Going to the movies in Hong Kong just became a lot easier for city’s visually impaired thanks to UA Cinemas
New programme allows guide dogs to accompany owners to see films, while machine gives the blind and partially blind description of what’s happening on screen
“Good girl,” exclaims Jean Lin Wing-chee, as guide dog Bella leads her to the ticketing kiosk at UA Cinemas in Maritime Square in Tsing Yi.
The four-year-old Labrador retriever passes to the side as Lin takes a ticket from the girl behind the counter.
Moving from behind the counter, the staff member then offers her arm to Lin, a visually impaired 50-something who has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder caused by a loss of cells in the retina, the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye.
Lin locks her hand around the girl’s upper arm so she can be guided to the theatre.
A yank on her collar lets Bella know Lin is ready to go, and on arriving at House 2, the Labrador steps ahead of her owner to let her know it’s time to sit down. A few minutes later, the two have settled in and are ready for the opening scene. For the next hour or so, Bella can get some rest while laying flat in between Lin’s seat and the one in front of her.
