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)