While working
undercover at
Ayers Rock,
Inspector Bob Taylor of the
Australian Federal Narcotics Bureau confronts Win Chan, a Chinese drug courier, and his partner; Chan gives chase, leading to a fight on top of the site during which Taylor eventually bests him, while his partner is killed when his car crashes and explodes after being pursued by a police helicopter. Due to Chan's refusal to cooperate and inability to speak English, the
Royal Hong Kong Police Force assigns one of its
Special Branch's finest officers, Inspector Fang Sing Leng — who is not only a
polyglot but also a deadly master of
kung fu and
sharpshooting — to assist Taylor and his partner,
Sergeant Morrie Grosse, in extraditing him. Prior to leaving for Sydney, Fang's exercises at the RHKPF's training school at
Wong Chuk Hang are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of journalist Caroline Thorne via a
hang-glider, which she flew while conducting research for an article. Although the kite is confiscated, Fang and Caroline flirt and share a
tryst, after which Fang agrees to return the glider and rendezvous with her while he is in
Sydney. After meeting Taylor and Grosse, Fang — to Taylor's amusement and Grosse's outrage — brutally interrogates Chan. He learns that Chan works for Jack Wilton, an
import/export businessman whose varied portfolio, including the operation of a martial arts school, is merely a smokescreen for his criminal activities; his wide array of legitimate and illegitimate interests effectively make him Sydney's most powerful man and near-impossible to arrest. Just before his trial, Chan is shot dead, prompting Fang to chase the sniper, John Grantley, through the streets of
Paddington and into a
Chinese restaurant. Their ensuing fight results in Grantley's death; Fang discovers that he was a
martial arts instructor in Wilton's employ. Despite Taylor and Grosse's warnings, Fang insists on confronting Wilton; a meeting with Willard, his chief secretary, proves fruitless. During his morning exercise, he recalls his promise to meet with Caroline after seeing a pigeon in-flight, which reminds him of her hang-gliding; she takes him as her guest to a party at Wilton's mansion. After a "demonstration" between Fang, Wilton and his thugs turns brutal, he is ordered to leave after Wilton trains a
crossbow on him. Fang then infiltrates his martial arts school and is near-fatally injured in an extended fight with its staff and students. He hitches a ride with two university students, Angelica and her friend Mei Ling, who take him to the veterinary clinic of the former's father in the countryside of
Bathurst. Fang romances Angelica as he is nursed back to health, but insists on returning to Sydney. Angered by Fang's interference, Wilton has Willard trace his whereabouts from the
licence plate of Angelica's van, and sends a squad of assassins after him as he and Angelica drive back to the city. A bomb planted on the van causes it to crash, killing Angelica. Enraged, Fang commandeers a
Chrysler Valiant Charger and defeats the gangsters through a series of violent
car chases. Learning of Fang's survival, Wilton barricades himself in the
penthouse of his skyscraper headquarters. With Caroline's help, Fang flies her glider over
Sydney Harbour, landing on the roof of the skyscraper. Allowing a line of rope to reach the bottom of the building, he swings into the penthouse, where he battles and overpowers Wilton after his clothes and hand are burnt by his fireplace. Retrieving a bag of
heroin from a nearby safe — which is heavily stocked with drugs and weapons — Fang tapes a grenade to Wilton's mouth and threatens to arm it unless he writes and signs a confession describing his crimes. Wilton does so, but Fang accidentally pulls the pin when he is distracted by one of Wilton's guards, prompting him to seal Wilton in the safe. He
abseils to the ground, where he is met by Taylor and Grosse, presenting the drugs and confession to them as evidence. The grenade detonates the other bombs in the safe, killing Wilton and destroying the penthouse in a spectacular explosion. Finally won over by Fang's methods, Taylor and Grosse laugh in amazement. ==Cast==