About the CPD site tour

This CPD is a site tour for this Grade I Historic Building – State Theatre leading by Ms. Winnie Yeung and Mr. Daniel Pang.

State Theatre, the 68-year-old Grade I historic site in North Point first opened in 1952 and is currently the oldest movie palace in Hong Kong. Following New World Development’s successful consolidation of its ownership, a meticulous conservation project by the company and a local and international team will soon be underway to revitalise its architecture, while also conserving the iconic, parabolic exoskeleton truss.

The iconic curvature of the roof also doubled as a natural amplifier and sound isolator, creating superior acoustics that isolate external sounds and vibration from the main auditorium. Due to its architectural, contextual and historic values. This reinforced concrete arch beam roof and its vertical hangars, which suspend a concrete paneled roof over the auditorium, were and remain unique to Hong Kong’s cityscape.

The cinema building first opened in 1952 as the Empire Theatre, and was renamed State Theatre in 1959. Opened a decade before Hong Kong’s current City Hall, the State Theatre played an instrumental role in bringing arts and culture to the public at a time when there was a lack of large-scale cultural event venues. It was the first in Hong Kong to host live world-class theatrical and musical performances, by the likes of renowned tenor Peter Pears and violinist Isaac Stern, as well as international film screenings.

About the Speaker

Ms. Winnie Yeung

Ms. Winnie Yeung is a trained architectural conservationist with a Master’s Degree from the Architectural Conservation Programme at The University of Hong Kong. From 2015 to 2020, she was the Head of Heritage of Tai Kwun: Centre for Heritage and Arts, the Award of Excellence winner in the 2019 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Previously, Winnie was the heritage manager for the UNESCO-awarded Tai O Heritage Hotel and has participated in other heritage projects in Hong Kong and Singapore. She specialises in heritage interpretation and exhibitions, education and community engagement, with the aim to celebrate the rich heritage significance of historic places, raise awareness on cultural heritage conservation and foster community attachment. Winnie is currently the Senior Consultant in Heritage Management for New World Development Company Limited.

Mr. Daniel Pang

Daniel Pang is a Hong Kong Registered Architect, Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and an Authorized Person. Since graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Architecture, University of New South Wales, Australia, he has worked in Singapore and Hong Kong for the past 20 years and has extensive experience in architectural design and project management in various residential, commercial and hospitality projects in Hong Kong and the region.

Daniel joined New World Development Co. Ltd in 2011, and serves as Senior Project Manager in the Project Management Department. He has recently completed Victoria Dockside and the revitalization of the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade in Hong Kong. His current projects includes the State Theatre, North Point as well as a mix-used development in Hangzhou, China.