Hong Kong pre-war cinema to be turned into restaurant celebrating Cheung Chau’s history and culture
- Long-abandoned venue screened films from 1931 to 1997 and is one of city’s two remaining cinemas from pre-war era
- Cheung Chau Culture Company says renovation project is part of revitalisation plan costing hundreds of millions in Hong Kong dollars
One of Hong Kong’s two remaining pre-war cinemas will be revitalised into a restaurant that will open in 2025 and commemorate the history and culture of Cheung Chau.
The long-abandoned Cheung Chau Cinema, which the government has listed as a Grade III historic building, was established in 1931. The 600-seat venue screened Cantonese and Western films until it closed in 1997.
The renovation project was announced by the Cheung Chau Culture Company on Friday as part of the second phase of a revitalisation plan, both stages of which have seen hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars invested.
A multicultural park next to the cinema is set to open next Monday as part of the first phase, while the cinema’s main block will be turned into a Chinese-themed restaurant and launch in 2025.
“As there are few big restaurants that can hold many residents simultaneously, we have decided to change the cinema into a restaurant to satisfy the island’s need,” company CEO Eric Chiang Chun-wai said. “We hope this new attraction can drive an influx of visitors to Cheung Chau.”
