Police Cadet '84

Police Cadet '84 is a 1984 TVB police drama TV series which starred then up and coming stars such as Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Carina Lau, and Sean Lau. The story centers on young police cadets struggles and life at the Police Cadet Academy (based on Royal Hong Kong Police Cadet School). Tragedy, romance, conflicts, and intrigues were featured. The series was followed by two sequels, Police Cadet '85 and Police Cadet '88.

Synopsis
Cheung Wai Kit joins the Police Cadet Academy school after graduating high school. At the Police Cadet Academy he meets four good friends that he goes through thick and thin with. He joins the Hong Kong Police force after graduating from cadet school. His older half brother Cheung Ga Ming also joins the Hong Kong police force after graduating from university. Due to the stress and hecticness from work he begins to neglect his girlfriend Tse Wing Chi; she then finds comfort in his good friend and former cadet schoolmate Kiu Chi Ho. Whom will she choose in the end?

Main cast

 * Tony Leung 梁朝偉 as Cheung Wai Kit 張偉杰
 * The main protagonist of the series. His parents separated when he was very young. His father left his mother for a night club hostess. His mother struggles to make a living by sewing doll clothes at home. His father lies to him about being poor when he and his new family lives in a luxury apartment building and his half brother is provided college tuition to one of Hong Kong's best University's. He decides to enter the Police Cadet Academy since he could not afford to go to University and also hoping that he could become a police officer in order to provide a steady income so his mother can live a better life. Later develops a romantic relationship with his next door neighbor Tse Wing Chi.


 * Maggie Cheung 張曼玉 as Tse Wing Chi 謝穎之
 * Cheung Wai Kit next door neighbor. They grew up together. She is the typical ugly ducking that became a swan. Growing up she had self esteem issues due to being made fun of for her mousy plan looks, thick glasses and her mom and younger sister verbally abusing her. Cheung Wai Kit starts to notice her in a different way once she gets a complete makeover and starts working at Kiu Chi Ho company. She gets caught in a love triangle between Cheung Wai Kit and Kiu Chi Ho.


 * Carina Lau 劉嘉玲 as Cheung Ka Man 張嘉汶
 * Cheung Wai Kit's half sister. They meet for the first time after Wai Kit goes to his father home looking for his new wife since she had a quarrel with his mother at a beauty salon. She is intrigue by her father's other family and is the only one seeking a friendly relationship with her half brother and his mother. She meets Wai Kit's friends Fit Lo and Ko Lo Chun by tagging along with him to a camping trip. Ko Lo Chun develops a crush on her but it's Fit Lo who she falls in love with and later marries.


 * Sean Lau 劉青雲 as Fit Lo Ngai Fung Fit佬 倪峰
 * His name is Ngai Fung but everyone calls him Fit Lo because of his athleticism. He is the star pupil at the Police Cadet Academy. None of the other cadets like him in the beginning but they learn to respect him later on. He lives with his grandmother. He later falls in love with Ka Man. Her mother and brother are against the relationship due to his financially insecure background and his job as police officer. While investigating a case he gets run over by a criminal. He becomes cripple in one leg and goes into a coma. While recovering in the hospital Ka Man's mother sees how much her daughter loves Fit Lo and gives her blessing to the couple. On his wedding day Ka Man's brother shows his disapproval of him marry his sister by injuring his other leg. He leaves Hong Kong and comes back as a rich businessman later on. After his return to Hong Kong he marries Ka Man.

Supporting cast

 * David Lui 呂方 as Ko Lo Chun 高佬泉
 * Wai Kit's classmate at the Police Cadet Academy. His name is pronounced the same as "tall man Chun" in Cantonese which is the total opposite of his physical structure since he is short in stature. He does not graduate from the academy due to not being able to pass the physical test. Has a crush on Cheung Ka Man.


 * Eddie Kwan 關禮傑 as Kiu Chi Ho 喬志豪
 * Wai Kit's classmate at the Police Cadet Academy. He comes from a well-to-do family. His uncle sends him to the academy hoping he can build up his courage and self esteem. He develops a relationship with Wing Chi when she works for his company.


 * Lau Siu Ming 劉兆銘 as Wai Kit's father
 * He is Wai Kit, Ka Man, Ga Ming's father. He left his wife for a night club hostess even though he and Wei Kit's mother has been separated for many years they are still legally married. He lies to Wei Kit and his mother that he is poor when his new family lives in a luxury apartment and his son Ga Ming is able to attend university.


 * Soh Hang-Suen 蘇杏璇 as Wai Kit's mother
 * Wei Kit's mother. She is a loving mother who tries her best to provide for her son. She knows the real situation with her husband and his new family but does not tell her son about it. She makes a living sewing doll clothes from her home.


 * Helena Law 羅蘭 as Lee Lai Mei 李麗媚
 * Ka Man and Ga Ming's mother. She was a former night club hostess who forced Wei Kit's father to leave his family when she got pregnant with Ga Ming. She is not mean in nature but feels insecure that she will always be the other women.


 * Andy Tai 戴志偉 as Cheung Ga Ming 張家明
 * Wei Kit's half brother and Ka Man's brother. He knows the true situation of his family and hates it that his mother is a former night club hostess and home wrecker. Is very protective of his younger sister Ka Man. He mentally cracks when he finds out who his real father is.


 * Lau Dan 劉丹 as Chi Ho's uncle
 * Kiu Chi Ho's uncle. He sends his nephew to the Police Cadet academy hoping he can become brave and build up his self esteem.


 * Ng Man-Tat 吳孟達 as Yip Cheung Wa 葉昌華
 * Wai Kit's instructor at the Academy. He is hard on his students but is really a caring figure.


 * Benz Hui 許紹雄 as Hui Siu Dung 許兆冬
 * Wai Kit's maternal uncle from his mother side. He is given a nickname "all talk and no do" because he only talks but doesn't do much.

Sequels and Related Film
The series was followed by two sequels. The first, titled "Police Cadet '85" focuses on the former cadets from the original series who are now sworn police officers and also trainers at the police academy. Tony Leung reprises his character but the rest of the main cast only appear in cameo roles. The series stars new cast members Margie Tsang, Chow Yun Fat, Jaime Chik, and Simon Yam. It was released in October 1985.

The second and final sequel, "Police Cadet '88" focuses on the characters rise through the ranks as CID officers dealing with criminal activities. Tony Leung once again reprises his character. Margie Tsang also reprises her role for the first half of the series. The rest of the main cast includes Sheren Tang, Eddy Ko, Dominic Lam, Carrie Ng, and Chingmy Yau. It aired from November 1987 to January 1988.

A 2004 Hong Kong film called "Moving Targets" (Chinese title "2004新紮師兄") starring Nicolas Tse, Edison Chen, Simon Yam, and Gillian Chung is based on this drama series.