Lingnan University digitizes Hong Kong's early film screening history

Lingnan University's Centre for Film and Creative Industries has released a digital project that provides a historical overview of the locations and significance of early film screening venues in Hong Kong. Titled "Hong Kong Film History in Digital Media," the project documents the development of cinema exhibition in the city from the late 19th century to the 1920s.

The university's research highlights that the first recorded film screening in Hong Kong took place in St Andrew's Hall at the former City Hall, on the site of the present-day Bank of China Tower, in 1897. This was followed by other early venues such as Cafe Weismann and its subsequent Star Theatre on Wyndham Street. The Star Theatre is also associated with Hong Kong's first known intellectual property infringement case.

The study details several historical sites, including the area around the Entertainment Building, which housed various theatres like the Salon-Cinema Theatre and the Bijou Scenic Theatre. These locations were significant in the evolution that led to the introduction of regular matinee screenings. The YMCA also utilized its premises for film screenings, primarily for evangelical and cultural outreach.

The project also emphasizes the roles of Queen's Theatre and Victoria Theatre as the first formal cinemas. Victoria Theatre, opened in 1907, was the first venue specifically designed for film exhibition. These historical sites narrate the story of the nascent film industry in Hong Kong and its emergence as a component of urban culture.