Hopes rise for Hong Kong’s historic State Theatre with developer New World aiming to save ‘relevant part’ of complex

Hopes have been raised that a historic theatre in North Point might be saved from the wrecking ball with a property developer saying it is of a view to conserve parts of the six-decade-old complex if it is redeveloped.

New World Development, which was considering a conservation project for the first time, on Monday applied to the Lands Tribunal for a compulsory sale order regarding the State Theatre Building.

The complex consists of the State Theatre – a grade one historic structure now used as a snooker parlour – a shopping arcade and residential block.

It is one of the last post-war stand-alone theatre structures in the city and is easily recognisable from a series of concrete arches over its roof from which the ceiling is suspended. Originally known as the Empire Theatre when it opened in 1952, the 1,400-seat facility was renamed in 1959 to its current title.

New World said its application was made “with a view to unifying the ownership of the building for redevelopment purpose”. A company spokesman said the group had “a view to conserve [a] relevant part of the building, being the former State Theatre”.

However, it did not reveal a detailed redevelopment plan for the complex on the corner of King’s Road and Tin Chong Street.