Former graft-buster wins Hong Kong film prize in police role

A former graft-buster won the best new performer prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards for a role reprising his corruption-fighting persona in a police thriller, which swept the awards. "Cold War" took nine awards including those for best film, best actor and best director, with former Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) deputy director of operations Alex Tsui recognised in his first film role. "This award has given me very strong feelings," Tsui, who was sacked by the ICAC 20 years ago and who played the organisation's commissioner in the film, said onstage as he received his award. "I have been acting well as a civil servant for 28 years, but the British did not like it," he added. Tsui was fired in 1993, four years before Britain returned the colony to China. The details behind Tsui's departure from the ICAC are unclear with its commissioner not requiring to give an explanation for any sacking. In "Cold War" veteran Hong Kong star Tony Leung Ka-fai plays a deputy police commissioner vying for power with a fellow senior officer played by actor Aaron Kwok over an operation to rescue five kidnapped officers in the film. The annual Hong Kong Film Awards -- in its 32st edition this year -- is considered to be the city's equivalent to the Oscars.