This limitation of space compresses the distance between the characters, arousing "faster chemical reactions" and more interactions, which ultimately affect the narrative of the film. Many's preferences for Hong Kong movies stem from such a stage where the stories take place.

A Hong Kong story could not be simply copied and pasted in another place, said Liu. The often-noted example was The Departed (2006), a remake of Hong Kong's Infernal Affairs while loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang, winning four Academy Awards in 2007. The origin's reflection to orthodoxy versus heresy－a classic topic in a Confucian society－was all gone.

In making a similar point, Wong blurted out five film titles that include "Mong Kok" and relate their stories to the vibrant district in Kowloon, such as Mongkok Story directed by Wilson Yip in 1996."It is a testament to the unique artistic charm of Hong Kong," he said.

Mandy Mai, 26, who studied in Hong Kong for four years before settling in Beijing, said every scene in the Raging Fire triggered her thought-"Have I been to this place before?"

The film with an authentic restore of Hong Kong's streetscape, she said, had further stoked her desire to visit Hong Kong again "for walks".

Since COVID-19 travel restrictions were imposed, mainland fans like Mai have been unable to visit Hong Kong locations used for the movie. These include a parking lot in Kennedy Town, where Yen leapt from a high rise to chase Tse fleeing on a motorcycle, and Cha Kwo Ling, where police battle the underworld all night.

Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, was also used for scenes in which the gangsters are besieged by police although many of these sequences were shot in a studio backlot. One day, such locations could again be thronged with tourists eager to relive a fascinating crime story, extending audience's love for Hong Kong style film works.

Contact the writer at mollychen@chinadailyhk.com