The Unwritten Law

Fresh from earning his law license, Raymond Lau returns to Hong Kong to start his criminal-law career. He faces a high-stakes assignment when Lau Wai Lan, an over-50 prostitute, is suspected of killing the son of a dignitary and no one else will defend her. Raymond takes the case with the help of Old Kwan, determined to uncover the truth behind the accusation.

With Old Kwan's help, Raymond begins a wide-ranging search for evidence and questions the surface narrative of the case. He meets stiff resistance from the fiancée's father and confronts doubts about his own work ethic and sense of justice. The investigation hints that the truth may be far more complex than the initial allegations.

Wai Lan fears that exposing her past would ruin Raymond's honor and identity, so she refuses to let him defend her. The decision introduces a personal obstacle that could derail the young lawyer's professional mission. The courtship between justice and family secrecy begins to unfold.

During an accident, Wai Lan sees a pocket watch engraved 'bright future,' a gift she had given to her son years earlier. She realizes Raymond is the son she placed in the Dean Maria orphanage. This revelation connects them in a painful, intimate way and deepens her fear of exposure.

Motivated by Old Kwan's insistence, Wai Lan finally agrees to let Raymond defend her case. She remains anxious about public exposure but decides to trust his ability to uncover the truth. The decision marks a turning point in the courtroom drama.

Raymond challenges witness credibility and relentlessly pursues factual evidence. He uncovers that the deceased may have been a sexual predator and seeks corroboration from victims and expert testimony. The psychiatrist who is consulted initially denies that the victim was his patient, complicating the defense but adding pressure to the case.

Tang Siu Fan, a nurse and Wai Lan's old friend from the orphanage, testifies and provides medical records showing the victim was her patient. Her testimony links the victim's abuse to the broader case and supports Raymond's theory. The evidence strengthens the defense's position in court.

Maria, the retired director of the orphanage, is summoned to testify about Wai Lan and Raymond's supposed mother-son relationship. British statutes complicate such kinship in a lawyer-client scenario, prompting careful judicial scrutiny. Maria denies any valid mother-son claim, adding ambiguity to the defense.

With the jury's input, the judge addresses the kinship controversy and ultimately rules that Wai Lan's actions were self-defense against harassment by her client. The decision validates part of Raymond's approach and strengthens Wai Lan's position. The ruling shifts the trial toward a defense-centered outcome.

The court's ruling leads to a favorable outcome for Wai Lan on self-defense grounds. The verdict relieves her from the immediate charges, and Raymond's persistence in pursuing the truth is vindicated to some extent. Yet the case leaves unresolved questions about family and identity.

Despite the courtroom drama, Raymond does not learn that Wai Lan is his birth mother. The emotional tension remains hidden beneath the legal victory as he continues with his career and reflects on justice. The film closes with this unresolved family secret lingering in the background.

Throughout the story, Wai Lan's past as a dancer and anonymous caregiver is revealed. She secretly supported Raymond by paying for his tuition and university expenses, shaping his path to the University of London School of Law. Her quiet sacrifices redefine the moral center of the tale, highlighting loyalty, love, and the consequences of secrecy.