The total box office intake of Hong Kong films this year has
slid to HK$200 million, 20 percent lower than last year, according
to statistics from the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry
Association.
Before October 17, only seven Hong Kong films' box office
takings exceeded HK$10 million, the lowest in the past decade.
Previously known as the Eastern Hollywood, Hong Kong produces an
average of more than 150 films a year, however the number this year
has declined to 50, only a third of the former average level.
Jet Li's action flick Fearless became the box office
champion in 2006, taking in HK$30 million, following by Jackie
Chan's Rob-B-Hood with HK$20 million.
Hung Cho-sing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry
Association, said that in the Southeast Asian region, it was only
the Chinese mainland film market that received Hong Kong films
well. He believes joint-venture films could be the outlet for
ailing Hong Kong films.
(CRI October 25, 2006)