Hong Kong loves Hollywood

Hong Kong movies, which enjoyed international popularity two decades ago, have now fallen out of favor even in Hong Kong itself, according to a survey conducted for the territory’s Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority. The survey found that 55 percent of moviegoers regard Hollywood films as superior to local product. Only 17.5 percent said that they preferred Hong Kong films. In reporting on the results of the survey, today’s South China Morning Post, published in Hong Kong, commented, “Asia’s financial crisis, rampant copyright piracy and meddling by gangsters in [Hong Kong] productions have led to a deterioration in quality and an exodus of talent overseas.” Meanwhile, Screen Daily, the online edition of the British trade paper Screen International, has reported that the opening of Rush Hour 2, starring Hong Kong star Jackie Chan, opened in the territory last weekend with $714,600 on just 33 screens — an average of $21,700 per screen.