The Terror of the Tongs

The Terror of the Tongs

Year: 1961

Runtime: 76 mins

Language: English

Director: Anthony Bushell

CrimeMystery

In 1910 Hong Kong, a British colony, conceals a deadly threat. The Red Dragon gang, a ruthless offshoot of the Chinese secret society known as the Tongs, operates from the city's shadowy alleys, preying on anyone who dares resist their reign of vice, crime and terror. Their cruelty spreads fear, ensnaring opium dens and corrupt officials alike.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Terror of the Tongs (1961)

Trace every key event in The Terror of the Tongs (1961) 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

Ming arrives in Hong Kong

Ming is an agent of a secret group that fights against the tongs. He travels by ship to Hong Kong to begin his mission. On the voyage, he becomes acquainted with Captain Jackson Sale and Sale’s teenage daughter Helena, setting the stage for the events to come.

1910 Hong Kong harbor
2

Ming hides the Red Dragon note in a poetry book

Ming hides a note containing information about the Red Dragon inside a poetry book. He presents the book to Sale to pass to Helena, knowing her servant is secretly part of the resistance. The book functions as the covert conduit for crucial information.

1910 Sale's residence, Hong Kong
3

Ming is killed in a ceremonial assassination

Ming falls victim to a ceremonial killing, a public act designed to terrorize the population and legitimize the Red Dragon Tong’s power. He dies only after killing his assassin in a final gesture of resistance.

1910 Crowded public place, Hong Kong
4

Tong decide to hunt potential informants

The Tong examine Ming's body but do not find the incriminating note. Fearing that the information Ming carried could still leak out, they decide to purge anyone who might have heard of it.

1910 Hong Kong
5

Helena and the servant are killed during a house search

The Tong raid Sale's house in search of the note. Helena and the servant are killed during the raid, removing two possible informants. The loss pushes Sale toward revenge even more strongly.

1910 Sale's residence, Hong Kong
6

Sale vows revenge and is saved by Lee

Sale vows revenge and begins his own investigation into the Tong’s network. During a confrontation, he is attacked by Tong operatives and is saved when Lee, the wife of a Tong member, intervenes.

1910 Hong Kong
7

Lee’s alliance grows amid danger

Lee, who was forced to marry a Tong member and resents him, decides to help Sale. She shelters him at his place to keep him safe and to fuel the fight from behind the scenes.

1910 Sale's residence, Hong Kong
8

Beggar offers a choice: stay and spark rebellion or leave

The Beggar visits Sale and presents a stark choice: stay in Hong Kong to fight or leave to save himself. He explains that if Sale remains and survives, his defiance could spark a broader rebellion.

1910-1911 Hong Kong
9

Sale commits to staying and fighting

Sale accepts the plan to stay and fight, knowing that enduring the planned attack could rally the people. The Beggar makes clear that surviving the ceremony would be the spark the city needs.

Evening of the planned attack (late 1910) Hong Kong
10

Night of the hit: Lee saves Sale and dies heroically

On the night the hit is to occur, Lee senses danger and rushes to the port to save Sale. She sacrifices herself to save him, and Sale shoots the assassin in front of dozens of onlookers.

Night of the hit Port and public space, Hong Kong
11

Revelation and recruitment: Beggar stirs the crowd

Lee’s sacrifice fuels public anger and sympathy for the anti-Tong cause. The Beggar uses the moment to urge the crowd to rise against the Red Dragon Tong.

Immediately after the hit Hong Kong streets
12

Crowd descends on the Red Dragon Tong HQ

Fueled by anger, crowds descend on the Red Dragon Tong’s Hong Kong headquarters and demand action. They confront the Tong leadership in the city’s heart.

Shortly after the crowd gathers Red Dragon Tong HQ, Hong Kong
13

Chung King immolates himself

Chung King, the Tong’s leader, immolates himself to avoid ancestral disgrace. His act marks a grim turning point as the rebellion gains momentum.

Final moment Red Dragon Tong HQ, Hong Kong

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:12

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The Terror of the Tongs Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Terror of the Tongs, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Terror of the Tongs Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Terror of the Tongs

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Terror of the Tongs

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