Trivia

His film City on Fire (1987) was the inspiration for the plot and some of the scenes in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992).

Found dead at his Ma On Shan flat in Symphony Bay in Hong Kong. His wife called an ambulance after failing to wake him at about 4.20 pm on the day of his death. Police found nothing suspicious. He had been suffering from flu and was taking medication without doctors' advice. However, his autopsy report will not be released.

Studied film at York University, Toronto

On Saturday, June 27, 2015, Hong Kong director Ringo Lam received the Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th New York Asian Film Festival.

Was offered the chance to direct Jusqu'à la mort (2007) but declined because of creative differences with the producer.