Forbidden Nights - Melissa Gilbert (1990) - St Christopher's Home, Tai Po

I alluded to a new location in my first post for this film and here it is. In the film this is the main location of Shapiro's college. The exterior courtyard and college buildings are located in what was once the St. Christopher's Home, an orphange run by the Anglican Church along Tai Po Road near Tai Po Kau.

Several years ago I was involved in tracking down a plot of land for Sean Olson, a Gwulo user who was tracing his Hong Kong roots and trying to set straight some of his incorrectly reported family history. The land was owned by some recent ancestors and was donated by them, to the church, when they left Hong Kong/passed away. There is a bit more information here. Sadly, Sean is no longer with us either, but I did manage to trace his land down and solve a bit of a mystery.

It turns out that the Anglican Church later sold the orphanage site to Li Ka-shing, who then promptly demolished the whole thing and constructed Deerhill Bay. The plot of land I helped identify appears to have been forfeited to the Government and was largely split in two when the curve in Tai Po Road here was straightened. Later on a couple of schools were built on the site of Sean's ancestral land.

Anyway, I digress. It seems that not long before it was redeveloped, the orphanage site stood in for the rural Chinese college where Shapiro taught English. The courtyard location you see below coincides with the current development's swimming pool - between the current clubhouse and block 9.

Forbidden Nights - Melissa Gilbert (1990) - Yuen Yuen Institute, Tsuen Wan

This next film is a made-for-TV biopic that details the experience of Judith Shapiro when she went to China to teach English in 1979. It stars Melissa Gilbert as Shapiro and Robin Shou as her love interest, Liang Heng (spoiler alert: later, husband), and their clandestine affair that causes all kinds of trouble for everyone. There are some interesting locations used in the film, including one which I have been familiar with for quite some time but never knew it was ever used in a film, until now. More on that in a later post.

One of the first main locations is the Yuen Yuen Institute which is used as the backdrop for Shapiro's trip to Beijing. Those familar with this place will know it contains an ornate pagoda modeled on the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Given that this film was shot circa 1990, it's no surprise that the film makers chose Hong Kong as the substitute given the events of the previous year and the touchy film subplot (dare I even say it in the current Hong Kong political environment) concerning democracy protests. The film also has a co-starring role from Tzi Ma. Both he and Robin Shou no doubt fresh off their filming for Yellowthread Street the year prior. Tzi played Det. Eddie Pak throughout the whole series and Shou apeared in the episode The Red Pole.
 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Martin Freeman (2005) - View of Hong Kong

Another entry for the "Brief Glimpse" category of my blog where I feature films that didn't really shoot here but used images of Hong Kong as part of the story. In the case of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Hong Kong is seen in the start of the film as the Vogons turn up to demolish earth and make an announcement as people around the world scream in terror. Hong Kong is one the cities shown with a soundtrack of screaming people played over the scene.

As you can see, the view shows Wanchai with Central Plaza looming large centre right.

Arthur Street - Now and Then

Arthur Street, as seen in Golden Needles, was one of my pandemic finds and I recently went back to try and get some comparison shots...with mixed results. I also later remembered it also features briefly in Infernal Affairs. I'll try and go back and get some more images to compare with that movie now that I am living closer to the area (compared to where I just moved from).

Also, this is in part a bit of a memoriam because Frances Si Ming, who plays Su Lin in the film, recently passed away in March 2026. And of course, Joe Don Baker passed away in May 2025. RIP to both of these actors.

I initially thought that the only surviving building in this area is the one with the horizontal ledges above the windows that can be seen in the first images below (and in the background of the lower images). This is #2 Man Ming Lane and was constructed in 1952. However, it looks like the yellow building in the background with the ground floor store (with the 7-Up) sign is still around and, as you can see, is currently wrapped in scaffolding and construction netting. This is Sheung On House and was constructed in 1972. 

Joe Don Baker and Frances Si Ming R.I.P

The buildings on the left have since been redeveloped

There's still a No Entry sign here

Fast and Furious 6 - Vin Diesel (2013) - Central Harbourfront

In the spirit of my "Brief Glimpses" category, here is the establishing shot for the Hong Kong scenes filmed for Fast and Furious 6. Only this establishing shot was actually filmed here because the sequence that follows is very obviously not Hong Kong.

Anyway, for completeness, here are the shots, done by drone it seems, of the "Central Piers" section of the waterfront with 2IFC looming large in the middle.

Eternity - Elliot Travers (2013) - Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront

More soul searching as Manning ponders his future along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. In this image the top of Central Plaza has been mysteriously lopped off and some "futuristic" lights have been added. 

Eternity - Elliot Travers (2013) - Gage Street, Central

A brief shot of Manning as he wanders his home town pondering whether or not to partake in the transference program. This shows the top end of Gage Street at the junction with Cochrane Street and Lyndhurst Terrace.

Eternity - Elliot Travers (2013) - Exchange Square, Central

The Police HQ is located in "The Forum" in Exchange Square. You won't recognise it these days, though, because not long after this film was made, the building (previously a small mall) was redeveloped into an office building occupied by Standard Chartered. It doesn't look like this anymore and instead is a sort of skewed glass cube.

Eternity - Elliot Travers (2013) - YMCA Salisbury, Tsim Sha Tsui

In another flashback we watch Manning being given an ultimatum by his boss - do the transference program or forget about any future promotions. This scene was filmed on the roof top of the south block of the YMCA Salisbury in TST. Look carefully and you can see some digitally added skyscrapers in the background.

Hong Kong skyline, with some additions

Eternity - Elliot Travers (2013) - Queen's Road Central

A flashback scene, showing us how Manning's wife (Amy Tsang) was desperately against him entering the "Transference" program, was shot on Queen's Road Central. A hundred metres or so up from the junction with Pedder Street. There is also a later shot of him and family walking along next to the junction with Wyndham Street (last image below).