State Theatre (Hong Kong)


The State Theatre is a former cinema in Hong Kong. It is located in the North Point area along King's Road. Concerns were raised in 2015 that it may be demolished in the near future. The building was listed as a Grade I historic building in March 2017.

History

The cinema opened in December 1952 as the Empire Theatre. It closed in 1957, and reopened in 1959 as the State Theatre, following extensive renovations. The State Theatre closed in 1997.
Since July 2015 New World Development has been progressively buying out the numerous shops on the ground floor of the former theatre, with a view of demolishing the building for redevelopment. In response Docomomo International has included the building on its 'Heritage in danger' list since 23 March 2016, in particular citing its unique "parabola-like" concrete arches above its roof.

In films

The State Theatre was featured in the 1978 film Game of Death starring Bruce Lee and in the 1998 film The Longest Summer, directed by Fruit Chan.