chow is sentenced to prison for disfranchisement and death row; Fong resigns from the Investigation Bureau amid public pressure and political meddling, then announces a bid to be Mayor of Taipei in 1997 and marries Ling Fei.

climax and aftermath Chow's mansion and surrounding areas; Taipei

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:27

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Island of Greed Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Island of Greed

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