The ceremony for the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 6 April 2003 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, John Shum, Athena Chu and Anna Yau.

Cheung, an established actor and singer, was best remembered for his portrayal of homosexual men in films such as Farewell My Concubine and Happy Together.

He was also nominated for Best Actor in this year's Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Inner Senses.

The ceremony also paid tribute to the local health care workers battling the SARS virus, which hit Hong Kong on 11 March 2003 and would eventually claim 299 deaths there within the subsequent three months.

Some present at the ceremony were seen wearing surgical masks to prevent against infection.