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Timeline

Lee Rock II (1991) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1991 · 112 mins · Cantonese
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Directed by
Lawrence Ah Mon
Starring
Andy Lau, Jim James, Aaron Kwok, Paul Chun Pui, Xiong Xinxin, Huang Kaisen

Lee Rock is now the most powerful person in the police force, but he chooses to retreat, because he knows the rules of the power struggle.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle
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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Lee Rock II Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Lee Rock II (1991) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Reeve's retirement sparks Lee-Ngan rivalry

    In 1959, Reeve retires in Yau Ma Tei, setting off a power struggle for the top ranks. Lee Rock and Ngan Tung clash as rivals for the position. The tension marks the beginning of a long war between reformist leadership and entrenched corruption.

    When
    1959
    Where
    Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
  2. Lee promoted to Chief Chinese Detective; Ngan takes top post

    Following the fallout, Ngan is promoted to the top rank while Lee is named Chief Chinese Detective. The division between the rivals hardens as Lee consolidates his power from the inside. Lee's rise signals the start of a broader reform agenda.

    When
    1959-1960
    Where
    Hong Kong Police
  3. Lee reforms departments; gains business support

    Lee undertakes sweeping reforms across police departments, aiming to modernize operations. He wins support from many businessmen by presenting a tough anti-corruption stance. His momentum grows while Ngan's standing declines.

    When
    1960s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  4. Ngan hires King Crab for assassination; Crab is killed

    Ngan hires a mob-connected henchman, King Crab, to eliminate Lee in a failed plot. The attempt nearly succeeds, but Crab is killed by Ngan to avoid discovery. The event entrenches Lee's enemies and deepens the feud.

    When
    early 1960s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  5. Lee consolidates power across HK Police; expands into business

    Throughout the 1960s, Lee builds control over the police and extends influence into commercial real estate, entertainment, and other sectors. His enterprise earns him vast wealth and formidable political leverage. His ascent changes the balance of power in Hong Kong.

    When
    1960s-1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  6. ICAC established; corruption crackdown begins

    In 1974, ICAC is established to combat corruption within the police and government. Sutcliffe's appointment in 1972 and the ICAC's formation mark a turning point against entrenched criminal networks. Lee faces a new threat to his sprawling empire.

    When
    1974
    Where
    Hong Kong
  7. Lee plans to move assets to Canada; seeks to protect family

    With ICAC looming, Lee plans to transfer his wealth to Canada and emigrates with Grace, his wife. He also contemplates making Rose his second wife. The personal stakes grow as family loyalties collide with his illicit operations.

    When
    mid-1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong, Canada
  8. Polygamy law passes; Rose leaves with Bill

    During a reunion, Rose discovers she has Lee's son, Bill, but a polygamy ban forces her to leave to avoid being a third partner. She moves to Australia with Bill to start anew. The family rift widens as Lee's plans for a legitimate life threaten to collapse.

    When
    mid-1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong; Australia
  9. Rose and Bill return to Hong Kong; confrontation builds

    Years later, Rose and the now-adult Bill return to Hong Kong and reconnect with Lee. Rose hopes Bill will accept Lee as his father, but Bill resents Lee for abandoning his mother. The emotional tension sets the stage for a final reckoning.

    When
    late 1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  10. Assaults, hospital crisis, and car bombing attempt

    On the way to the hospital, Lee is injured when a car bomb is detonated by King Crab's younger brother, seeking revenge. Rose collapses at the hospital and is hospitalized, intensifying the crisis at the family home.

    When
    late 1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  11. Rose dies; Lee and Bill confront their feud

    Lee and Bill witness Rose's death at the hospital, deepening the rift between the father and son. Bill, acting out of respect for his mother, lets his father depart but remains determined to end Lee's illicit dealings.

    When
    late 1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  12. Final standoff: Bill arrests Ngan

    In the climactic confrontation, Ngan taunts Lee to arrest him, prompting Bill to intervene and arrest his grandfather's rival. The feud reaches its culmination as the younger generation takes control.

    When
    late 1970s
    Where
    Hong Kong
  13. Epilogue: ICAC arrests corrupt officers; Lee in Canada

    The epilogue shows ICAC arresting various corrupt police officers as Lee enjoys a stable life with his family in Canada. The long fight against corruption has reshaped Hong Kong's police landscape. Lee's empire dissolves into a more lawful era.

    When
    post-1970s epilogue
    Where
    Canada

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:00

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Timeline questions answered

Lee Rock II Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Lee Rock II (1991): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

How did Lee Rock become the most powerful person in the Hong Kong Police?

Lee Rock rose to power by launching sweeping reforms across every police department after being promoted to Chief Chinese Detective in 1959. He won backing from numerous businessmen by presenting a tough anti-corruption stance, while actually using his position to build a vast network of legitimate and illegitimate enterprises. By the late 1960s, he had accumulated an estimated HK$500 million fortune, becoming the city's most formidable power broker.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry with Ngan Tung that began in 1959 set the stage for Lee's methodical climb to power.

  • lee rock
  • hong kong police
  • corruption
  • chief chinese detective
  • power broker
Q2

Why did Ngan Tung hire King Crab to kill Lee Rock?

Ngan Tung hired mobster King Crab after Lee Rock was promoted to Chief Chinese Detective, a position that outranked Ngan in seniority despite Ngan taking the official top title. Resentment festered as Lee consolidated power and launched reforms that diminished Ngan's influence. The failed assassination attempt led Ngan to kill Crab to cover his tracks, but the plot only deepened the feud.

Foreshadowing: The power struggle between Lee and Ngan that began with Reeve's retirement in 1959 foreshadowed this violent confrontation.

  • ngan tung
  • king crab
  • assassination
  • hong kong crime
  • mobster
Q3

Why did Rose leave Hong Kong with Bill?

Rose was forced to leave Hong Kong and settle in Australia because a polygamy ban passed in Hong Kong. Rather than become the third party in Lee Rock's life alongside his wife Grace, Rose chose to depart with their young son Bill. This decision created a family rift that would later define the emotional conflict between Lee and his son.

Foreshadowing: Lee's contemplation of making Rose his second wife during the mid-1970s set the stage for this family separation.

  • rose
  • bill
  • polygamy
  • australia
  • lee rock family
Q4

Why did Bill want to arrest his father Lee Rock?

Bill, who worked for ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption), believed Lee Rock had abandoned his mother Rose and built his fortune through corruption. As an ICAC officer, Bill was determined to bring his father to justice for his illicit dealings, viewing it as both his professional duty and personal vendetta following years of perceived abandonment.

Foreshadowing: Rose's collapse and hospitalization during the reunion intensified Bill's determination to confront his father.

  • bill
  • icac
  • arrest
  • father son conflict
  • corruption
Q5

Who targeted Lee Rock with a car bomb?

The car bomb was planted by King Crab's younger brother, who sought revenge for his sibling's death. Ngan Tung had originally hired King Crab for the assassination attempt on Lee Rock, then killed Crab to prevent exposure. Decades later, Crab's brother carried out the retaliatory attack while Lee was rushing to the hospital where Rose was being treated.

Foreshadowing: The assassination plot from the early 1960s, where Ngan hired King Crab, planted the seeds for this revenge attack.

  • car bomb
  • king crab
  • revenge
  • hong kong attack
Q6

How did ICAC affect Lee Rock's empire?

ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) was established in 1974 after British officer Sutcliffe uncovered widespread corruption in the Hong Kong police force. The agency's aggressive crackdown on graft directly threatened Lee Rock's vast fortune and criminal network. Faced with the tightening net, Lee began planning to move his assets to Canada and escape the mounting pressure.

Foreshadowing: Sutcliffe's appointment as Commissioner of Police in 1972, vowing to root out corruption, signaled the coming threat to Lee's empire.

  • icac
  • corruption crackdown
  • hong kong reform
  • lee rock arrest
Q7

Why did Lee Rock plan to move to Canada?

Lee Rock planned to relocate to Canada with his wife Grace and their daughter to escape the growing ICAC investigation into his corruption. He intended to transfer his vast assets, estimated at HK$500 million, overseas before the crackdown could reach him. The move represented his attempt to preserve his wealth and maintain a peaceful life away from the unfolding corruption scandal.

Foreshadowing: The establishment of ICAC in 1974 created the immediate pressure that drove Lee's escape plan.

  • canada
  • emigration
  • icac
  • lee rock escape
  • assets
Q8

What happened in the final confrontation between Lee Rock and Ngan Tung?

In the climactic showdown, Ngan Tung taunted Lee Rock to arrest him, attempting to force a confrontation. Instead, Bill (Lee's son and ICAC officer) intervened and arrested Ngan himself, bringing the decades-old rivalry to a close. This moment represented the younger generation taking control and ending the old feud through the legal system rather than violence.

Foreshadowing: The rivalry that began in 1959 with Reeve's retirement culminated in this final confrontation decades later.

  • ngan tung arrest
  • final confrontation
  • lee rock vs ngan
  • bill icac
Q9

What was the relationship between Grace, Rose, and Lee Rock?

Lee Rock was married to Grace Pak, his official wife who accompanied him to Canada. Rose was his second romantic partner with whom he had a son, Bill. Lee contemplated making Rose his second wife, but the polygamy ban forced Rose to leave Hong Kong with Bill. The family drama unfolded as Lee tried to maintain relationships with both women while navigating legal and personal obstacles.

Foreshadowing: The family reunion where Lee learned Rose had given birth to his son Bill added personal stakes to the political drama.

  • grace pak
  • rose
  • polygamy
  • lee rock family
  • bill

Movie threads

More Movies Like Lee Rock II, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Lee Rock II tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about the rise and fall of corruption like in Lee Rock II

Stories about the moral decay and inevitable downfall of powerful figures. If you enjoyed the complex power struggles and moral decay in Lee Rock II, you'll find similar stories here. This collection features movies about powerful figures in corrupt systems, their inevitable confrontations with justice, and the heavy price of their ambition, perfect for fans of gripping crime epics.

  • high-stakes
  • tense
  • corrosive
  • gripping
  • suspenseful
  • somber
  • Tone: dark, tense, somber
  • Pacing: fast, event-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a clear arc: a character gains significant power within a flawed institution, thrives through morally ambiguous means, and eventually faces an existential threat—often from reforming forces or their own accumulated sins—leading to a dramatic and costly reckoning.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their exploration of systemic corruption, the psychology of power, and the high-stakes tension of a looming downfall. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a focus on the personal cost of public corruption.

Gritty crime dramas with bittersweet endings like Lee Rock II

Gritty crime stories where justice comes at a profound personal cost. For fans of Lee Rock II who were captivated by its heavy moral dilemmas and costly conclusion. These movies are tense, character-driven crime stories where the resolution brings a mix of justice and personal loss, capturing the complex aftermath of a life of crime and corruption.

  • somber
  • melancholic
  • reflective
  • gripping
  • high-stakes
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, melancholic, reflective
  • Pacing: fast, covering long timelines
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist deeply entangled in a criminal or corrupt world facing a climactic confrontation. While outright tragedy may be avoided, the resolution is poignant, forcing the character to relinquish power, status, or family, resulting in a quiet, reflective, and ultimately bittersweet finale.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared dark tone, fast-paced high-stakes plots, and crucially, their emotionally heavy conclusions that balance a measure of justice with significant personal loss. They satisfy a desire for dramatic closure without offering simple, happy endings.

Every angle

Lee Rock II (1991) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Lee Rock II in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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