Filmdom reels from exit of cinema trailblazer

UA Cinemas brought IMAX to Hong Kong's big screens in contributing to modernizing the movie experience, notes Crucindo Hung Cho-sing, chairman of the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association.

And he believes someone will fill the vacuum left by UA.

In the past, Hung said, many pirated optical discs affected cinema businesses, but UA brought audiences back with IMAX and upgrading its lighting and sound effects.

So the shutdown of UA Cinemas "is a big hit to the cinema and movie industry," Hung said. "This cinema line has led Hong Kong to move from old-style theaters to new ones, being the first to introduce IMAX and vibrating seats."

Martial arts star Sammo Hung Kam-bo sighed about the loss of UA, but pleaded: "We have to continue to make Hong Kong movies."

Yet there was a question about whether production could go on and the danger of no more locally made movies loomed, he said.

Asked if he would call on the government to provide more help to the movie industry, the actor said: "Don't talk about this. There's no hope in life and in Hong Kong."

UA Cinemas was founded by Hong Kong-based American businessman Ira Kaye in 1985. The company brought American style mini-cinemas in Hong Kong in the 1980s where viewers enjoyed blockbuster films with buttery popcorn.

The first UA cinema opened in New Town Plaza in Sha Tin then expanded to other malls including Times Square in Causeway Bay and Telford Plaza in Kowloon Bay to become one of the major cinema chains. But some of its cinemas were taken over by chains like MCL and Broadway Circuit, including the original Sha Tin location and the one in Tai Koo's Cityplaza.

Before it closed yesterday UA had six cinemas left in Hong Kong: Times Square in Causeway Bay, Moko shopping center in Mong Kok, Maritime Square in Tsing Yi, Citygate in Tung Chung and Megabox and Amoy Plaza in Kowloon Bay.

Some people planned to watch a movie at UA Times Square yesterday but were shocked by the closure notice when they arrived.

"Great services and good quality," said film buff Ding.

"It's a pity to see it closing. There are not many cinemas [in the area], and now one more is gone."

The Hong Kong Blind Union said UA cinemas had equipment for people with visual or hearing impairments - the first cinema chain to make movies accessible to all.

And UA had four of the SAR's six cinemas with assistive equipment.

Although all six UA cinemas in Hong Kong have closed, UA Galaxy Cinemas in Macau - a 1,000-seat business the chain was operating as usual yesterday.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com