Curtain to close on another Hong Kong cinema with President Theatre to shut on Tuesday after nearly 6 decades
- Operator Newport Circuit says the cinema in Causeway Bay will permanently shut on April 30
- Just one week ago, GH Kai Tak closed permanently after its last day of operation on April 21
The President Theatre cinema in Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay will shut for good on Tuesday after nearly 60 years of operation, its operator has revealed, making it the second to close its doors permanently in about a week.
Newport Circuit said on its social media page on Saturday that the cinema would permanently shut on April 30, and expressed gratitude for the public’s support.
Fans were quick to express sadness about the impending closure.
“Basically, I have been a long-term supporter since I was little … It is such a pity that the cinema will be closed,” one internet user wrote.
Another said: “The cinema is the memory of my middle school days, a place where I watched movies with many friends.”
“Can it not close its doors please? I always went to the President Theatre to watch movies,” another comment said.
The original President Theatre opened in 1966, but later closed and was renovated before reopening.
The company will still operate two cinemas, the Newport Theatre in Mong Kok and Hyland Theatre in Tuen Mun.
The Post has contacted Newport Circuit for comment.
Just a week ago, GH Kai Tak permanently closed after its last day of operation on April 21, which also marked the city’s “Cinema Day”.
The event, organised by the Hong Kong Theatres Association, involved 63 cinemas, including ones owned by Golden Harvest, Broadway Cinemas, Emperor Cinemas and MCL, with tickets priced at HK$30 that day.
Golden Harvest said the Kai Tak cinema closed with the expiry of the lease.
Hongkongers call for more cut-price cinema ticket days to boost business in city
The city’s cinema sector faced challenging times amid strict social-distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic, with some operators forced to pull the plug on their cinemas.
Among those closing their doors for good were Cinema City Victoria in Causeway Bay in 2022 after four years of operation. The operator said the move was due to an expiring tenancy agreement and the pandemic situation.
Broadway Circuit also closed its Diamond Hill branch in the Plaza Hollywood shopping centre in 2022.
Hong Kong Box Office statistics showed annual cinema revenues stood at HK$1.43 billion last year, up 25 per cent from HK$1.14 billion in 2022.
But 2023 revenues were still down by about 25 per cent from 2019, when box office receipts reached HK$1.92 billion.
