The Hong Kong director of the gritty gangster flick that Martin Scorsese adapted as his Oscar-winning hit “The Departed” heaped praise on the man he said inspired him to make films.

“It is an honour to have been able to help Martin win his first and long overdue Oscar,” said Andrew Lau, whose 2002 film “Infernal Affairs” provided the story for Scorsese's movie set among the gangs of Boston.

“He has always been my hero, his films were why I got into making films,” Lau said. “I really appreciated that he mentioned my name in his winner's speech -- that was very kind.”

Scorsese picked up the best director Oscar, while “The Departed” won the gong for best picture at the glittering ceremony in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

It was the first time he had won an Academy Award despite five previous nominations.

“He should have been given an Oscar 30 years ago,” said Lau, who scooped numerous awards at Asian film festivals for “Infernal Affairs”, which he followed with two sequels.

“Films like 'Raging Bull', 'Goodfellas” and 'Mean Streets' were classics that didn't get the recognition they deserved,” he said.

Lau's masterpiece captured the intensity of life in Hong Kong and its success in 2002 and through 2003 helped sustain the city's movie industry at its lowest ebb -- during the harsh winter months when an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) brought the economy close to collapse.The 46-year old director, who has won over both critics and audiences with mainstream films that tackle art-house themes, is a big draw all over Asia.

Now he hopes to become a big name in Hollywood. “I do have some work in Hollywood but I hope now that my name will be more recognisable over there,” he said.

Lau is due in the United States to discuss a movie project next month and he says he hopes to meet Scorsese then.

“We have spoken many times over the phone but never met because he lives in New York and I have to go to Hollywood when I work,” Lau said. “I hope that this time we can have dinner and become friends.”—AFP