$5.5b plan to revamp Ocean Park is unveiled
More animals and rides will bring in tourists and 'complement Disney'
Carrie Chan
19 March 2005
South China Morning Post

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Ocean Park has unveiled plans for a $5.5 billion revamp, financed by private and government loans, to turn it into a world-class attraction.

Presenting the two-stage plan yesterday, chairman Allan Zeman said the park did not aim to compete with soon-to-open Disneyland but to complement it.

The proposal has been handed to Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, who heads a taskforce reviewing tourism development in southern Hong Kong, but the government has not said whether it will offer loans for the project.

Tourism Commissioner Eva Cheng Yu-wah said the government supported the plan in principle but there was no timeline on when a final decision would be made.

If the reconstruction goes ahead, work will start in 2006. The first stage would be due for completion in 2008 and the second in 2010, with the park staying open throughout. An extra 33 animal species would be brought in and the number of rides doubled to 70.

"We are not trying to 'outdo Disney' but rather complement it," Mr Zeman said yesterday. "It's a sea-world type park with animals; Disney doesn't have animals." The park is banking on an eventual rail link as part of the MTR Corp's proposed southern line. Mr Zeman said it could survive without the railway, but he advised the government to build the link.

Three new hotels providing 1,200 to 1,500 rooms, are not included in the $5.5 billion and outside partners will be sought for these. It is estimated that about 17,700 construction jobs would be created by the work.

The park's operators say the project would boost annual visitor numbers from last year's 4.3 million to 5 million by 2010 and kick-start the government's plan to transform the nearby Aberdeen area into a Fishermen's Wharf attraction.

They say the park would bring economic benefits of $145 billion over 40 years and make a 0.5 per cent contribution to gross domestic product.

Half the visitors are expected to be from the mainland, 40 per cent local and the rest from overseas.

Mr Zeman said the rate of return should be 16 per cent, based on the assumption of raised admission fees. Although the fees would be increased they would be less than Disney's for at least five years.

Ocean Park's current admission fee for an adult is $185. Disney's will be $295 per head on weekdays and $350 on special days.

Mr Zeman said there might be a drop in attendance initially after Disney's September opening but he was confident about the park's future "with all the tourists coming from China". He said it was too early to discuss collaboration with Disneyland.

Although it was former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa who had persuaded him to try to save the park two years ago, Mr Zeman said he did not think Mr Tung's sudden departure would affect the plan.

"There has been a good response from [acting Chief Executive] Donald [Tsang Yam-kuen] and Henry [Tang]," he said.

A Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman said Disney did not see more intense competition from the revamped Ocean Park. The two parks would bring more family tourists to Hong Kong.

****

IT’S TIME… The New Ocean Park to be the World’s Best Marine-Based Theme Park
18 March 2005 Press Release

The Waterfront, The Summit, Aqua City, Birds of Paradise, Whiskers Harbour, Marine World, The Rainforest, Thrill Mountain, Polar Adventure, Polar Bears, Penguins, Killer Whales. Sharks, Sea lions, Walruses, Manta Rays, Snow, Bobsled Roller Coasters, Aquariums, Under Water Restaurant, 3d/4d Simulator, Resort Hotels, Cable Car, High-speed train, Treehouse Village, Thrill Rides….

…..Twice as many attractions by 2010! Expecting more than 37,000(1) new jobs and 0.5%(1) contribution to the GDP

(Hong Kong, March 18, 2005) Ocean Park today announced a redevelopment master plan* to redevelop the park into the world’s best marine-based theme park, doubling the amount of attractions and firmly establishing itself as a world-class, must-see destination that will further strengthen Hong Kong as a premier tourist destination.

Ocean Park is a home grown and valuable asset of Hong Kong with a rich 28-year heritage of providing education, lessons in conservation and entertainment for a staggering 70 million visitors and is beloved by Hong Kong residents and international visitors alike.

The estimated HKD 5.55 billion(2) redevelopment which is targeted to commence in 2006 and be completed in 2010 will transform the existing park into a spectacular, marine-based theme park with an amazing 33 new species of animals, connecting people with nature and offering a plethora of breathtaking attractions unparalleled anywhere else in the world. An expected above 5 million visitors per year by 2010(1) will be able to access the park via various transport options including the proposed MTR South Island Line.

“For the past 28 years, Ocean Park has delighted, stimulated and created enormous joy for its millions of visitors from around the world. We are proud to announce the next stage in the park’s development that will see it grow into a landmark destination, becoming the pride of Hong Kong as one of the top theme parks in the world,” said Allan Zeman, Chairman, Ocean Park.

The new Ocean Park will be divided into two major areas - The Waterfront, formerly the Lowland and The Summit, formerly the Headland - featuring more than 70 distinctive attractions.

The Waterfront will be divided into three themed zones: Aqua City, which will house the spectacular new Ocean Park Grand Aquarium complex; Birds of Paradise, a lush tropical haven for a wide variety of avian wonders; and Whiskers Harbour, a playful port of call for families where Ocean Park’s signature characters will welcome guests.

Towering 150 meters above sea level, The Summit will offer breathtaking views of Hong Kong’s southern shores, Aberdeen and neighboring islands. Terraced levels sculptured into the hillside will showcase animals and entertainment from four different global climate zones: Marine World, the Rainforest, Thrill Mountain and Polar Adventure.

Not-to-be missed natural attractions within the new Ocean Park will include the Killer Whale Stadium, an enormous, seashell-shaped air conditioned building with 5000 seats where visitors can view a dramatic Killer Whale show; the Penguin Glacier where penguins slip and slide to the delight of visitors; Polar Bear Cove, the home of enormous and adorable polar bears; Swim with Dolphins where visitors can don wetsuits and come nose-to-nose with the friendly mammals; and Shark Encounter in Aqua City where visitors can enter a protective cage to watch sharks being fed.

Visitors will be dazzled by 12 new animal and entertainment shows including the live-action Typhoon Stunt Show in the Rainforest area that combines the best of Hong Kong movie making, Wushu martial art stunt fighting and Hollywood special effects, and tremble at the exhilaration of Everest, the ultimate rollercoaster found at Thrill Mountain.

Ocean Park’s signature mode of transport, the stunning cable car, will be rebuilt and visitors will also have the option of riding the Summit Express, a funicular train that will whisk visitors through a tunnel at high speed to The Summit, or back to The Waterfront in a matter of minutes.

The new Ocean Park will be developed in phases, allowing for the park to be kept open during the redevelopment period with animals and their habitats kept to a high standard and new entertainment and animal programs continually introduced. The redevelopment is expected to create 37,100 jobs by 2022(1) and the completed park will contribute 0.5% to Hong Kong’s overall GDP by 2010(1).

The Ocean Park redevelopment master plan also includes a proposal for the development of three hotels to neighbour the park. The hotel development is not essential in driving the new Ocean Park, but will add additional appeal to the overall proposal and will be key to boosting the area as a premier tourist destination.

“We believe the new Ocean Park will not only provide nature, conservation and education, but it will also be a catalyst for the development of the Aberdeen Tourism Project, kick starting an exciting revival of the south side of the island,” commented Zeman.

Ocean Park is a not-for-profit organization, 100 percent wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government and is expected to remain so under the new proposal. The Ocean Park redevelopment should not require any Government subsidies or grants but is expected to be funded by a combination of government and commercial loans.

Note: *The redevelopment master plan is a conceptual plan only and includes details and specifics known at this time. The details and specifics may contain estimates and may be subject to change.

(1) All economic and financial projections have been provided by Economic Research Associates based on its independent research effort, its general knowledge of the industry and consultations with Ocean Park, as well as information provided by Professional Property Services Limited and MTR Corporation

(2) The estimated costs are based on a costing exercise undertaken by Ocean Park’s consultants following appropriate consultations with Ocean Park.

About Ocean Park

Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s unique homegrown theme park. Since its opening in January 1977 as a non-profit organisation, Ocean Park has built itself to be a world-class attraction. Over 60 million people have visited Hong Kong's premier park since its inception and Ocean Park offers adults and children entertainment blended with education and conservation facilities

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In the words of Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman, "It's time to rebuild the park!''

With that, the energetic Zeman, architect of Lan Kwai Fong's rise to the top of the entertainment heap and the government's hand-picked man for the job, outlined an ambitious plan Friday to rebuild venerable Ocean Park to meet the challenge posed by the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in Lantau later this year.

The goal is to create what executives call a "world-class, must-see, marine-based'' destination that will have polar bears and penguins, a palace made of ice, and baby pandas to amuse the public.

Under the HK$5.5 billion, five-year redevelopment plan, the 43.7-hectare park will be almost completely rebuilt.

The number of attractions will be doubled and will include an underwater restaurant, daily kung fu stunt shows adorned with Hollywood special effects, and a high-speed train to connect low-lying areas with mountain peaks inside the park.

``With Disney, we have to go world-class or we will fail,'' said Zeman as the plan was unveiled.

Zeman was brought in by former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to reinvent the park, although he had never set foot in the attraction.

He took the job, he said, after seeing the potential and he now believes Ocean Park can become a major landmark for Hong Kong again. ``This is a plan I would put my name on,'' he said.

The government is also being urged to authorize the building of three hotels next to the park to go with a long-debated extension of the MTR for an Island South line that would deliver customers to the park's front door.

For all of this to become a reality, funding will have to be obtained and the plan approved by the government, which owns the park. For decades, Ocean Park was the only theme park in town and could live off its dolphin shows, cable car and scenic beauty. No more. It now faces an uphill battle to lure customers.

``They [Disney] are movies. We are nature. We are Hong Kong and they are [an] American import,'' Tom Mehrmann, the American chief executive brought in by Zeman, said as he outlined the strategy.

A projected 37,100 jobs - nearly 18,000 in construction alone - will be created by 2022 if the plan goes through. The project will pump HK$145 billion into the economy over the next 40 years, management claims. The projections are based on assessments of US-based Economic Research Associates, according to the proposal.

Disneyland is estimated to contribute about HK$148 billion to the economy.

Zeman said the government is getting a much better deal out of Ocean Park because Disney required HK$22 billion to build but the Ocean Park revamp will cost just a quarter of that mount.

The redevelopment will be conducted with a ``financially sound'' business model, Zeman said, adding that the park ``has been making money.''


Some HK$1.5 billion will be obtained through a subordinated loan from the government and another HK$4.05 billion will be sought from the government or commercial market.

Working capital will come from the park's internal resources.

Zeman said the park will be able to pay back the loans within 10 years.

Tourism Commissioner Eva Cheng, who also attended the press conference, said the plan was exciting and would help transform Aberdeen and Hong Kong Island South into a new tourist hub. But she would not say if the revamp is to begin next year as proposed.

A task force, chaired by Financial Secretary Henry Tang, has been set up to discuss the transport, logistics and financial issues of the plan.

In his budget address Wednesday, Tang committed HK$500 million for tourism promotion over the next two years, a figure that will obviously have to rise if Zeman's dream is to become a reality.


Ocean Park was opened by former governor Sir Murray Maclehose in 1977 and was once a top holiday getaway for locals.

Although the park has remained financially independent in recent years, it has lost some of its luster and only managed to sustain growth largely through the influx of mainland visitors.

Last year, 4.1 million people visited the park, a growth of 12 percent from the previous year, bringing the total number of visitors to 70 million. About 55 per cent are from the mainland. Zeman said admission fees will remain ``below'' those charged by Disneyland after the renovation and that the park will stay open for business during the two-phase redevelopment.


dennis.chong@singtaonewscorp.com

I wonder why they don't do the renovation earlier..... the Hong Kong Disneyland is opening this year!

Finally, Ocean Park can be something decent. ~

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In this aerial photo released by the Hong Kong Ocean Park, Hong Kong Ocean Park is seen in October, 2002. The park plans to spend 5.5 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$705 million, euro529 million) on a massive remodeling project as they face the new competition from Disneyland, which will open on Sept.12 ( AP Photo/Hong Kong Ocean Park, HO)

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In this computer graphic image released by the Hong Kong Ocean Park on Friday, March 18, 2005, the entrance of the new Hong Kong Ocean Park is seen. The park plans to spend 5.5 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$705 million, euro529 million) on a massive remodeling project as they face the new competition from Disneyland, which will open on Sept.12 ( AP Photo/Hong Kong Ocean Park, HO )

Who's afraid of a mouse?
Hong Kong theme park gets ready to compete with Disneyland
By WILLIAM FOREMAN
Associated Press Writer
28 March 2005

HONG KONG (AP) - Ocean Park has been Hong Kong's most successful theme park for nearly 30 years, wowing generations of visitors with dolphin shows, stomach-churning roller coasters and a cable car ride over a mountain with spectacular views of the South China Sea.

But the marine park's hammerhead sharks are about to face a fierce new competitor: Mickey Mouse. Disneyland is opening in Hong Kong in September, so Ocean Park has to figure out how to compete with one of the biggest names in its industry.

It's a problem more companies are facing in the era of globalization. Some stick to what they've always been doing and hope the foreign intruder will stumble or be spurned by loyal local customers. But Ocean Park is taking a riskier approach, making plans to spend 5.55 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$711 million) to revamp an attraction that has become faded, worn and dated.

"Ocean Park needs to survive," said Allan Zeman, one of Hong Kong's most successful entrepreneurs who's overseeing the park's overhaul. "The only way it can survive is if it becomes world class."

But Ocean Park's makeover isn't just about spiffing up a venue. It's also key to Hong Kong's strategy to become Asia's top holiday destination for families. The government is backing both parks financially, and their success might depend on luring enough foreign visitors to a city known more for fine dining, dealmaking and shopping than thrill rides.

"When families think of having a holiday, they will think of Hong Kong first," said Eva Cheng, Hong Kong's tourism commissioner.

Ocean Park has no plans to go head-to-head with Disney, a US$3.5 billion (euro2.7 billion) park built on reclaimed land on Hong Kong's outlying Lantau island, said Tom Mehrmann, Ocean Park's chief executive.

Mehrmann said the two parks will complement each other, and tourists will want to visit both of them. Ocean Park will be about animals and Disney will be about cartoons. Ocean Park will highlight nature, and Disney's theme will be movies. One will have a cable car, and the other a castle.

"We're Hong Kong. They're an American import," Mehrmann said.

Disneyland also says it wants to be a friendly neighbor and work together to make Hong Kong the top draw for families.

"Together with Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland will bring the family tourists to Hong Kong, diversifying the tourism mix and creating new opportunities for the territory," said Don Robinson, group managing director for the Disneyland park.

The government is expected to soon approve the construction of a new subway line to Ocean Park. If built, visitors would be able to take a 30-minute ride between the park and Disneyland, which opens Sept. 12.

About 70 million people have visited Ocean Park since it opened in 1977, says the nonprofit organization that runs the government-owned venue. It calls itself an "edu-tainment" attraction because it mixes rides like the turbo drop with displays of live pandas, sharks, killer whales and other educational sites. It's a popular stop on the school field trip circuit.

A mountain divides the park into two, and the cable car ride over the mountain shuttles people back and forth, providing a stunning view of the South China Sea. The park's new blueprint includes a 1.4-kilometer (0.9-mile) funicular tunnel through the mountain that can transport 5,000 passengers per hour, Mehrmann said.

Other new planned attractions include a "soaker coaster," a roller coaster equipped with water cannons in the cars and on the ground. People riding in the cars can shoot water at people on the ground and they can fire back.

The plans also call for:

-- A typhoon stunt show that combines the special effects of a typhoon with a display of actors fighting with kung fu on a fishing village set.

--A swim with dolphins program and an enclosed stadium -- shaped like a sea turtle's shell -- for killer whale shows.

--An "Ice Palace" with a sub-zero environment that allows visitors to don parkas and have snowball fights and carve ice sculptures.

--A 7.6 million liter (2 million gallon) aquarium with an underwater restaurant.

Ocean Park also wants to copy Disneyland and provide hotels at the site, and the revamp will be mostly funded with a HK$4.05 billion (US$519 million, euro400 million) construction loan from the government or commercial markets.

The park is waiting for the government's approval for the revamp, which would be completed by 2010 and would be done in phases so the entire attraction wouldn't have to be closed.

Tourism Commissioner Cheng said a government task force that's studying the park's proposal is sold on the idea of a refit. "We are now working to see how to best take this forward," she said.

You can't beat the talking tree garbage cans.

I have 2 Questions:
1. Where is the conceptual model for the park displayed at?
2. Where can I find more pictures of the 'new' park?

Ocean Park makeover vital, says tourism chief
Carrie Chan
31 March 2005
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park can coexist with Hong Kong Disneyland but will need the large-scale makeover proposed by its management, the Tourism Board chairwoman said yesterday.

However, Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee said she hoped tourists would not only focus on Hong Kong's theme parks. Mrs Chow made the remarks as she was appointed for another two-year term.

She told Metro Radio that she supported the proposed redevelopment of Ocean Park and was confident in chairman Allan Zeman's creativity.

Earlier this month the park unveiled plans for a $5.5 billion revamp, financed by private and government loans, to turn it into a world-class attraction.

"The two parks can coexist because their natures are different. But for Ocean Park, there either has to be a large-scale makeover or nothing at all," she said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Chow admitted that some tourists were still not fully informed about what to do in Hong Kong. Surveys indicated that most tourists want to stay in Hong Kong for five days, but only stayed about 31/2.

"They did not stay as long because they did not know there was so much more they could do in Hong Kong," she said.

Mrs Chow said the Discover Hong Kong 2006 campaign would aim to show tourists that Hong Kong did not only have Disneyland, but many other tourist attractions like the Tung Chung cable car.

Meanwhile, a joint campaign between Hong Kong Disneyland and Visa International will allow about 10,000 Visa cardholders to view a rehearsal at the theme park before its official opening on September 12.

The rehearsal period will start on August 16. The park previously announced that charity groups would be invited to view rehearsals.

The Visa cardholders will come from all over Asia, with a small number from Hong Kong.

There will also be a promotion allowing cardholders to attend a celebration after the park opens.

looks like a phenomenal makeover for ocean park-- couple all this with new hk island mtr line...

:D

No worries, says Ocean Park head

Ocean Park's animals, tradition and constantly evolving attractions will prove more than a match for rival Disneyland, its chairman Allan Zeman said Wednesday, adding he is confident of his park's future.

Andrea Chiu, Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, September 08, 2005

Ocean Park's animals, tradition and constantly evolving attractions will prove more than a match for rival Disneyland, its chairman Allan Zeman said Wednesday, adding he is confident of his park's future.

"What is Disney? It's castles, cartoons and fantasy. Ocean Park is real, with animals, education and ecology," he said, days before Disney opens.

When people visit Disneyland once, it's over, and not a place they return to, Zeman said.

"Ocean Park is different. It's got animals and new attractions every month or two."

The 28-year-old park sits on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Spread over more than 870,000 square meters, the park bills itself as an educational theme park with live animals and scenic surroundings.

People feared the end of Ocean Park when Disney announced plans to build a new theme park on Lantau Island. At the time, the eco-friendly attraction was the only theme park in the city.

But Zeman said he's not the least bit nervous. In fact, he said the two parks will be good for the city.

The addition of the Disney theme park is creating a new kind of tourism in Hong Kong, he said.

With families coming from mainland China and other countries, Zeman said Hong Kong will see the rise of family tourism.

There will be more themed restaurants and 2- and 3-star hotels to accommodate the new demographic, said the man credited with inventing the Lan Kwai Fong restaurant and entertainment district in Central.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board expects up to 27 million visitors to the territory in 2006, and Zeman is confident they will not all be heading for Disneyland.

"Where are they going to put them? Disney can't even hold 20,000 people," he said.

Government and Disney officials said Monday that they would consider reducing the new theme park's daily maximum capacity of 30,000 people.

Visitors to Disneyland's charity day Sunday complained of long lines and insufficient dining space.

"With only 13 attractions, they're only going to fit 15,000 to 20,000 max," Zeman said.

Ocean Park, with its 35 attractions, has capacity for 35,000 visitors a day.

Earlier this year, Zeman announced plans for a HK$5.5 billion makeover of the park that would include three hotels on the site.

The redevelopment would also see a doubling of attractions, including more animals and educational features.

Despite his big plans, Zeman maintains that Ocean Park is a singular community-oriented attraction with many different events running throughout the year, including its famous Halloween party in October.

He said Ocean Park is built on years of Hong Kong tradition that sets it apart from Disneyland.

ocean park doesnt need to afraid disneyland
this small disneyland is not attractive,in my opinion...

Ocean Park has more educational material about the ocean and marine life .
Diseyland offer you 7 feet tall ugly mouse and duck wearing no pant.

I think Ocean Park is great...although I visited it a long time ago, it was exciting and interesting. The setting is also very good. Seems more interesting than Disney.

marvelous.......keep rocking on (^o^)

i look forward to visiting the new ocean park

Decision time on horizon for Ocean Park

With Hong Kong Disneyland now in full swing, the focus has shifted back to older rival Ocean Park, whose future will be decided by the end of the year.

Andrea Chiu
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, October 03, 2005

With Hong Kong Disneyland now in full swing, the focus has shifted back to older rival Ocean Park, whose future will be decided by the end of the year.
According to a spokeswoman from the government's Economic Development and Labour Bureau, the evaluation of the park's redevelopment plans are at an advanced stage. "We hope to arrive at a decision [on whether or not the development will go ahead] before the end of this year," she said.

The redevelopment of Ocean Park is crucial to the 28-year-old theme park's survival, especially with the opening of Disneyland last month.

Six months after Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman announced the HK$5.5 billion plan to redevelop the park, he said there have been no major obstacles to the plans.

Zeman said many parties are involved in the approval process since it is such a large undertaking.

The park is undergoing an environmental impact assessment and is working with Legco, the Executive Council and various government departments simultaneously.

"We're in different stages with different government departments," Zeman said.

He said that the park has not deviated from its original timeline and is still on track to begin construction in July 2006, pending approval.

The spokeswoman at the Economic Development and Labour Bureau said the administration supported the general direction of the redevelopment plans.

"The administration is currently assessing the redevelopment plans carefully in respect of the financial, legal, institutional, planning, lands and transport, as well as engineering and technical aspects," she said.

The Board of Ocean Park Corporation is considering different financial scenarios involving borrowing money from banks and the government, Zeman said.

He said it is too early to give exact details about the financing, but insisted it will not be a problem.

"Everyone will buy into [Ocean Park's] business plan because it makes sense," he said.

According to the company, its makeover will create 37,100 new jobs by 2022 - but the figure includes the proposed MTR South Island extension and the construction of three hotels.

The South Island MTRC extension proposal will take passengers from Admiralty station to Ocean Park in four minutes, and no more than seven minutes if stops in Wan Chai and Happy Valley are added.

An MTRC spokeswoman said the extension depends on the approval and progress of the park's redevelopment.

She said the cost for the various scenarios have not been determined but the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau rejected the corporation's HK$10 billion proposal for a south island line in 2002 because it could not afford the HK$4 billion loan the MTRC requested.

Zeman has changed his mind since February 2004, when he said Ocean Park needed the South Island extension to survive. He now says the redevelopment plan can work without the MTR "but my recommendation to the government is that, if we were to do this, the extension would be good for the southside of the island. Half an hour on the MTR from Disney to Ocean Park brings the two parks together."

Zeman has said repeatedly that Mickey Mouse is no threat to Ocean Park, which has a special place as "the people's park" in Hong Kong. He said the park has been doing "quite well" since Disney's opening.

In 2004, Ocean Park attendance grew 12 percent from the previous year to 4.1 million visitors. With the redevelopment, the park hopes to welcome more than 5 million visitors a year by 2010. According to Zeman, the park's daily capacity will rise from 36,300 to 53,600 if the plans go through.

Disneyland, which has been criticized for its overwhelming crowds, claims it has a daily capacity of 30,000. The newer theme park hopes to attract 5.6 million people annually.

"Ocean Park and Disney go together hand and hand" Zeman said, adding that it was important that Hong Kong maintained both parks to fuel the city's tourism industry.

While Disney is a world of fantasy, he said Ocean Park emphasizes the "fun of ecology."

Zeman said that, when the redevelopment is completed, Ocean Park will be Hong Kong's epicenter of "edutainment," combining education with entertainment for people of all ages.

With the addition of three new hotels, doubling the number of attractions from 35 to 70 and tripling the shows from four to 12, Zeman hopes the park will be a multi-day experience for visitors.

The redevelopment will mean new attractions that include additional thrill rides, upgraded food elements and one of the largest toy stores in Hong Kong, Zeman said.

"We've also looked into getting killer whales, beluga whales, walruses and penguins," he said. "It will be a balance of animals and other attractions."

As well as its cable car, there will be a "funicular" train to transport guests.

If approved, phase one of construction will be completed by 2008 and the second phase by 2010.

Ocean Park plans hotels to counter Disney competition
27 October 2005
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park will build three hotels as part of a plan to offset competition from Hong Kong Disneyland.

Executive director Matthias Li said the two to three-star Ocean Hotel, with 700 rooms, would be built near the sea park's entrance.

Also, a six-star spa resort with 150 to 200 rooms would be built at a site occupied by amusement machines. And a four-star, 400-room hotel named Fisherman's Wharf would be built in the area that formerly housed the now-closed Middle Kingdom attraction.

Mr Li said there was no timeframe for the developments. Ocean Park vowed in March it would position itself as a world-class attraction with a $5.5 billion revamp.

Meanwhile, a concept plan for the Aberdeen Tourism Project showcasing local traditions, and featuring entertainment, and leisure and dining facilities was revealed yesterday by the Tourism Commission.

The plan consists of three themed areas - a traditional fishing harbour, a fishermen's wharf and floating restaurants.

The Aberdeen promenade will be redeveloped to highlight the lifestyle and culture of traditional fishing communities.

The commission said that under the plan, ferries would connect the attractions with Stanley and islands including Lamma.

It would also explore the possibility of developing sampan tours of Aberdeen harbour.

The plan was approved by the Executive Council yesterday...

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October 27, 2005
Government Press Release
Ocean Park to undergo facelift

The Executive Council has endorsed the redevelopment plans for Ocean Park which aim to turn the 28-year-old Ocean Park into a world-class marine-themed attraction.

The redevelopment is expected to bring economic benefits of $40 billion to $48 billion over 40 years. It will directly and indirectly generate 2,600 to 4,000 additional full-time equivalent jobs upon the opening of Phase I in 2008/09, rising to between 11,300 and 12,800 in 2021/22.

With the redevelopment, it is estimated that visitors to the park will increase from 4 million in 2004/05 to more than 5 million by 2010/11 and more than 7 million by 2021/22.

The redeveloped park will act as a catalyst for urban re-generation of the Southern District and the development of the Aberdeen area as a tourism node, the Economic Development & Labour Bureau said.

It will complement Hong Kong Disneyland and greatly enhance Hong Kong's attraction as the premier family destination in the region.

Key themes unchanged

According to the plans, "Ocean" and "Animal Encounter" will continue to be the park's key themes. The redeveloped Ocean Park will be divided into two major areas - the Waterfront (formerly the Lowland) and the Summit (formerly the Headland), featuring more than 70 distinctive attractions.

Under the plans, construction work will be carried out in phases with Phase 1 targeted for completion by the end of 2008 and Phase 2 in 2010. The phased redevelopment programme will allow the park to remain open during the construction period.

The redevelopment cost is estimated to be $5.55 billion. The Government is prepared to provide support for half of the funding - $2.775 billion - of which $1.3875 billion (25% of the project cost) will be in the form of a government guarantee for Ocean Park to secure commercial loans and $1.3875 billion (25% of the project cost) as a subordinated loan.

The Government will soon seek the approval of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee for the proposed funding arrangement.

Gov't to provide subordinated loan

To allow appropriate commercial market involvement, the Government will provide a subordinated loan that amounts to 25% of the project cost while the rest will be sourced from the commercial market. It will guarantee repayment of part of the commercial loan up to 25% of the total project cost.

Under the proposed funding arrangement, the Government will equally share the loan risk exposure with the commercial market. It will also help Ocean Park secure commercial loans on reasonably advantageous terms.

The Government says the redevelopment will not create insurmountable problems in respect of the engineering, technical, lands and planning, transport, or economic aspects. The environmental assessment of the plans is being dealt with in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.

Ocean Park's watery answer
Hong Kong's Ocean Park has accepted the challenge from Disneyland that last Saturday held its first wedding party.

Saturday, November 12, 2005
Hong Kong Standard

Hong Kong's Ocean Park has accepted the challenge from Disneyland that last Saturday held its first wedding party.

But instead of the solemn vows being witnessed by two oversized rodents in the Magic Kingdom, Ocean Park is offering weddings in the sky, against a backdrop of dolphins, or even on an atoll reef complete with sharks - and their fins.

Park chairman Allan Zeman, grandiosely dressed as a Chinese emperor, Friday announced eight wedding packages, which he said are "unique and affordable," ranging in price from HK$18,888 to HK$109,999.

Saying "I do" in the Magic Kingdom costs a cool HK$120,000.

Zeman said those getting married can even bring along their own cameramen, unlike Disneyland where pictures are part of the package.

The wedding packages on offer include exchanging rings atop a ferris wheel, at the Ocean Theater with dolphins leaping out of the water or under the water at the Atoll Reef.

香港仔大搞旅遊 港南線度身訂造
搭地鐵去海洋公園
15/11/2005

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【專案組記者張偉光、陳佩雯報道】面對港島南區居民的強烈要求，並且須解決二○一六年前，港島南區北行方向交通的嚴重負荷，地鐵決定暫時擱置港島南線（西段）線路，先行向政府提交港島南線（東段）興建的方案。為了配合政府陸續公布香港仔海濱長廊、黃竹坑及海洋公園的規劃，地鐵南線（東段）的各站規劃亦會配合當區旅遊規劃發展，以求打造港島「旅遊專列」來增加乘客流量。

港島南線（東段）線路亦會以高架橋和隧道方式興建，乘客可沿途欣賞南區景色，而列車將使用車胎式膠輪行走，以減低噪音對居民的影響。

東段的主規劃共有五個車站，即由金鐘至海怡半島，中間設有海洋公園站、黃竹坑站及利東站；但地鐵亦向政府提出多兩個方案，即沿途增加跑馬地站或同時增加跑馬地站和灣仔站。

可解決塞車問題
地鐵高級統籌工程師鄧伯洪接受本報專訪時指出，整段東段線主要集中在海洋公園至香港仔的南區地帶。他說由於海洋公園已落實五十五億元重建計畫；香港仔漁人碼頭及黃竹坑區的規劃發展亦已近尾聲，若政府能盡早決定東段的興建，將可配合南區的旅遊發展和區內日益嚴重的交通擠塞問題。

為免再重蹈西鐵「無客」問題，東段各站將會配合每區的發展，例如海洋公園站會設於公園門口前，亦會與海洋公園研究車站設計；加上鄰近香港仔漁人碼頭的發展，客流量已有一定保證。此外，地鐵亦向房屋委員會提出將黃竹坑清拆後，興建南港島線車廠，上蓋興建中密度的住宅項目，這亦將是東段唯一的物業發展項目，地鐵希望政府能將上蓋物業發展權讓給地鐵，以資助鐵路興建。

鄧伯洪不肯評論港島南線需動用多少資金興建，但據悉整個港島南線耗資一百五十億元，以東段和西段線路相若，估計開發成本約相等於整條線路的一半，即約需七十至八十億元，若東段加上灣仔站和跑馬地站，成本將要額外增加十九至二十億元。

擱置西段線發展
鄧伯洪表示，港島南線（西段）涉及問題複雜，包括客流量、西區規劃及收地問題仍未有清晰的定案，故地鐵認為若要等待西段完成規劃發展，可能會令南區的塞車問題未能及時得到解決，故建議在可行的情況下，先完成東段規劃發展，解決眼前塞車的問題。

南區區議會副主席朱慶紅表示，區議會早前已成立專責小組研究鐵路發展事宜，原則上區議會支持興建鐵路，因為現時南區經香港仔隧道出中區或往九龍的非繁忙車程約只需十五分鐘，但繁忙時間則增加至三十至四十五分鐘，故此興建鐵路後，車程將可縮短至五至十分鐘便可到達中區。 http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

i don't understand why they have to break up all the new lines... like the South line there're talking about building... according to the picture it's breaking into two separate lines... why can't they just make it into a loop?

i remember how annoyed I was when they changed the connection at Nam Tin and now we gotta change a second time at Yau Tong... not the most convenient move :-(

Liquid marriages and the whiff of competition
12 November 2005
South China Morning Post

In a city where occasional claims of cartel activity, price-fixing, collusion and market rigging are a reminder that free-market economics do not always prevail, evidence of the cut and thrust of competition is reassuring.

It is even more so when it is seen to be helping lift the performance of our biggest family entertainment and tourist attractions.

A whiff of the smoke of competition was to be detected in Hong Kong Disneyland's decision this week to slash $50 off tickets for local visitors. True, the cut was said to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Disneyland park in California and was presented as a "thank you" to the local community for its support since the park opened two months ago.

But it was competitive nonetheless. It came only two weeks after the government, a big shareholder in Disneyland, reinforced its support for the economic potential of tourism generally by giving the green light - and backing - to a $5.5 billion redevelopment plan for rival Ocean Park. It also came amid reports that Disney's attendances have been below expectations.

It has not taken long for Ocean Park to answer the latest Disney challenge. The 28-year-old marine theme park yesterday launched its own version of one of Disneyland's exclusive and most romantic attractions - wedding packages.

The rival parks are now marching in step down the aisle, waiting for the law to catch up. As it stands, it does not matter whether couples exchange rings and vows at Disneyland or Ocean Park or anywhere else, they must still sign the marriage documents at a marriage registry, church or temple between 7am and 7pm. Proposals to liberalise the marriage laws have still not been adopted after years of talks between the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department.

Couples usually complete the legal formalities in about 15 minutes, making way for the next couple as they leave for celebrations ranging from intimate gatherings to extravagant banquets, or now perhaps wedding packages at Disneyland or Ocean Park.

That will all change when the proposed amendments to the marriage ordinance, which have already been put before legislators, become law.

They will allow marriage almost anywhere at almost any time, conducted by celebrants appointed by the marriage registrar.

Yesterday, Ocean Park played up its marine-park status by conducting a mock marriage under water in its aquarium. Even after the marriage laws are finally relaxed, it remains to be seen how marriages can ever be legalised by vows and signatures under water - and how.

But we have not heard the last of competition for visitors between the fantasy and marine theme parks. Healthy competition is good for them, for Hong Kong people and for our tourist industry and economy.

i don't understand why they have to break up all the new lines... like the South line there're talking about building... according to the picture it's breaking into two separate lines... why can't they just make it into a loop?

i remember how annoyed I was when they changed the connection at Nam Tin and now we gotta change a second time at Yau Tong... not the most convenient move :-(


If they made SIL into a loop, either they have a station at Aberdeen or either they have two stations on Ap Lei Chau. Reason is that both places are parallel to each other. So, in order for both Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau to be served, the only option would be to create two lines (West Island Line (The other West Island line is actually Island Line extending to the west, so after completion, it will still be called Island Line) and South Island Line).

擴建海洋公園立會通過撥款
17 December 2005
明報

【明報專訊】為支援海洋公園重建計劃，立法會財務委員會通過撥款，讓政府可為海洋公園提供13.87億元附屬貸款和13.87億元商業貸款，以及為7億元應計利息提供擔保。重建後的海洋公園，景點會由35個增至70個，面積由13公頃增至43.8公頃土地。

議員擔心海洋公園對未來客量的估計過分樂觀，海洋公園董事局主席盛智文表示，會確保海洋公園擴建期間不會蝕本。另外，財會又通過把綜援標準金額和公共福利金計劃的傷殘津貼額，因應通脹增加0.4％。

Park facelift set with loan deals

The 29-year-old Ocean Park, enjoying unprecedented popularity since the opening of Disneyland last September, has secured more than HK$4 billion in loans for a five-year redevelopment plan scheduled to begin in June.

Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, January 23, 2006

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The 29-year-old Ocean Park, enjoying unprecedented popularity since the opening of Disneyland last September, has secured more than HK$4 billion in loans for a five-year redevelopment plan scheduled to begin in June.

People familiar with negotiations said the Bank of China, DBS and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank have agreed loans totaling HK$4.16 billion to go with the HK$1.38 billion offered by the government.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said work on phase one of the two-phase redevelopment plan will begin in June and will be completed in 2008.

Upon completion, operating hours will be extended from 6pm to 9pm, he said. Ticket prices will also rise.

"We have to make money, but the increase will not be crazy, I promise," Zeman said in an interview with The Standard and Sing Tao Daily.

Ocean Park will eventually buy eight more animal species, which will include the Beluga whale, polar bears, penguins, walruses and exotic birds from various countries.

"Having the right facilities to house these animals is most important. These facilities will be built during phase one to accommodate the animals we will buy in phase two," Zeman said.

Besides facilities for the animals, phase one will see the construction of a waterfront plaza, complete with a restaurant in an aquarium, an underground train, new thrill rides, a rainforest and a greater variety of shops.

In the aquarium restaurant, guests will be able to dine while fish swim around them.

"Guests will also be able to go down in a cage to see the sharks," Zeman said.

The underground train will take visitors from the waterfront through the mountain to the summit in only three minutes. This, Zeman said, would improve the flow of visitors and relieve the queues that now plague Disneyland attractions.

Zeman said the park will also build bigger accommodation for its two pandas, An An and Jia Jia.

The construction work will be carried out away from existing park facilities to avoid disturbing the animals.

Three hotels will be built in phase two - one next to the entrance, a spa hotel on the summit and another next to the government-planned fisherman's wharf in Aberdeen.

"Professional and world-class theme parks have hotels and I want overseas tourists to bring their children to Ocean Park," Zeman said.

He said he would like the park to become an animal research center.

"We would like to see the young people of Hong Kong grow up with animals and have an awareness of animal conservancy," Zeman said.

While toys and other merchandise contribute more than half of Disneyland's revenue, half of Ocean Park's profit comes from ticket sales, a quarter from retail shops and the remainder from restaurants.

Zeman said that Ocean Park will provide a wider variety of shops and bookshops in the future though the emphasis on real animals and conservation will remain.

Ocean Park enjoyed a revival in popularity after Disneyland opened last September.

Visitor numbers last Halloween were the highest in five years, exceeding even those of Christmas 2004. Zeman said Disneyland's positive impact was "unexpected."

About 40 percent of the park's visitors are local, 50 percent mainlanders and the remainder come from abroad.

In 2010, Ocean Park will be able to accommodate 53,600 visitors a day, while the projected annual attendance figure will be at least five million.

Attendance figures for 2005-06 are not available, but Ocean Park said it recorded 4.03 million in 2004-05 - the highest since it opened in 1977.

Rival Disneyland has projected an attendance of 5.6 million visitors for this year.

i don't understand why they have to break up all the new lines... like the South line there're talking about building... according to the picture it's breaking into two separate lines... why can't they just make it into a loop?

i remember how annoyed I was when they changed the connection at Nam Tin and now we gotta change a second time at Yau Tong... not the most convenient move :-(
they never broke it up. The most original concept/plan for South island line is always consisted of two lines.

海洋公園 熱氣球新餐廳力招港客
19 February 2006
明報

【明報專訊】海洋公園在剛過去的春節假期創出佳績，但到訪的遊客仍以內地遊客為主。海洋公園主席盛智文表明，希望多做香港人的生意，因此今年將舉行嶄新的「熱氣球嘉年華」，3、4月更會有「水母館」開幕。此外，公園亦將陸續增開新餐廳及商店，提升園內餐飲及購物等服務，增加收入。

可乘熱氣球鳥瞰公園景色

盛智文接受本報訪問時表示，今年暑假除續辦夏水禮活動，更會增辦「熱氣球嘉年華」，市民踏入公園即會看到很多表演者，市民亦可登上熱氣球鳥瞰海洋公園的景色，至於是否另外收費則有待研究。

他解釋，辦新活動是由於翻新工程預計於暑假動工，由於工程將率先於正門進行，所以入口將臨時遷往靠近停車場的一旁。為配合改動，特別於臨時入口不遠處辦「熱氣球嘉年華」，讓市民一進場，便看到七彩繽紛的氣球。

他說，熱氣球活動概念源自美國及墨西哥的「熱氣球節」（Balloon Festival），設計師想到天空滿是熱氣球的美麗景象，相信港人亦會被吸引。活動暫定為期兩年，以配合工程進度。

除了「熱氣球嘉年華」，盛智文說，3月底或4月初開幕的水母館，更是為了愛看水母的港人而建。新的水母館將在高地纜車站旁的建築物最底層，內裏會有各式種類的水母，以互動形式及教育為主。他說，今年復活節及五一黃金周將為「動物月」，希望以此水母館為頭炮，宣揚保育。

與水母館同時開幕的還包括兩間新餐廳。在水母館上層的，是提供自助餐的Bayview Restaurant，除了無敵海景，兩旁亦會擺放水母缸。最頂層的Terrance Cafe則提供小食，設有150個座位。人稱「蘭桂坊之父」的他笑言，舊餐廳的食物水準「馬馬虎虎」，需要改進，價錢會在合理水平。

票價盡量不變 餐廳商店開源

盛智文早前曾表示，公園翻新後，會盡量將門票維持於現水平，但公園去年收入歷來最高，但也只有1億多元，究竟如何能如他所說，希望在工程完成後的10年（即2020或2021）還清55.5億元借貸﹖他說，希望藉增加園內消費來增加公園收入，因此除了上述兩間餐廳，他希望將餐廳及商店各增至27及45間，提升遊客及市民的飲食及購買意欲，「因為香港人愛吃」。

新增兩餐廳 廚師蘭桂坊偷師

他說，新增的商店會包括售賣教育圖書的書店，還有全港最大型的玩具店等。自從收回餐飲經營權後，公園聘請了新廚師，他透露廚師也有到蘭桂坊「偷師」，以更了解港人口味，「希望即使在我離開（海洋公園）後，公園仍有足夠的金錢生存」。

海洋公園即將迎接30周年慶典，他說這個「港人公園」將陸續推出回饋市民的優惠。早前開展的收集舊相活動反應甚佳，現時已收集了逾千張舊相片，故將活動延期至下月。下月初公園會再為港人推出新優惠，但現時要稍為賣一下關子。

穿隧道三分鐘 來往上下景區
海洋公園擬建高峰列車
01/04/2006
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海洋公園耗資逾五十五億多元舉行的翻新工程將於六月展開，頭炮大計昨日曝光。海洋公園向城市規劃委員會提交申請，擬引進現時在三藩市行走的電纜車為公園上下景區海濱樂園及高峰樂園的交通工具，暫名為高峰列車，預計工程在○八年完成，屆時遊客可乘坐電纜車在不足三分鐘穿越一千四百米長的隧道，由海洋公園地面景區直達高峰樂園。此外，海洋公園透露，翻新計畫完成後，上下兩大景區將有七十多個景點。

據海洋公園提交城規會的文件顯示，在南朗山中興建的電纜車系統名為Funicular，高峰列車連接海濱樂園至高峰樂園，屬電力推動的兩卡有軌列車，運作上類似美國三藩市的纜車系統。電纜車有兩個懸掛於環狀電纜的車廂，需敷設路軌行走。海洋公園計畫於南朗山的山中掘建一千四百米長的隧道，落成後，車程需時二分半鐘。

填補現有設施不足
有關文件指出，隧道將建於地坡以下二十米，隧道闊約七十五米，除電纜車路軌外，還有五十三萬八千二百多呎地盤，現時有關地皮屬於綠化地帶，海洋公園的計畫需要申請批地，如獲批准，預計於○八年完成。屆時，高峰列車連同公園原有的登山纜車和扶手電梯，會成為日後園內三種往來上下景區的交通設施。

海洋公園提交城規會的文件又指出，樂園正籌備擴建，所有工程完成後，海濱樂園與高峰樂園將有逾七十個景點，屆時估計旅客量會大幅上升，由於海洋公園的空中纜車早於七十年代建成，系統運作會受天氣及環境所影響，特別是大風及大雨的天氣下不能運作，故發展電纜車系統可填補現有設施不足，亦能長遠解決旅客增長的問題。

工程料○八年竣工
海洋公園整項翻新大計耗資五十五點五億元，第一期工程包括利用現時駕駛學院位置改建新的入口廣場和擴建遊樂基本設施，預計於○八年完成。

至於海洋公園計畫在園內興建的三間酒店，會於第二期工程興建，今年會先向立法會要求修訂《海洋公園條例》更改土地用途。

Ocean Park opens new jellyfish aquarium
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

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Ocean Park has unveiled a jellyfish aquarium. And in what is seen as a preview of things to come, with a HK$5.5 billion refurbishment due to begin in September, the park opened two restaurants with stunning sea views, the first new additions to the park in 20 years.

The HK$6 million aquarium will house more than 1,000 jellyfish, some of which are never seen in Hong Kong waters. About 10 are said to be rare species.

Park chairman Allan Zeman, dressed in a jellyfish costume, told guests at the opening ceremony Monday the aquarium will help teach people about the importance of clean oceans. The park previously exhibited jellyfish in another aquarium and, noting the intensity of public interest, decided to build a second aquarium especially for the delicate creatures.

"We noticed that people stood and watched them for long, long time, so we decided to help people get a better understanding of jellyfish and their place in marine ecology," Zeman said.

The newly opened aquarium and restaurants are next to the upper cable car station and cost HK$28 million.

The aquarium has 3,000 square feet of display area and a 1,500 sq ft "conservation room" to breed jellyfish.

"The design of the theater-like display rooms with music and special lights is unique, compared to ones in the United States and Japan," Ocean Park curator David Lai Yiu-nam said.

About 60 percent of the jellyfish come from overseas, 30 percent are bred here and the rest obtained from local waters.

There is an interactive zone for children to play "touch and go" with jellyfish which move away when a screen is touched.

"Jellyfish are fragile and very difficult to keep," Lai said.

The life cycle of a jellyfish is about six months so the park must breed 400 to 500 jellyfish a month.

Rainforest experience for park visitors
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, April 14, 2006

Visitors to Ocean Park will be able to spend an afternoon in a rainforest, complete with snakes, lizards, frogs, insects and other creepy crawlies.

There is also a section for rare fish and giant tortoises from South America, Indian Ocean islands, Cuba and the mainland.

The new attraction comes only days after the park opened its Jellyfish Aquarium and two new restaurants in a bid to attract more Easter and May Day holidaymakers than the 300,000 who turned up last year.

Theme park chief executive Tom Mehrmann said Thursday the new attraction allows visitors to get close to nature and even dine with the creatures.

"One of the new additions is the Aldabran tortoise which, at 1.2 meters and weighing 250 kilograms, is the second largest in the world," Mehrmann said.

Visitors might have to spend some time to find the iguanas and chameleons as they tend to change their colors to protect themselves.

Holidaymakers will be allowed to catch some insects and snakes under the supervision of park staff.

The park's zoological operations director, Suzanne Gendron, said more than HK$1 million was spent to get the various creatures for the rainforest.

"We have 24-hour security and every display box is locked," Gendron said.

Mehrmann said the rainforest can accommodate around 1,000 visitors per hour, about the same capacity as the Jellyfish Aquarium.

The rainforest exhibition opens today and ends on May 7, the last day of the "Golden Week" holiday.

From today, visitors will also be allowed to feed the sealions.

逾五萬人入場破紀錄
攻陷海洋公園
16/04/2006
太陽報

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海洋公園斥資加建兩項景點—水母萬花筒及熱帶雨林大探索，以抗衡迪士尼樂園，過去兩天復活節假期，每日吸引逾五萬人入園，創二十八年新高。海洋公園開香檳慶祝，但入場遊客卻成為犧牲品，等入場、等玩遊戲、等乘纜車、等廁所及等買食物，如進了「五等公園」，重蹈迪士尼樂園覆轍。海洋公園對引起市民不便表示歉意及承諾改善。

今年新春，海洋公園已有人滿之患，入場人數達四萬七千人，創二十八年新高，更一度停售門票，但過去兩天的復活節假期，在海洋公園大事宣傳新項目落成後，再成功招徠遊人，但今次海洋公園不但沒有停售門票，亦未向遊客廣播公園內已「逼爆」，令遊客叫苦連天，入園整天只能玩一種項目，大感掃興。

水母館熱帶雨林打蛇餅
昨早約十一時，金鐘地鐵站外專為到海洋公園而設的專巴已大排長龍，人龍更長達百米，伸延至金鐘道，即使有接連不斷的巴士疏導乘客，但排隊遊客仍不減。海洋公園正門入口售票處原本開設約五個櫃位讓市民購票，而每個購票櫃位則有多達數十人排隊，職員其後加開兩個特快櫃位，供以現金及無優惠券購票的遊客使用。

在多個遊戲及觀光點中，以新設水母萬花筒及熱帶雨林大探索最吸引遊客。下午三至五時，公園內各項目的排隊人數達高峰，水母萬花筒人龍長逾百米，職員沿途高呼入場人數眾多，須輪候兩小時以上才可入場，令部分遊人望而卻步，即使成功入場的遊客亦大吐苦水，稱「排隊排兩個鐘，睇就睇得五分鐘！」連接山上公園的登山纜車亦要排隊兩至三小時。

等個多小時只玩數分鐘
公園內其他遊戲及景點都有數以千計遊客排隊，如熱帶雨林大探索、海洋劇場、越礦飛車、過山車及摩天輪等大型項目，最少「打蛇餅」等個多小時才能玩短短數分鐘的遊戲。至於場內快餐店尤以售賣廉價食品的麥當勞更墟非常，一些快餐店各式包點均售清，即使遊客辛苦買得食物也無地方進食，很多不想等了又等的遊客，惟有光顧其他較昂貴餐廳。

海洋公園發言人劉慧證實，復活節假期首兩天的入場人次破紀錄，締造新佳績，她承認得悉公園遊人逼爆，已為此向受影響市民表示歉意，又承諾會以此為鑑改善，並制訂多項應變措施，以應付今、明兩天的入場遊客，她強調海洋公園各職員會竭盡所能，令遊客得到最愉快的體驗。

Ocean Park record dispels fears of Disney challenge
29 May 2006
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park passed a new milestone yesterday, surpassing the record annual attendance set on June 30 last year in less than 11 months, and declared that Disneyland, which it had feared would eat into its patronage, had actually increased attendance at the homegrown theme park.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said yesterday the new record dispelled any fears about competition posed by the newcomer.

Mr Zeman, who had thought Ocean Park business could drop by as much as 25 per cent when Mickey and Minnie marched into the city last September, said he was thrilled to see the 29-year-old park was gaining in popularity instead.

"A year ago, I would have been happy if we went down only 20 per cent," he said. "We were budgeting for 25 per cent, because everywhere you go, all the other cities, I don't know any other parks that beat Disney, so that's very surprising."

A spokeswoman from Disneyland declined to comment on Ocean Park's performance, saying the two parks had their own identities and could complement each other to boost tourism in Hong Kong.

Ocean Park recorded its 4,030,001st visitor yesterday, less than 11 months after it set a record of 4,030,000 visitors in the year to June 30 last year.

Most of the growth had come from local visitors, who have made up half the park's patronage since last July - 20 per cent more than in the previous year. Overseas guests account for the rest of the park's visitors, 85 per cent of them from the mainland.

The family of four who broke the record yesterday earned a lifetime pass good for 4,030,001 free visits, plus 4 million candy pieces.

The father, who only gave his name as Mr Chan, said it was his family's sixth visit to the park in the past year. "Ocean Park is closer to the city, and many of their programmes are more educational, which poses greater attraction to me than Disneyland," he said. "Its annual pass system also gives more edge over Disney as visitors do not have to finish their tour on one single day, but can go whenever they are free throughout the year."

Only tickets valid for a specific day or for any day within a six-month period are available for Disneyland. But a source close to the park's finance division disclosed recently that the park was planning to introduce annual passes and promotions to bolster attendance, as the number of visitors had fallen short of expectations.

The source said the park, with a capacity of about 30,000, needed to be full every day from now until the end of September to come close to meeting its first-year target of 5.6 million visitors. Estimates from the local travel industry that a daily turnout of at least 25,000 is needed to meet the goal indicate only 1.64 million people have visited the park since last September, a daily average of 7,000, compared to a daily average of more than 12,000 for Ocean Park in the past 11 months.

By "金魚仔~Zender" from a Hong Kong transport forum :

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World's Most Popular Amusement Parks

Sixty-foot vertical drops and $45 admission tickets are old news. Today, the steepest thing in the amusement industry is the growth of spending in Asia.

The U.S. theme park industry, once a rocketing roller coaster, is looking more and more like a lazy turn on the Ferris wheel. Amusement park sales in the U.S. are forecast to grow from $10.8 billion to $12.9 billion between 2005 and 2009, according to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. That's an average annual growth rate of 3.9%--sluggish compared to the 5.5% the industry experienced between 1999 and 2000.

Meanwhile, the Asia/Pacific theme park market will balloon from $6.1 billion to $8.1 billion, an average annual growth rate of 5.7%. And the amusement industry in Europe, the Middle East and Africa combined will grow about 5% per year, reaching $5 billion by 2009.





No. 1
Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
2005 attendance: 16.2 million
Admission: starts at $24 per day


No. 2
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo
2005 attendance: 13 million
Admission: starts at $33 per day


No. 3
Disneyland Paris
Paris
2005 attendance: 10.2 million
Admission: starts at $45 per day


No. 4
Everland
Kyonggi-Do, South Korea
2005 attendance: 7.5 million
Admission: starts at $25 per day


No. 5
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool, England
2005 attendance: 6 million
Admission: starts at $28 per day


No. 6
Tivoli Gardens
Copenhagen, Denmark
2005 attendance: 4.1 million
Admission: starts at $7 per day


No. 7
Ocean Park
Hong Kong
2005 attendance: just over 4 million
Admission: starts at $9 per day

Ocean Park is one of the world's biggest marine parks. There are more than 40 attractions divided up between the Lowland Gardens, the Kids' World, the Marine Land and several other areas. A highlight is the cable car ride, which provides access from the lowland to the headland and offers views over the surrounding city and the South China Sea.



No. 8
Europa-Park
Rust, Germany
2005 attendance: just under 4 million
Admission: starts at $33 per day


No. 9
Paramount Canada's Wonderland
Maple, Ontario
2005 attendance: 3.7 million
Admission: starts at $37 per day


No. 10
Port Aventura
Salou, Spain
2005 attendance: 3.4 million
Admission: starts at $39 per day




Source : Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/travel/2006/05/31/world-amusement-parks_cx_sb_0601feat_ls.html)

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圖：海洋公園入選全球十大最受歡迎，香港迪士尼樂園看來要急起直追了



遇強越強，海洋公園越戰越勇！國際著名雜誌「福布斯」前日選出全球去年十大最受歡迎主題公園，海洋公園以超過四百萬的全年入場人次，進佔第七位。而全年入場人次超過一千萬的美國奧蘭多、東京和巴黎的迪士尼樂園就獨霸三甲位置。看來，香港迪士尼樂園要和同伴或對手看齊，要想想辦法才行。\大公報記者 吳美慧

「福布斯」雜誌網頁選出去年十大最受歡迎主題公園，海洋公園位列第七。報道指，全球各個以海洋生態為主題的公園當中，海洋公園是最大的。公園內有四十個景點供遊客遊覽，遊客只要坐上公園纜車，南中國海和附近城市的美景，盡入眼簾。海洋公園行政總裁苗樂文對此表示感到榮幸，並承諾會為遊客提供更多景點、大型節目和設施。

全年入場人次四百萬

是次選舉，迪士尼樂園盡領風騷。美國奧蘭多的迪士尼樂園(Magic Kingdom Part at Walt Disney World)，以全年一千六百二十萬人次排眾而出，名列榜首；而東京迪士尼(Tokyo Disneyland)就以一千三百萬人次取得「榜眼」位置；雖然巴黎迪士尼樂園（Disneyland Paris）的入場費較其他主題公園昂貴（是海洋公園的五倍！），仍大受歡迎，入場人次達一千零二千萬人次。

至於屢受批評的香港迪士尼樂園，去年九月中才啟用，將來能否入選十大，仍是未知之數。不過，報道指，亞洲主題公園的發展，比其他地區為佳。去年，亞太區主題公園的全年總收入為六十一億美元，預計零九年的總收入上升百分之五點七，有八十一億美元。而歐洲、中東地區和非洲就有百分之五的增長率；再者，中國內地主題公園少、人口多，是發展主題公園的好地方。所以，香港迪士尼將要接受更多其他主題公園的挑戰。

外國迪士尼盡顯風騷

選舉中的其餘入圍公園，依次為為韓國的龍仁愛寶樂園（Everland），英國的黑池歡樂海灘（Blackpool Pleasure Beach），丹麥哥本哈根的蒂沃利公園（Tivoli Gardens），德國魯斯特的歐洲主題公園（Europa Park），加拿大的奇幻樂園（Paramount Canada's Wonderland），以及西班牙薩魯的冒險家樂園（Port Aventura）。

Source : Takungpao (http://www.takungpao.com/news/06/06/02/GW-574159.htm)

Welldone to Ocean Park, quite an achievement for a city of 7 million!

4 million, that's quite a lot of people, I hope that Ocean Park can acieve the same level in 2006.

I hope so, really love the Ocean Park with their stunnig view.

wow, i never knew the attendance of ocean park rank of high in the world.

wow, i never knew the attendance of ocean park rank of high in the world.

Actually I think they are missing some..


Here's the list of the top 25 parks in terms of attendance for 2005:

Just in North America:

1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 16.1 million, +6.5 percent
2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 14.5 million, +8.5 percent
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 9.9 million, +5.5 percent
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.6 million, +5 percent
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.2 million, +5 percent
6. Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando, 6.1 million, -8.5 percent
7. Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., 5.8 million, +3.6 percent
8. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 5.76 million, -8.5 percent
9. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.6 million, +0.2 percent
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 4.7 million, -6 percent
11. Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, 4.5 million, +2.3 percent
12. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 4.3 million, +5.1 percent
13. SeaWorld San Diego, 4.1 million, +2.5 percent
14. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 3.6 million, +7 percent
15. Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., 3.47 million, -3 percent
16. Paramount's Kings Island in Kings Island, Ohio, 3.3 million, -5.1 percent
17. Morey's Piers in Wildwood, N.J., 3.1 million, +1 percent
18. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, 3.1 million, -2 percent
19. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, Calif., 3 million, flat
20. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., 2.9 million, +6 percent
21. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., 2.8 million, +24 percent
22. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., 2.8 million, +5 percent
23. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., 2.7 million, flat
24. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, 2.6 million, +8.3 percent
25. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 2.3 million, +7.3 percent

Actually I think they are missing some..


Here's the list of the top 25 parks in terms of attendance for 2005:

Just in North America:

1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 16.1 million, +6.5 percent
2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. 14.5 million, +8.5 percent
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 9.9 million, +5.5 percent
4. Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.6 million, +5 percent
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.2 million, +5 percent
6. Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando, 6.1 million, -8.5 percent
7. Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif., 5.8 million, +3.6 percent
8. Universal's Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, 5.76 million, -8.5 percent
9. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.6 million, +0.2 percent
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 4.7 million, -6 percent
11. Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, 4.5 million, +2.3 percent
12. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 4.3 million, +5.1 percent
13. SeaWorld San Diego, 4.1 million, +2.5 percent
14. Paramount Canada's Wonderland in Maple, Ontario, 3.6 million, +7 percent
15. Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., 3.47 million, -3 percent
16. Paramount's Kings Island in Kings Island, Ohio, 3.3 million, -5.1 percent
17. Morey's Piers in Wildwood, N.J., 3.1 million, +1 percent
18. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, 3.1 million, -2 percent
19. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, Calif., 3 million, flat
20. Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., 2.9 million, +6 percent
21. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Ill., 2.8 million, +24 percent
22. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., 2.8 million, +5 percent
23. Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa., 2.7 million, flat
24. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, 2.6 million, +8.3 percent
25. Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 2.3 million, +7.3 percent

They only count the Park with the highest attendance from each country ...

Thats how they made up the report....

MK at WDW from USA, Tokyo Disney from Japan, Paramount Wonderland from Canada, Ocean Park from Hong Kong (China).......etc...

thaz weird... the way they discount other highly attended parks in the same country... made me thought HK is really #7 is the world :-/

This is a very strange ranking.

So how credible are these rankings then?

It's not as if they've done "One per continent" or something either - 3 from Asia, 2 from Europe...

Anyway, it is a good news for HK. :|

Although this weird ranking is not authoritative at all, I'm still proud of the Ocean Park. After all, there are our collective memory. I look forward to seeing how the Ocean Park will be like after its 5.5 billion rivitalization project.

Ocean Park signs $5.5b revamp loans
Hong Kong Standard
Wendy Leung
Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Ocean Park signed 15-year loans totaling HK$5.5 billion with the government and 25 banks Tuesday to finance its redevelopment plan.

Construction will start in December, Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said.

The Hong Kong government will lend HK$1.39 billion with the remainder coming from commercial banks.

The three mandated lead arrangers are Bank of China, DBS and HSBC.

The 29-year-old publicly-owned Ocean Park has enjoyed a revival in popularity since Hong Kong Disneyland opened last September. Last year was its busiest to date with 4.03 million visitors. It has already matched that figure 10 months and 28 days into its current financial year.

"Disney complements us," Zeman said. "We expect between 4.2-4.3 million visitors this year. And those estimates are very conservative," Zeman said, adding that after its revamp, the park will attract five million a year. "We keep prices as low as we can. As long as I am chairman, our prices must be lower than Disney's," he said

Rival theme park Disney expects 5.6 million visitors this year.

Ocean Park submitted its Environment Impact Assessment report to the Environmental Protection Department earlier this month.

The theme park's revamp will feature environmentally friendly buildings designed by different architects from around the world, Zeman said.

Ocean Park goes calypso
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Ocean Park supremo Allan Zeman looked quite the lady Monday as he dressed in a Caribbean-style carnival outfit and high-heel shoes to promote the theme park's latest plan to boost visitor numbers.

Ocean Park has spent more than HK$1 million to prepare its "Caribbean Summer Splash," which will run from July 15 to September 3.

Children can play with waterguns and have a foam party in front of a Caribbean square with a five-meter tall pirate ship as a backdrop.

Teenagers can also try out a seven- meter high Bungee Trampoline, while there will be a workshop, where children can learn mask painting.

Every Saturday there will be water games, shows and performances in the theme park. Operating hours will be extended to 11pm.

Performers in colorful summer costumes will be dancing around. Caribbean summer food will be available at the snack shops and restaurants.

Zeman, the theme park's chairman, said he is confident that Ocean Park will break last year's record number of 900,000 summer visitors.

The theme park anticipates that attendance will grow by more than 10 percent.

"Our attendance is fantastic. Last Saturday, we had more than 28,000 visitors," Zeman said Monday.

"Many events will be coming up and this is the first one. I promise the summer will be a lot of fun. Everybody will be wet."

Not to be outdone, Disney's Tomorrowland will open three new attractions - Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone - on July 13.

"Guests will be able to cruise along the highways of tomorrow in innovative electric cars in Autopia, talk in real time with the mischievous blue alien, Stitch, in an intimate theater at Stitch Encounter and cool off from the summer heat with the water spraying and squirting UFO Zone," Disney said in a press release.

Disney managing director Bill Ernest said earlier that operating hours in summer time will be extending from 9pm to 10pm.

海洋公園火辣夏水禮
16/07/2006

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【本報訊】悠長暑假來臨，海洋公園昨日推出夏水禮活動，今年的主題為充滿熱帶島國風情的「加勒比海夏水禮」。由昨日起至九月三日的夏水禮，特邀性感森巴女郎跳出火辣辣的舞蹈；又有世界級藝人表演「吞火」絕技。公園亦特設揮走夏日高溫的多款噴水遊戲，吸引不少市民另備衣物遊園，各人挑戰泡泡大戰後，頻呼「好涼爽！」狂熱夏水禮拉開序幕後，海洋公園每逢周六均會延長開放時間，讓市民及遊客盡興而歸。

「加勒比海夏水禮」活動昨日正式展開，為了配合這個主題，公園裝飾充滿島國風情，正門更有森巴女郎在強勁的音樂節奏及耀目的燈光下向遊人送上性感激舞，同場還有表演者表演火燒身、「噴火」及「吞火」絕技。

適逢周六，不少市民昨日專程入園試玩公園加設的多項「濕身」活動，如「海盜迷城」、「熱舞噴泉」，不少遊客有備而來，試玩遊戲雖然「濕身」，但他們都帶備另一套衣服替換，可無憂戲水。就記者現場所見，活動「泡彈派對」深受小朋友歡迎。 http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

Ocean Park revamp `poses risk to plant species'
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, July 17, 2006

The multi-billion dollar redevelopment of Ocean Park is likely to pose a threat to protected plants on Nam Long Shan, the headland on which the park is built, according to an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Preliminary findings by the EIA undertaken for the park's makeover, due to start this year, shows that at least nine plant species would be directly affected by the construction works.

The threatened plants include the buttercup orchid, long tentacle orchid, sword-leaved orchid, green-flowered Rattlesnake-plantain, phantom orchid, balloon flower, Chinese lily, cycad- fern, and small persimmon - all protected by the Forests and Countryside Ordinance

Because Ocean Parkis surrounded by steep hills, any expansion of the park would affect the shrub habitat, the report says.

All orchids are protected in Hong Kong. The long tentacle orchid, sword- leaved orchid and green-flowered Rattlesnake-plantain are uncommon in the SAR. The impact would be moderate for 4.8 hectares of habitat in the tall shrubland and low for the 3.7-ha habitat in low shrubland, the report says.

"They are protected in Hong Kong but are not that rare," Hong Kong University botanist Billy Hau Chi-hang said.

The report suggests that the construction design should avoid harming these species and that the park also should transplant the affected plants to suitable nearby habitats under the supervision of qualified botanists or horticulturists before work starts.

A proposed underground funicular railway that will carry visitors from the lowland part of the park through the mountain to the summit in only three minutes will help minimize impact on the natural terrain, the report says.

The train will be able to transport 5,000 visitors to the summit every hour in addition to the existing cable car.

An Ocean Park spokeswoman said mitigation measures will be taken during construction. Southern District Council member Morgan Lam Kai-fai opposed any building that threatened rare plants. "On South Island, the greenery is so nice and the air is very fresh, I hope the construction won't harm it," Lam said.

But lawmaker Howard Young, who represents the tourism sector and is also a Southern District councillor, disagreed, saying "we shouldn't focus just on the number of affected shrubs, but also their conservation value."

The EIA report is still being considered by the government after public inspection expired last month, an Environmental Protection Department spokeswoman said.

Young said the development of local tourism was important and the key lay in balancing the interests from different aspects by minimizing the loss of habitat and waste.

Ocean Park's HK$5.5 billion expansion starts in December, chairman Allan Zeman said. In 2010, it will be able to handle 53,600 visitors a day. The projected annual attendance figure will be at least five million.

海洋公園盼09年添熊貓
21/07/2006

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【本報訊】即使面對香港迪士尼樂園的競爭威脅，但海洋公園於○五至○六年度入場人次仍創新高，而且今年底將會進行翻新工程，預料會繼續吸引更多旅客及市民遊覽。海洋公園主席盛智文透露，新的熊貓居所將會設於一個名為Amazing Asia的主題區內，預計於○九年初落成，屆時除了安安和佳佳外，更希望可以加入新的熊貓成員。

海濱樂園可坐熱氣球
盛智文接受訪問時表示，海洋公園重建工程的早期項目包括興建大型的動物及診療中心，會引入其他亞洲動物，包括爬蟲類動物以至鱷魚等，而現有入口將改建為海洋廣場，現時的金魚大觀園會改建為Amazing Asia，變成大熊貓的新安樂窩。

據了解，海洋公園已跟內地達成協議，即使年邁的佳佳仍健在，內地也可能會答應向港增加借出年幼熊貓。另外，國家林業局發言人曹清堯表示，國家將繼續滿足港人願望，並澄清不再向香港贈送大熊貓的沒根據說法。

至於重建工程，包括在山腳的海濱樂園建Sky Fair，讓遊客能坐上熱氣球，海洋館將會由山頂遷往海濱樂園，盛智文表示：「我不要一個普通的水族館，我希望以後所有人一提起水族館，就會想起海洋公園。」海洋公園全面翻新後將有多達七十個全新景點，希望吸引旅客入住海洋公園的酒店連玩數天。http://the-sun.orisun.com/channels/img/endmarker.gif

15 contracts worth $5.55b in Ocean Park makeover
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, August 01, 2006

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Ocean Park Corporation is looking to award 15 construction contracts for its HK$5.55 billion redevelopment plan to be carried out in eight phases.

The redevelopment is aimed at making the Aberdeen attraction a much- improved marine-based theme park. The makeover for the government- owned park was announced in March 2005.

Speaking to The Standard, chief executive Tom Mehrmann said 11 major and four minor contracts will be available.

Certain packages will be "high value" such as the infrastructure works contract, which includes the funicular train and tunneling and also a 4,500-seat killer whale stadium.

Mehrmann declined to disclose his budget for these items.

A Legislative Council paper last November noted that site formation, access roads, infrastructure and area development could cost a combined HK$994 million.

Development of facilities at the summit (150 meters above sea level) and in the park and waterfront are estimated at HK$1.75 billion and HK$1.24 billion, respectively.

So far it has called for expressions of interest from contractors for three contracts. These are for infrastructure work, the veterinary hospital, and a temporary entrance and skyfair for the waterfront at the main entrance to the park. The main entrance at present is on the northern side of Nam Long Shan.

Mehrmann said the park has received between six and 12 expressions of interest from contractors, depending on the contract. "I think we were able to get the major contractor
s," Mehrmann said, but added the contractors may decide to form joint ventures so the number could fall as a result.

The park also decided to abandon its two-phase approach planned earlier, and redevelop in eight phases over a period up to 2012 to allow more "management latitude."

"It really gives us more marketing opportunities," Mehrmann said.

The building contracts will use the government's standard form of contract instead of the private sector's new 2005 standard form that the park had originally planned to use. "We did it because it was the right thing to do," Mehrmann said, adding that as the industry is familiar with it, then "why reinvent the wheel."

Asked about the possibility of bonus payments for finishing projects ahead of schedule and below budget, he said "we can certainly entertain the idea," but only at a later time.

The park is continuing to refine its plans - for example, when it issued the expressions of interest for infrastructure work, contractors were told they will have to remove one million square meters of a hill to make way for facilities on the summit.

However, after value engineering studies, the amount of removal is "now substantially less" and the park's objective now is to find a site that can take in rock fill. "We'd rather not go to limited landfill sites," Mehrmann said.

He also defended the park's handling of recent tenders for the design work for the infrastructure and waterfront, as well as legal and insurance advisers' packages.

Design consultants, insurers and law firms have been critical of the park's brief to tenderers, the prolonged wait for results, a claimed lack of transparency as well as suggestions of favoritism.

The issue of the "draft" tender for the infrastructure design package prompted the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong to write to the park to request the removal of onerous conditions it wanted to impose on designers. "We feel we've been incredibly transparent," Mehrmann said, pointing out that as a public body the park had strict procedures for tendering which had been reviewed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

He said engineering consultant Maunsell AECOM, which has done preliminary studies for the park, did not get "the lion's share" of design work.

While Maunsell is lead consultant on the infrastructure design, the second design consultancy for the waterfront went to architects Aedas and not Maunsell, as had been previously believed by the consultancy industry. However, Mehrmann confirmed Maunsell is one of the subconsultants for Aedas.

For the third and last design consultancy for the summit, Maunsell did not summit a tender, Mehrmann said.

But The Standard has learned of attempts by Maunsell to join another consultant's bid.

Ocean Park was opened in 1977, funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and operated until July 1987 as a subsidiary of the club.

I'm still amazed at how they maintain that seahorse logo on the mountain side.

Ocean Park New Master Plan

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Visit here:http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/eng/main/index.html

....okey forget about Disney, the new O.P. kick ass

Aurora Borealis? How are they going to manage to pull that off? :D

It looks amazing, but maybe some of the ideas are not realistic.

^^ they have it here in America, it just image spot on water or smoke...easy.

Holy f*cking shit!

Hong Kong ~ brace yourself for what's about to come :D

Disney ~ bow down, and beg...beg for mercy!!!

^^ they have it here in America, it just image spot on water or smoke...easy.


Oh. So it's just a water effect. The real thing wouldn't be able to happen over Hong Kong, in fact, you only see real "Northern Lights" in locations close to the earth's poles.

In any case, those renders for Ocean Park are awesome and make it look like it could totally own Disneyland. If these would come true, I would be very interested in making return visits to OP. Why not build a snow palace or something with real snow inside? That's something Hong Kong doesn't have. I'm sure many kids will like it.

Wow, this is really great. Well, this kind of attractions maybe brings Ocean Park to international fame.

Just bring back Waterworld or make it better :D

I'm loving the revamping of Ocean Park. When built, it is going to be one of the best water amusement parks in the world!!???!?!?!?!?

Water park? Is that in the redevelopment plan?

^^ Hong Kong need a good water park for sure...it is SO hot in Hong Kong's summer, I still don't know why O.P. close down the water park.

looks awesome!! :)


Shark encounter and the The Grand Aquarium look good too~~

So we'll have a new ocean park, a better disney when it's expanded, and that Noah's Ark thing in Ma Wan. How many theme parks could we accommodate...?

wht an aweone and unique plan!

So we'll have a new ocean park, a better disney when it's expanded, and that Noah's Ark thing in Ma Wan. How many theme parks could we accommodate...?

If they all diversify and each offers a different experience, I'm sure HK can sustain 3 or 4 or even 5 theme parks (if you cound the possibility of a "Water World")

If they all diversify and each offers a different experience, I'm sure HK can sustain 3 or 4 or even 5 theme parks (if you cound the possibility of a "Water World")


There might be 2nd park at HK Disneyland Resort. They are reclaiming more land under phase 2 Reclamation. It might be used for 2nd park, at least Disney has the option to lease it as under their agreement with HK Government.

It looks like both Ocean Park and Disneyland are doing fairly well. I guess fears that competition will be bad did not materialize.

^^ It looks to me that Ocean Park did better than the Disney though. Quite surprising indeed.

Well let's see how the revamp works and how phase II Disneyland would progress.

海洋公園八期重建
每部分完成即開放
02/09/2006
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【本報訊】海洋公園將耗資五十五億元重建公園設施，工程由原來打算分兩期增加至八期，每完成一部分隨即開放，預計負責工程兩至三個月後可展開，新設施最早可於明年底面世。海洋公園營業及市務總監貝寶華昨日又預告，計劃於明年增設音樂節吸客。至於讓遊客登上熱氣球的Sky Fair，亦有機會在年底投入服務。

貝寶華接受訪問時表示，除新春、復活節、暑假、萬聖節及聖誕節外，有意在明年起增加至少一項特別活動，其中一個構思是舉辦以音樂為主題的節慶 （Music Festival），讓本地有才藝的年輕人一展身手。

另外，海洋公園主席盛智文接受電台訪問時表示，重建計劃已獲環評通過，最快可於兩、三個月後動工，五年後全面完成。屆時海洋公園將引入多項新遊戲，現時園內的機動遊戲只會保留「跳樓機」、「海洋摩天塔」及「登山纜車」。計劃於海濱樂園興建的Sky Fair，可讓遊客坐在熱氣球上欣賞美景，海洋館將會由山頂遷往海濱樂園。

i still find it amazing how Allan Zeman managed to go from visioning a revamp project, to get financial support from gov and banks, doing all those regulatory stuff like enviornmental report, getting the details of the revamp project together in less than 1.5 or 2 years. And construction will start soon!

Hong Kong Disneyland Facing Competition
By SYLVIA HUI
10 September 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Mickey Mouse should be really worried about people like Shum Nai-ho.

The middle-aged man from southern China could have ridden Space Mountain or posed for photos with Donald Duck at the new Hong Kong Disneyland, which was expected to be a top attraction for mainland Chinese.

Instead, Shum took his wife and daughter to Hong Kong Ocean Park, a 29-year-old marine-themed park many thought would be wiped out by the time Disneyland celebrates its first anniversary this Tuesday.

Just the opposite has happened. In the past year, Ocean Park has experienced its largest attendance boom ever, luring customers with its cheaper ticket prices and diverse attractions like dolphin shows and a cable car ride with stunning views of the South China Sea.

"We didn't try the rides and just strolled around, but it was fun," said Shum, who's from the city of Guangzhou. "Many people tell me I should try Disneyland instead, but I heard it's small and there aren't enough things to do there."

Walt Disney Co., hoping to tap into China's huge market, has struggled a bit in its debut year in Hong Kong. Its park hasn't quite reached its first-year attendance goal of 5.6 million, and its had some hiccups along the way.

Disneyland's image was dealt a blow in February, when the park had to turn away thousands of Chinese tourists who bought tickets during the peak Lunar New Year holidays. TV viewers were not impressed with the footage of angry visitors besieging the overcrowded park, rattling its gates and forcing themselves in.

Another factor may be that most mainland Chinese don't have a strong attachment to Mickey and friends.

"If you haven't grown up with the brand, its characters and themes, you're not quite sure what you're walking into," said Hong Kong Disneyland's managing director Bill Ernest, who stressed the park is working hard to learn what Chinese want.

"We realized we needed more educational materials out in the market," he said.

But such adjustments are to be expected initially, said John Ap, a professor of hotel and tourism management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He pointed out that both the Tokyo and Paris Disneylands faced initial difficulties but are now doing fine.

"Disney's challenges are mainly in the software, like understanding the Asian mind-set and Chinese consumer culture," Ap said. "You've got to put it in perspective."

But one of Disney's biggest -- and most unexpected -- challenges has come from Ocean Park.

The park, which sprawls across both sides of a mountain in southern Hong Kong, was overhauled a few years ago in preparation for Disney's arrival. Ocean Park knows its strengths -- a hybrid of thrills and animals, fun and education -- and sells them well, said Allan Zeman, the park's flamboyant chairman.

"Disney is all about fantasy, cartoons, castles," he said. "What's Ocean Park? It's real. It has real animals, real fish."

It has pulled in more than 4.03 million visitors so far this year, Zeman said, already more than the 4 million people who came last year. That's the best visitor count the park has seen since opening in 1977, and Forbes magazine recently named the park one of the world's 10 most popular amusement parks. Disney has declined comment about Ocean Park.

Some have decided that Hong Kong Disneyland may not be worth its steep entry fee -- $37.90 to $45 -- compared to Ocean Park, which costs $23.80. Ocean Park is also more centrally located than Disneyland, which is built on the lush Lantau Island 30 minutes away from downtown Hong Kong.

Owned by a nonprofit organization, Ocean Park hasn't always been so popular. Just before 2000 it was an aging, poorly maintained attraction, and business was so poor that it was on the verge of being closed down.

A facelift complete with new management and upgraded food outlets injected new life into the park a few years ago. Ocean Park now has a new jellyfish house and five annual events -- including a Halloween bash that proved a huge success -- on top of its popular pandas, giant aquarium, and cable car ride.

"If we didn't have the goods, people wouldn't come," he said. "I don't want to out-Disney Disney, and we can't because they're good at what they do."

Some visitors have been disappointed in the size of Hong Kong Disneyland, the smallest among other Disney parks at 310 acres.

Although it has plans to add new attractions, many Chinese appear to have taken a wait-and-see attitude, especially with reports that a bigger Disneyland in Shanghai may be in the works. Disney has said it is in talks with Shanghai authorities about building a park in the city, but that no agreement had been reached.

Undaunted by the new competition, Zeman has big plans for Ocean Park. He wants it to become the world's best marine-themed park, and an ambitious revamp and expansion worth $707 million is slated to start at the end of this year.

By 2010, the park will have brought in three new hotels, more animals -- including a killer whale and penguins -- and doubled its current 35 attractions. It will be able to handle 53,600 visitors a day.

"We have so many exciting things planned," Zeman said. "I'm pretty confident we'll keep appealing to both locals and tourists."

Ocean Park enjoys record crowd
1 November 2006
South China Morning Post

More than 500,000 people flocked to Ocean Park last month, setting an attendance record for October. This eclipsed the 440,000 who streamed through the gates in October last year, which was also a record.

The attendance showed the marine theme park was continuing to thrive in the face of competition from Hong Kong Disneyland, which by contrast has been struggling to meet its attendance targets.

"Our October figures showed that over 70 per cent of our guests were locals," Ocean Park chief executive Tom Mehrmann said.

Admissions to the park's Halloween Bash also surged by more than 30 per cent year on year, Mr Mehrmann said without disclosing any figures.

The event, which kicked off on September 29, was staged every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening last month as well as on October 30 and 31. Mr Mehrmann, who had expected a record-breaking month, said earlier that tickets were all sold out for the first three weekends. At Disneyland, daily attendance fell as low as about 5,000 on some days and reached 11,000 during the start of the mainland's National Day "golden week" holiday.

Ocean Park had already achieved the million mark in the first two months of its fiscal year, which begins in July. The result was an all-time high for the July-August period and was an increase of 25 per cent on the same period the previous year, when about 800,000 people were recorded.

^^ I went to Ocean Park right before the start of the school term in HK and every single attraction required a 30 minute lineup (even the gondola)! It was pretty unbelievable, just streams and streams of people everywhere. The park ran shuttle buses to ferry people to the lowlands because the gondola wait was something like 30 minutes.

Well yea, Ocean park doesnt have a lot of attractions and with this much people, I'll expect to wait a while, but I still preferr Disneyland over Ocean Park....maybe that'll change in 10 years whent he renovation is done. Speaking of which, have they started construction yet?

Ocean Park seeks hotel developers
2 November 2006
South China Morning Post

Three new hotels being planned for Ocean Park are likely to be built by developers that would operate them for 20 to 30 years, said park chairman Allan Zeman.

The "build-operate-transfer" model involves companies bidding for the right to build and operate an asset for a specified time, typically 30 years, before transferring it back to the owner.

"We have to find a model that makes it attractive for developers to build the hotels," Mr Zeman said.

As soon as Ocean Park concludes a feasibility study on the hotels, the plan will be submitted to Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, after which the projects will be tendered out.

Mr Zeman hoped construction could start late next year. To help ensure that nothing goes wrong, the hotels are likely be tendered out to three separate developers, he said.

The plan includes the Ocean Hotel by the main entrance, a two- or three-star lodge with 635 rooms. Near the Tai Shue Wan entrance would be the four-star Fisherman's Wharf Hotel, with 450 rooms, and the Summit Hotel, a spa-resort complex with 160 rooms.

Ocean Park, which marks its 30th anniversary in January, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on November 23 to kick off its phased redevelopment. The plan was announced in March last year and is due to be completed by 2010.

About time they start this project!

Ocean Park hotels proposal finds favor
Wendy Leung
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, November 06, 2006

Legislators have given the thumbs up for Ocean Park's plan to call for tenders to build and operate hotels on its land.

Democrat Fred Li Wah-ming said, under the build-operate-transfer model, the theme park's HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan, which calls for the construction of three hotels, would neither need to borrow money from the government or banks, nor require an admission fee.

"This is purely a business decision and I accept the proposed arrangement," Li said.

Ocean Park is conducting a feasibility study of the project, and a final decision is expected next year.

Chan Kam-lam of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong said the plan does need to go through the Legislative Council's Finance Committee because the park does not intend to seek funding. "As long as the bidding process is highly transparent, there shouldn't be any problem."

Under the plan, the three hotels will have a total of more than 1,200 rooms and will be built and operated by developers for 20 to 30 years before turning them over to the park.

Liberal Party lawmaker Howard Young How-wah said since the HK$5.5 billion raised for the redevelopment would not cover the costs of the proposed hotels, it would allow the park to speed up their construction. He said the 1,200 hotel rooms to be created would help ease the demand for accommodation in the territory, especially during the peak tourist season.

The three hotels planned to be built are Ocean Hotel, to be located at the main entrance and offering 600 rooms; Fisherman's Wharf Hotel at the Tai Shue Wan entrance with 450 rooms; and Summit Hotel and Spa that will have 160 rooms.

The HK$5.5 billion in funding consists of a HK$4.16 billion, 15-year syndicated bank loan and a 25-year HK$1.38 billion loan from the government. The theme park is expected to attract five million visitors annually after the revamp.

FS speaks on Ocean Park Redevelopment Project
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Government Press Release

Following is the transcript of a media session by the Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, after attending the Ocean Park Redevelopment Groundbreaking Ceremony today (November 23) (English portion):

Financial Secretary: I am very happy today on the ground-breaking ceremony for the redevelopment of Ocean Park, and secondly, Ocean Park is 30 years old come January. It has been a successful 30 years and we are looking forward to an even more successful next 30 years. It has provided both Hong Kong and all our visitors with fun and happiness and we all grew up with it. It is something which my children, myself, my parents, everyone enjoyed very much.

Reporter: Many people have asked for a South Island line for Ocean Park. What's your opinion on that?

Financial Secretary: I hear the voice of the community that there should be a southern link to Ocean Park and beyond. We are studying it very extensively and we hope we will have an answer very soon.

Park staff set for pay rise
Hong Kong Standard
Mimi Lau
Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Ocean Park - Hong Kong's oldest theme park - has brought early Christmas cheer to its staff, promising them a pay rise is on the cards, after the park reported a record surplus of HK$156.5 million for the 2005-2006 financial year - up 31 percent from the previous year.

However, chairman Allan Zeman declined to say Monday when the increase would come or how big it would be, saying only: "There should be a pay rise."

A spokesman for the park said the company, after considering market trends and operational records, will make a recommendation for a pay hike and submit it to the board for a final decision.

Unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan welcomed the park's gesture, and suggested that any pay increase should be at least 7 percent to 8 percent. "The pay rise should really reflect the growth in the company's surplus. The management should also consult the staff union [which was set only last week through the help of the Confederation of Trade Unions] before announcing it to the public," Lee said.

Zeman also said the park will spend a "seven-figure" amount for this year's Christmas feature performances. He believes last December's attendance of 430,000 will be broken this Christmas with a big increase in visitors expected after the park introduced an Eskimo theme village.

Ocean Park's annual attendance saw an almost 9 percent jump to 4.38 million for the 2005-2006 year ending June 30, compared with the previous fiscal year.

Meanwhile, a Hong Kong Disneyland spokesman said they have not promised any pay rise for staff, but there will be a regular year-end pay review based on the roles, experience and performance.

落重本迎聖誕 拚個天寒地凍
海洋公園迪士尼打雪戰




13/12/2006





【專案組記者潘嘉寶報道】這個冬季不太冷。為讓市民感受一下冰雪聖誕節的「天寒地凍」氣氛，本港兩大主題公園不約而同大玩冰雪噱頭，海洋公園每天製造超過三十噸真雪，以人工造就愛斯基摩村，讓市民置身於白雪皚皚的環境、體驗愛斯基摩族的文化及試玩冰梯；迪士尼樂園亦開動三十二部噴雪機，以人工造雪為小鎮廣場帶來雪花飄飄的美景，兩大樂園實行「冰雪鬥一番」，然而，十二月上旬，本港仍錄得二十多度氣溫，海洋公園強調氣溫必須維持在十度以下，才能令人工真雪不融化。
兩大主題公園再次落重本迎聖誕，海洋公園今年斥資以百萬元計的裝飾費，舉辦「海洋公園聖誕全城hohoho」，除在大樹灣入口廣場興建一個三百平方米的愛斯基摩村，面積較去年雪地遊樂場更大外，還讓市民感受真雪的凍感。

海洋公園市務經理李玲鳳表示，冬天令人聯想起寒冷的北極，繼而想起居於冰天雪地的愛斯基摩族人，因此海洋公園特別從荷蘭引入製雪機，每日至少可製出三十噸真雪，由於今年冬天並不寒冷，為讓整個愛斯基摩村處於一個冰天雪地的環境下，公園在場地先Q上冰地板，再放上保溫墊，然後不斷製雪，讓整個村保持攝氏十度以下：「天氣咁熱，相信要不斷製雪」。

遊客可捕魚玩冰滑梯
她續稱，愛斯基摩族重家庭觀念，與海洋公園一直推廣的家庭樂不謀而合。故他們將愛斯基摩村布置為全真雪村落，有三個以塑膠製成的冰屋讓遊客穿上愛斯基摩族傳統服飾拍照留念。她表示，公園提供六件成人裝及六件童裝的愛斯基摩服飾，讓遊客化身成愛斯基摩人。遊客亦可參與捕魚遊戲及在一條兩米高的冰滑梯上感受寒氣逼人之快感。每十分鐘便安排約三十人入村內，以控制人流。

入場料破43萬紀錄
另外，公園亦開辦愛斯基摩學堂，小朋友製作當地民族帽子，還邀請了二十一名世界溜冰好手上演幻影冰上騷。「海洋公園聖誕全城hohoho」將於本月十六日至明年一月一日舉行，預計入場人數打破去年十二月的四十三萬人次紀錄。

另邊廂，迪士尼樂園今年早於上月初展開為期五十一天的「奇妙聖誕」活動，在小鎮廣場豎立六十呎高的巨型聖誕樹，每晚會進行亮燈儀式，當中開動三十二部噴雪機，製造浪漫的飄雪效果，雪花在迪士尼樂園入口的小鎮廣場飄下，氣氛極佳。

It is great. I would love to go to Ocean Park and hang out with my friends in the snow if I could.

How much snow do both parks need to make everyday to keep the ground white?? It is wasting so much power to generate enough snow.

Video of the new plans! Looking really nice with exciting new attractions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKFFF4WKnbY

Video of the new plans! Looking really nice with exciting new attractions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKFFF4WKnbY

The expansion project seems very cool and I hope the park will be as exciting as what we saw in the video by then. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

Good video.

That express train idea is awesome. It will solve the problem of shutting down cable car during bad weather disconnecting the two sides.
But for traffic within a theme park between the top and base of a mountain; thats a lot of tunneling, engineering and $$$$$. I doubt it will become reality.

Well, groundbreaking has already started, so we'll see how this project goes. ;)

Ocean Park smashes attendance record
16 May 2007
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park has broken its attendance records and expects an estimated 4.8 million visitors by the end of June.

The marine-themed park yesterday reached the 4.5 million mark, passing last year's record of 4.38 million, a level achieved two weeks ago. The park's financial year ends on June 30.

"We might not do 5 million but I think we can hit 4.7 million or 4.8 million," chairman Allan Zeman said yesterday.

The park has been enjoying strong attendances, especially during this month's Labour Day "golden week" holiday, which attracted about 157,000 visitors compared to 123,000 a year ago. The figures cover attendances from April 28 to May 7.

Mainlanders usually account for 48 per cent of visitors, while locals make up 45 per cent. Compared to previous years, the percentage of mainland tourists travelling independently of tour groups almost doubled to about 28 per cent, from 15 per cent, Mr Zeman said.

The results have accelerated attendance assumptions the park uses for its five-year HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan. But Mr Zeman said the existing forecast of 5 million visitors by 2010 or 2011, when the redevelopment work was completed, would remain for now.

Higher admission prices are inevitable, as the park seeks to strike a balance between recouping its redevelopment costs and growing attendances. Mr Zeman said ticket prices had not been adjusted for many years but would still be very affordable.

The debut of two more pandas on July 1 is expected to boost interest.

Great for the company!
But does anyone know whether its now too busy in the park?

Impressive.

INTERVIEW-How a sleepy HK theme park took on Disney

HONG KONG, May 23 (Reuters) - These days, the turnstiles rarely stop turning.

Last year 4.5 million visitors flocked to Hong Kong's Ocean Park -- a marine conservation focused theme park which only a few years back faced crisis on mounting deficits and a formidable challenge from Disney's first magic kingdom in China.

Enter Allan Zeman, 58, a maverick Canada-born entrepreneur and longtime Hong Kong resident -- who became the park's chairman around the deadly SARS respiratory epidemic in 2003 which scared off most visitors, forcing the park to contemplate closure.

"I'm a can-do guy ... I turn the negative to the positive," Zeman told Reuters in his white-marbled, ultra-modern office.

"We decided to upgrade the park and came up with a masterplan," said the man also known for gentrifying a shabby district into Hong Kong's trendy nightlife hub of Lan Kwai Fong.

Since then, Zeman's masterplan has defied sceptics -- helped by a strongly rebounding economy -- transforming Ocean Park from a sleepy, fading has-been, into a world beater that's brushed off Hong Kong Disneyland's challenge since it opened in mid-2005.

Disneyland said they had more than five million visitors in their first year, short of its 5.6 million target. Second year figures will be released this September.

MAKING A SPLASH

In 2006, Fortune magazine rated the government owned and non-profit Ocean Park one of the world's top 10 amusement parks.

"Hands up we had more paid attendance (than Disney) in its first year," he said.

"All (Ocean Park) needed was a little TLC - tender, loving, care," he added with a laugh. "The paint was peeling off, you're in hospitality ... you want to make it a happy place."

Zeman did more than give the Park and its famous cable-cars a new paintjob. He brought in a fresh management team, overhauled its "inedible" food outlets and launched a zesty marketing blitz.

On a recent visit, the park resembled a mass construction site, with a slew of hotels and attractions slated as part of a HK$5.5 billion ($705 million) revamp to be completed by 2012.

The park's also enlarging an enclosure for its four pandas -- including two new cubs sent by China last month to mark the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return from British to Chinese rule.

"Ocean Park is home-grown and it truly represents Hong Kong," said Ng Chi-kong, a 21-year-old student: "I've been coming since I was a kid, it would've been a great shame if Disney forced it to close down."

"Ocean Park is something very special to Hong Kong people," said Zeman "It went from what was a sleepy park to playing with the big boys."

Ocean Park to raise ticket prices 10pc to fund expansion
9 September 2007
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park will increase ticket prices by more than 10 per cent from next month because of rising operational costs and expanding facilities.

From October 1, a one-day ticket price for adults will rise from HK$185 to HK$208, and from HK$93 to HK$103 for children aged three to 11.

The last price rise for regular tickets was in April 2004, the park said.

The park's deputy chief executive, Matthias Li Shing-chung, said it had opened new attractions and needed capital for further development.

He said the park was also shouldering interest on a HK$5.5 billion loan for redevelopment and needed to keep an appropriate cash reserve. Chairman Allan Zeman said: "We fully understand it is sometimes difficult when prices are raised, and we are addressing this by our 11 caring initiatives."

The initiatives include an Ocean Park Social Care Ticket, enabling people from organisations registered with the Social Welfare Department to visit the park for HK$20.

Local senior citizens aged over 65 and people with disabilities can gain free admission to the park at any time, while Hong Kong ID card holders can visit for free on their birthday.

A Tourism Commission spokesman said the government understood the park's need to adjust ticket prices and welcomed its move to offer discounts for needy people.

In July, the park said it had almost 5 million visitors in the year to June 30, breaking attendance records for the third consecutive year.

Rival Hong Kong Disneyland charges HK$295 on regular days and HK$350 on peak and special days, with children charged HK$210 on regular days and HK$250 on peak and special days.

Record 4.96m visitors head to Ocean Park
16 October 2007
South China Morning Post

Attendance at Ocean Park jumped 13.2 per cent year on year to 4.96 million for the 2006-07 financial period, its most successful year ever, a source said.

The full set of results will be announced in the Legislative Council in mid-November after they have been audited.

Legislator and park board member Patrick Lau Sau-shing said yesterday that about 5 million people had visited the marine-themed park in the 12 months to June 30.

Dr Lau said the development of Ocean Park would be greatly enhanced once the rail link to the southern part of Hong Kong Island was completed. Chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said last week in his policy address that the South Island Line, something park chairman Allan Zeman has spent years calling for, would be ready by 2015.

The announcement was expected after the park's chief executive, Tom Mehrmann, told legislators in July that the figure was likely to be at just below 5 million, setting a record.

"I'm not surprised at the record attendance," John Ap, a Polytechnic University tourism academic, said. "If you look at how Ocean Park has managed to connect to the people of Hong Kong, it's a homegrown success."

OH wow look at that kiler whale stadium its gorgeous, the grand aquarium is also stunning!

Ocean Park model has export value
5 November 2007
South China Morning Post

Not long ago, Ocean Park was weighed down with five years of losses totalling about HK$200 million. The government approved a HK$5.5 billion, six-year redevelopment to restore a battered pillar of Hong Kong's tourist industry. The makeover has barely begun, but under the chairmanship of businessman Allan Zeman, the marine-theme park has rewarded the vote of confidence by bouncing back into the black after two years of record attendances. Almost 5 million people visited the park in the year to June, an impressive figure in a city of about 7 million. Moreover, this was achieved in the face of competition from the newly opened Hong Kong Disneyland.

It is not surprising that Ocean Park's revival has put ideas in the heads of tourism interests in other places. As we report today, some mainland cities and Saudi Arabia have shown interest in capitalising on its brand name. Talks about developing sites in association with Ocean Park are just at an exploratory stage. But Ocean Park would provide broad expertise in an advisory and consulting role, in return for royalties and perhaps a share of merchandising proceeds. This would diversify its revenue flow from a major public asset without any outlay by Hong Kong taxpayers.

If talks advance beyond expressions of interest, however, there remains a stumbling block. The theme park presently derives its income within its boundaries, from ticket sales, catering and merchandising. The ordinance governing its operation may have to be changed to enable it to expand its income by exporting its expertise. Such a change would have no local impact, and having a stake in the success of similar overseas attractions makes sense. Ocean Park argues that accessing outside income would not jeopardise its non-profit status.

Disney has set a similar example of exporting theme-park know-how, drawing royalties from a locally operated Disneyland in Tokyo. Theme parks have their ups and downs, as evidenced by Ocean Park's 30-year history. They have to be reinvented and reinvested from time to time. It makes sense to use its experience and unique expertise to broaden its revenue base.

ASIA-PACIFIC

The Hong Kong showman who's slaying Walt Disney

MARCUS GEE

E-mail Marcus Gee | Read Bio | Latest Columns
November 14, 2007

HONG KONG -- Montreal paper boy turned Asian impresario Allan Zeman doesn't mind being goofy to beat Mickey.

To promote his Hong Kong theme park in its competition with the local Disneyland, he has posed as Santa Claus, a jellyfish, a spook from the Chinese underworld, the father of a Chinese bride, and a Brazilian dancer with fishnet stockings and a fruit basket on her head - all in aid of besting The Mouse.

Mr. Zeman's Ocean Park has the unenviable task of competing with the No. 1 brand in the world of theme parks, Walt Disney Co. Hong Kong Disneyland was expected to obliterate the pokey, 30-year-old Ocean Park when it opened in September, 2005. Instead, his aquatic-themed attraction is posting record profit and attendance figures, while Disneyland's are faltering.

How did he do it? Sit down with him and he'll tell you the whole story, barely drawing breath for an hour.

When Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa approached Mr. Zeman about becoming chairman of the park, which is owned by the Hong Kong government, "I said 'C.H., I love you, but you're crazy. I know nothing about theme parks.' To be honest, I didn't even know what a dolphin looked like."

But Mr. Tung was persistent. Mr. Zeman, a Canadian who started his business life delivering the now defunct Montreal Star, had shown his flair for promotion and entertainment when he spruced up the down-at-heels Lan Kwai Fung neighbourhood in central Hong Kong.

Quietly buying up property - "nobody knew what I was doing" - he transformed a collection of noodle shops and warehouses into a hip nightclub and restaurant district.

After the sixth call from Mr. Tung, Mr. Zeman relented and agreed to attempt for Ocean Park what he did for Lan Kwai Fung: Give it a new lease on life.

That was no small challenge. The park was battered by the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the SARS outbreak of 2003.

After the Hong Kong government did a deal with Disney to open Asia's second Disneyland (after Japan's), Ocean Park's future looked grim. A government commission recommended moving it from its hillside perch and selling the land to developers. Mr. Zeman told his government friends, "If you move it you're nuts. It's spectacular."

But a nice view obviously was not enough. Concluding "you can't out-Disney Disney," he decided to brand the park as an "edutainment" centre, combining fun for the family with educational exhibits.

After seeing people staring at the jellyfish in the aquarium ("Chinese love jellyfish"), he created a whole new exhibit, the Sea Jelly Spectacular, and dressed up in a jellyfish suit to unveil it. He also leaned on the Chinese government to give the park two new pandas to complement the two it already had, and made plans to acquire belugas, orcas and other marine wonders. "Disney has the fake mouse," he says, "but our animals are real."

Zeman being Zeman, this was no museum of natural history. He also added a dash of pizzazz, promoting special programs for Halloween, Christmas and Chinese New Year.

Mr. Zeman is constantly in the local media pushing his park. He browbeat the Hong Kong government into building a subway line to Ocean Park and he has persuaded bankers and officials to back his $700-million plan to expand it.

All the showmanship and lobbying seems to be working. Attendance jumped 13 per cent last year, hitting nearly five million. Disney doesn't release such figures, but a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last spring said the company might have to refinance its debt because of poor business.

"It's become a matter of pride for Hong Kong people," says Mr. Zeman. "Ocean Park, a homegrown business, is beating Disney."

Mr. Zeman grew up in modest circumstances, the son of a salesman who died when he was only nine. Striking out on his own, he started a paper route when he was 10 and worked as a restaurant busboy on weekends to boot. By the time he turned 16, he had enough money to buy himself his own car. "It was a nicer car than most of the teachers'."

At 17, he got a job in the shipping room of a local lingerie company, then talked himself into a salesman's job by fibbing about his age. At 20, he started his own business importing women's fashion sweaters from Hong Kong.

Travelling to the Asian city, he was bowled over by "the excitement, the action, the internationalism of it." He liked the laissez-faire business climate, too. With its 15-per-cent tax rate and its can-do spirit, Hong Kong seemed a world away from the Canada of high tax rates and strict union rules that he knew.

He gave up on Canada - "I said to myself: 'How do you get rich in this country?' " - and stayed in Hong Kong instead. He has never looked back.

He built a thriving business supplying clothing to North America and was soon expanding to other Asian locales. By the time he cashed out in 2000, the business was worth $282-million.

Today he is a local celebrity, serving as a government adviser on numerous projects, giving speeches, jetting around the region, and telling the Allan Zeman story to anyone who walks in the door.

"I've become a hero to the local community," he says, without blushing. "I've been accepted as a local boy. Almost everything that happens here, I'm behind the scenes. I love Hong Kong. Hong Kong is my home."

Maybe that's Ocean Park's advantage. Mickey is still a foreigner to Hong Kong. Allan Zeman, a resident for 37 years, has become a local. He gets what Hong Kong wants. And Hong Kong wants jellyfish.

mgee@globeandmail.com

Ocean Park model has export value


I read an article in Ming Pao yesterday saying Shanghai not only wants Mickey Mouse, also asking Ocean Park to build a park there as well.

海洋公園客量又新高
29/11/2007
http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/img/endmarker.gif

【本報訊】 海洋公園上年度入場人次及盈餘均創佳績，盈餘達一億七千多萬元，較對上一年增百分之九。海洋公園昨發表○六至○七年度業績報告，去年總入場人次達四百九十二萬，創三十年歷史新高。

收入方面，海洋公園上年度投資勁賺三千九百多萬元，獲利較對上年度的二千三百萬元上升七成二。公園的門票收入逼近六億二千萬元，較對上年度增長一成二。商品銷售、餐飲等園內收益，亦創下二億二千五百多萬元的紀錄，增長達兩成八。海洋公園的盈餘同樣刷新紀錄，錄得一億七千一百多萬元，相對上年度一億五千六百多萬元，增長百分之九。

海洋公園主席盛智文形容，今年香港和海洋公園大豐收，整體經濟蓬勃，遊客節節上升，福布斯旗下的雜誌《Forbes Traveler》更將海洋公園列為全球五十個最多遊客到訪的景點之一。

Ocean Park plans three themed hotels
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, January 14, 2008

Ocean Park is hoping to attract 25 percent more visitors after it opens three differently themed hotels starting in 2011.

A proposal put to the financial secretary by Ocean Park planners last week met tentative approval, according to a source.

Ocean Park will now enter a period of consultation with district councils and environmental groups.

In the 2006/2007 fiscal year, Ocean Park had a record 4.92 million visitors.

The government, which owns the marine-themed amusement park, estimates that visitor numbers will reach 5.8 million in 2012 and up to 7 million in 2021 following the opening of the MTR Corp's (0066) South Island Line extension in 2015.

The extension will allow visitors to travel from Admiralty to Ocean Park in four minutes.

The park will put the construction and management of the hotels out to tender and charge operators an annual fee.

"We will decide the overall theme, but the building cost, actual development and finer details will be decided by the developers," Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said.

The three hotels, which together will provide have 1,280 rooms, aim to attract different clientele.

The 660-room three-star Ocean Hotel will be near the park entrance, while the 460-room four-star Fisherman's Wharf Hotel will be alongside the feature of the same name at the Tai Shue Wan entrance. The 160-room five-star Summit Hotel and Spa will be located atop the park's high point.

The tender process for the three-star property could begin as early as this year, with the hotel set to open in 2011. Zeman said developers had shown interest in all three projects, but he would not elaborate.

Hotel room supply on Hong Kong Island is limited, with just 430 rooms going online in 2007.

Ocean Park recorded a record surplus of HK$171 million for fiscal 2006/2007 - an increase of 9 percent year on year.

Admission ticket income reached HK$620 million, accounting for around 65 percent of total revenue.

"Ultimately, we would like to have 50 percent of the revenue from admission fees, 25 percent from food and beverage and another 25 percent from retail," Zeman said.

The park is planning to increase revenue further by building a parking lot next to the MTR terminus.

Dubai and Saudi Arabia are among countries that have shown interest in building their own versions of Ocean Park. On that, Zeman said Ocean Park has studied the possibility of forming joint ventures or selling franchises.

"These are different ways to increase Ocean Park's income which doesn't require extra investment and also minimizes the possibility of having to raise the admission fee," he added.

Admission prices went up between 10 and 14 percent last October.

Hong Kong's Ocean Park closes aviary after bird flu is found

HONG KONG, Jan 31, 2008 (AFP) - One of Hong Kong's major tourist attractions, Ocean Park, closed its aviary for three weeks on Thursday after a heron there tested positive for bird flu, a government official said.

A preliminary test on the black-crowned heron showed it had the H5 virus and further tests are being conducted, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said in a statement.

The move means the aviary will be closed throughout Lunar New Year, a busy period at the park.

"As a precautionary measure, the walk-in aviaries in the Ocean Park will be temporarily closed to visitors for 21 days starting Thursday. We will monitor the situation closely and review the closure period as necessary," the spokesman said in a statement.

The bird's carcass was found at Ocean Park -- a popular destination for families -- on Monday. The heron is a common visitor to Hong Kong in the winter period.

The city was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died.

World Health Organisation experts say a bird flu pandemic among humans could kill millions worldwide.

Water taxi plan wins support
29 February 2008
South China Morning Post

The government supports the suggested introduction of water taxis to connect tourist spots in Southern District and Ocean Park, as district councillors said such a service could help ease road traffic in the area.

Kinnie Wong Kit-yee, an assistant commissioner at the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, told a Southern District Council meeting yesterday that one of the major considerations of developing the district into a tourist attraction was to revitalise the area's historic fishing village background.

"Bringing the living culture of the old days back is one of the areas we focus on and water taxis fit this idea very well," Miss Wong said, adding that it would be good for visitors to experience a sampan ride.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman, who presented hotel projects planned for the theme park at the meeting, also supported the water taxi idea.

"It's a good idea to link Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and Stanley. When tourists come it is nice for them to get around in a boat. People still like going on the Star Ferry," he said. "I think it's something that we will continue to discuss with the government and the Transport Department."

Mr Zeman said Ocean Park was seeking Town Planning Board approval for three hotels and tenders would be invited once approval was granted. The projects will be presented to the board today.

"The developers will have to pay for construction of the hotels and they will have to share their profits with Ocean Park," he said.

Meanwhile, Becky Ip Ching-tak, the Tourism Board's director for mainland China, said mainlanders may choose to stay at home during the Beijing Games.

She said some mainland travel agencies had forecast the number of visitors to Hong Kong might drop 10 per cent during the Games.

Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said this summer's two-month shopping promotion would be extended to about 12 weeks.

Travel Industry Council chairman Ronnie Ho Pak-ting said he did not think arrivals would be too adversely affected by the Olympics but warned airline seats would be hard to secure.

Ocean Park predicts tourists will bring in bulk of revenue by 2017
18 March 2008
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park says it expects to receive twice as many mainland and overseas visitors as it does locals in a decade.

The split now is roughly 50 per cent locals and 50 per cent mainland and overseas guests. Attendance at Ocean Park jumped 13.2 per cent year on year from 4.38 million to 4.96 million for the 2006-07 financial year, its most successful.

Chief executive Tom Mehrmann told lawmakers yesterday: "Of nearly 5 million people this past year, it's split between 2.5 million and 2.5 million. We foresee that in the future, we'll continue penetrating about 2.5 million local guests. The growth will be in mainland visitation and also the FITs [free independent tourists] coming from Southeast Asia and other locations.

"We suspect by the end of the development in 2012, it may be a roughly 60-40 split, 60 per cent being other than local. If we project all the way out to 2017 or 2020, that could actually evolve to about a 70-30 split, which means you're going to see more FITs and more groups."

Mr Mehrmann was addressing a meeting of the Legislative Council's economic development panel.

Ocean Park has forecast 5.8 million visitors by 2012-13, when its six-year HK$5.5 billion redevelopment is due to be completed. The work will more than double the number of attractions from the existing 35 and include an underground funicular railway.

There will also be three new hotels, but they are not included in the HK$5.5 billion plan. The hotels offer a total of about 1,300 rooms and it is estimated they will bring in an additional 36,800 visits in the first year of operation.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman played down concerns of lawmakers the hotels would add to traffic congestion in the area. He said the hotels would target mainly family tourists with some corporate and convention business.

The funicular railway will join the existing cable car system in providing transport between the lowland and headland areas of the park. Running just over 1.6km long, the three-minute railway ride will move 10,000 people an hour, about three times the 3,600 passengers the cable car can handle.

Mr Mehrmann said there would be a protected walkway within the tunnel for evacuation purposes. Passengers could escape at either end of the tunnel or via an attic located halfway in the tunnel, he said.

How remarkable... I left HK shortly before Disneyland opened and I remember hearing about Ocean Park's inevitable demise and such, but now they're actually doing better business than when I lived in HK!

Can't wait to visit HK and especially Ocean Park once the renovations are done.

熊貓演功夫 闖入海洋公園
與電影主角齊練功 挑戰筷子夾包絕技


(明報) 04月 23日 星期三 05:05AM

【明報專訊】自從諗頭多多的「蘭桂坊 之父」盛智文接手海洋公園以來，海洋公園不斷推陳出新，氣勢如虹。今個暑假海洋公園其中一個重頭項目，是將荷李活 電影公司夢工場（Dreamworks Animation


SKG）的全新動畫《功夫熊貓》（Kung Fu Panda）場景搬進公園，大小朋友可以經歷戲中主角熊貓阿寶的「練功」歷程，包括「筷子夾包」絕技！

海洋公園主席盛智文說，本月26日是大熊貓盈盈和樂樂來港的1周年，而海洋公園作為全球唯一護理4隻大熊貓的主題公園，是最適合推廣《功夫熊貓》的地方。

以《功夫熊貓》為主題的景區，將位於山下纜車廣場、現時「哈哈夢工場」的位置，佔地3000平方呎。盛智文透露，景區內將會把電影主角、熊貓阿寶練功夫的場面呈現於遊人眼前，遊人更可親身接受各種功夫挑戰，如用筷子夾巨型麵包等。整個山下部分亦會以《功夫熊貓》作主題大加粉飾。

盛智文笑說﹕「我也會學習熊貓經常健身，下次出來跟大家見面時，將會是個身形魁梧的功夫大師！」

夢工場代表黎筱娉表示，《功夫熊貓》的主角阿寶是一隻「大食懶」熊貓，一次誤打誤撞下，被認定為傳說中的武林高手，跟5名動物朋友接受一代宗師的獨門訓練，臨危受命對抗魔頭，保衛和平。電影邀得歌手陳奕迅 為阿寶配音，何韻詩 、房祖名 、何超儀 、成龍 及李燦琛也有參與配音。

6月底與電影同步登場

除了功夫熊貓主題景區配合動畫於6月28日同步推出外，盛智文亦透露今個暑假將會有跟奧運 有關的景點及繼續會有「夏水禮」，不過奧運相關活動是什麼則大賣關子。

此外，海洋公園亦會於一個月內，於山上機動城開設茶餐廳。下年初前將會有金魚館等3項設施開幕，預計2010年，園內的景點數目，會由現在的35個倍增至70個。

明報記者 何雪瑩

盛智文「狂踩」米老鼠



【明報專訊】Emily做記者多年，最怕悶死人打官腔狂兜圈受訪者，有時聽佢講完一大輪都唔知該寫乜好。不過只要有海洋公園主席盛智文在場，Emily同一眾行家都唔怕無貨交。噚日Allan介紹新景點


《功夫熊貓》時雖然怕搶鏡，放棄扮熊貓出場念頭，但佢就語出驚人，不斷「揶揄」（其實說「狂踩」都不為過）下星期推出新景點「小小世界」對手香港迪士尼 。

「迪士尼做得唔好唔係秘密啦！」

盛智文話，亞洲愈來愈多主題公園，雖然市場夠大，但一定要條數計得先至掂。佢話﹕「呢度係中國人地方，唔係美國 大公司有卡通人物就一定好！」行家問佢係咪講緊香港迪士尼 ，佢就答﹕「香港迪士尼做得唔好根本唔係秘密啦！我都想佢做好！」

佢又話，以卡通人物為主題樂園未必收效，「小小世界好鬼舊，成幾十年，佢有market，咪係細路囉；海洋公園就唔同，阿公阿婆都玩！」佢又講，去過一次迪士尼就唔會再去﹕「卡通人物睇幾多次都係一樣，但係你每次去海洋公園睇熊貓，佢都做緊唔同！」

盛智文又賣花讚花香，話自己了解中西文化，識得將兩者結合，所以開茶餐廳，「香港係中國人地方，又多國內遊客，唔通你叫佢日日食漢堡 包咩！」唔知熟悉香港文化盛智文，會唔會海洋公園茶餐廳裏面試下絲襪奶茶呢？

海洋公園建環保機動遊戲

24/04/2008







【 記 者 陳 素 貞 報 道 】 致 力 宣 揚 保 育 意 識 的 海 洋 公 園 ， 將 興 建 全 球 首 個 具 有 傳 遞 保 育 意 識 的 旋 轉 機 動 遊 戲 ， 帶 出 保 育 瀕 危 動 物 的 意 識 ， 該 機 動 遊 戲 將 設 於 「 夢 幻 水 都 」 內 ， 屋 宇 署 剛 批 出 建 築 設 計 圖 則 。 「 夢 幻 水 都 」 是 以 欣 賞 水 中 動 物 為 主 題 ， 當 中 包 括 有 「 鯊 魚 全 接 觸 」 ， 遊 客 可 在 防 護 籠 內 在 水 底 欣 賞 鯊 魚 獵 食 。

另 外 ， 屋 宇 署 亦 批 准 公 園 興 建 一 座 四 層 高 的 建 築 物 ， 面 積 達 一 萬 六 千 三 百 平 方 呎 ， 海 洋 公 園 發 言 人 表 示 ， 由 於 設 計 概 念 有 修 訂 ， 不 能 披 露 建 築 物 的 用 途 詳 情 ， 只 稱 是 可 以 豐 富 旅 客 遊 樂 體 驗 的 設 施 。

屋 宇 署 亦 批 出 海 洋 公 園 興 建 高 峰 列 車 隧 道 ， 以 及 高 峰 樂 園 和 海 濱 樂 園 的 列 車 車 站 的 施 工 同 意 書 ， 位 於 高 地 的 高 峰 樂 園 車 站 樓 高 六 層 、 位 於 低 地 的 海 濱 樂 園 車 站 樓 高 一 層 ， 高 峰 列 車 建 成 後 旅 客 只 需 三 分 鐘 車 程 ， 便 可 由 樂 園 山 腳 登 上 高 地 ， 工 程 預 計 下 年 度 完 成 。

五 條 中 華 鱘 定 居 海 洋 公 園




【 本 報 訊 】 五 條 屬 國 家 一 級 保 護 動 物 的 中 華 鱘 ， 將 來 港 「 定 居 」 ， 成 為 海 洋 公 園 的 「 專 才 」 ， 讓 市 民 有 機 會 近 距 離 接 觸 該 史 前 魚 類 。 據 稱 其 中 三 條 來 自 北 京 ， 兩 條 來 自 廈 門 ， 預 料 最 快 下 月 12 日 由 當 地 送 往 本 港 。



6 月 份 有 歡 迎 儀 式
海 洋 公 園 發 言 人 昨 日 證 實 ， 內 地 中 國 野 生 動 物 保 護 協 會 的 水 生 野 生 動 物 保 護 分 會 ， 將 贈 送 五 條 中 華 鱘 予 海 洋 公 園 ， 以 促 進 內 地 與 香 港 保 護 水 生 野 生 動 物 交 流 。 發 言 人 稱 這 批 珍 貴 史 前 魚 類 品 種 必 受 市 民 及 遊 客 歡 迎 ， 具 體 安 排 會 盡 快 公 佈 。
據 了 解 ， 來 自 廈 門 的 兩 條 中 華 鱘 已 經 選 定 ， 各 身 長 兩 米 ， 將 於 下 月 12 日 從 陸 路 運 到 海 洋 公 園 ； 至 於 三 條 來 自 北 京 海 洋 館 的 中 華 鱘 將 容 後 到 港 ， 公 園 或 會 在 6 月 一 次 過 辦 歡 迎 儀 式 。 中 華 鱘 是 中 國 特 有 ， 最 長 可 達 四 米 多 ， 體 重 逾 千 斤 ， 現 多 生 活 於 長 江 流 域 。 中 華 鱘 是 世 界 最 古 老 脊 椎 動 物 ， 已 有 1.4 億 年 歷 史 ， 故 有 「 魚 類 活 化 石 」 之 稱 。

海洋公園獲贈5尾中華鱘


(明報) 05月 08日 星期四 06:25PM
海洋公園表示，公園將獲中國野生動物保護協會水生野生動物保護分會贈送5尾中華鱘。



這5尾中華鱘將於5月12日和19日分批送到海洋公園，經過檢疫後，將於6月中旬在園內的海洋館展出。

這5尾中華鱘全部是由中國野生動物保護協會水生野生動物保護分會屬下的「長江水產研究所」培育繁殖的第一代中華鱘。

海洋公園表示，中華鱘是已有1.4億年歷史的珍貴魚類品種，獲贈的中華鱘將成為園內新一批動物保育大使，推動在香港及內地的水生野生動物保護及教育，同時加強內地與香港在這方面的合作和交流。

中國野生動物保護協會表示，希望通過贈送中華鱘，促進內地和香港的科普教育，並提高社會各界對生態保護的意識；北京奧運會 即將舉行，這次贈送的5尾中華鱘和奧運的5環互相配合，象徵著這屆奧運會“綠色奧運”的精神。

為迎接5尾中華鱘的來臨，海洋公園的海洋館將添加以中華鱘為主題的設計，館內也將設立中華鱘科普教育展區。

海洋公園開茶餐廳 盛智文絲襪奶茶

http://hk.yimg.com/hk/providers/mingpao/20080526/_27ne006_.jpg

(明報) 05月 27日 星期二 05:10AM

【明報專訊】牆上掛古老時鐘，還有輪盤式電話，但這裏不是歷史博物館；相框內的是甄妮、許冠傑等八十年代歌星的唱片封套，背景音樂是徐小鳳的《風的季節》，但這裏又不是懷舊唱片店……這裏



其實是海洋公園以懷舊港式茶餐廳為主題的全新餐廳「海洋冰室」。

這間「海洋冰室」昨日開幕，侍應都穿上甚具港式茶餐廳風味的白色制服，經常扮鬼扮馬的海洋公園主席盛智文當然亦不例外，他耳背擱原子筆，口裏叼牙籤，肩上掛白色毛巾，還「刨」馬經，以一副經典茶餐廳伙計造型出場，維肖維妙，他更即場示範「絲襪奶茶」。

食物裝潢大玩懷舊

盛智文說，自己也是茶餐廳的常客，蛋撻、炒飯等都是他的心頭好。他指出，「海洋冰室」內的食物及裝潢，都能代表香港的地道文化，雖然餐廳主要針對本地遊客，但外國遊客亦會對港式茶餐廳文化感到興趣。

餐廳的裝潢以懷舊地道為主題，除了播放懷舊金曲外，就連牆上的餐牌亦是用毛筆在帶點發黃的原稿紙上書寫的。至於食物方面，既然以港式茶餐廳為主題，蛋撻、鴛鴦、絲襪奶茶等當然少不了，除此之外，「海洋冰室」亦提供明爐燒味、雲吞麵、揚州炒飯等逾150款甚具香港特色的食物。

雖然食物賣相頗吸引，但價錢就較「正宗」茶餐廳稍貴，例如兩件蛋撻配奶茶或咖啡便售32元，一杯凍奶茶則盛惠28元。盛智文說，食品價錢不算貴，且相信「海洋冰室」會受歡迎。

Down-home taste mix at Ocean Park
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Ocean Park has injected a local flavor into its menu with egg tarts, milk tea, "yuen yang" - a mix of coffee and milk tea - Hainan chicken rice and other local favorites offered at its first cha chen tang, which opened yesterday.

Cafe Ocean formerly served western-style buffets, but park chairman Allan Zeman says sales can double with the cha chen tang - an eatery unique to Hong Kong.

Zeman is also confident tourists will be interested in the coffee shop and enjoy authentic Hong Kong food. "The menu is geared towards local tastes," he added, "and foreigners will have to adapt to it."

The restaurant, with a capacity of 240 , has been redecorated with a 1970s look. Pictures of former top singers like Teresa Carpio hang side-by-side with handwritten menus.

Even the music has been fine-tuned, with old-time favorites such as Adam Cheng Siu-chow's The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber helping digest that egg-tart.

Park food and beverage operations manager Stephen Chow Wai-ming said he will ensure the cha chen tang displays the cleanliness and tidiness found in high-end restaurants. "You won't see our waiters with their fingers in your tea as was the case in the old days," he said.

Also yesterday, the park announced a one-off 50 percent discount on admission for secondary five and seven students between now and June 30. And on the park program: an exhibition of five sturgeon fish and a summer water party.

Zeman noted too yesterday that the caretaker of resident giant pandas Ying Ying and Le Le, He Changgui, was safe, though several of the handlers at the Sichuan Wolong panda reserve were killed when the area was ravaged by the May 12 earthquake.

Hotel height at Ocean Park cut to ease fears
28 May 2008
South China Morning Post

The Southern District Council has welcomed Ocean Park's decision to modify its expansion plan after residents complained of the impact it would have on the neighbourhood.

Alongside a HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan expected to be completed by 2012-13, the park is planning to build three hotels, offering a total of 1,300 rooms and expected to open in 2011 or 2012.

But to ease the fears of residents about their views being spoiled, it has agreed to reduce the height of one of the hotels, next to its main entrance, from 27 storeys to seven or eight, according to a spokeswoman.

In order to meet the targeted 660 rooms, the proposed hotel may be split into two buildings, she said.

District councillor Lam Kai-fai said the expansion plans had won unanimous support from the district council. Mr Lam, who is a planning and co-ordination consultant, said disturbance to the environment and traffic flow would be unavoidable, but he urged people to look at the "big picture".

"The development of Ocean Park will be a milestone for Southern District, and for Hong Kong," he said. "For example, it has contributed to the construction of the South Island MTR line and it will further boost tourism in Hong Kong."

He added that Ocean Park had been "extraordinarily sincere", as shown in its close communications with the district council and the promises the park had made, like changing the hotel plans, limiting tree cutting and creating a larger green belt than originally intended.

But residents remain concerned about the impact of the proposed hotels. Owners of properties in Orchid Valley, a high-end development, wrote to Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman earlier this month to oppose the construction of a hotel in the lowlands of the park.

They said the hotel would spoil the ambience of the area and worsen traffic congestion.

Ocean Park's spokeswoman said the parameters of the hotels had yet to be decided before being taken to the Town Planning Board for approval later this year. She said the park was sympathetic to the concerns of neighbours.

海洋公園將建熱帶雨林

29/05/2008

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/photo/20080529/new/0529nhko14b1.jpg





【 記 者 譚 美 芳 報 道 】 海 洋 公 園 耗 資 五 十 五 億 元 進 行 的 擴 建 工 程 ， 其 中 一 個 重 點 新 景 點 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 ， 已 獲 屋 宇 署 審 批 圖 則 ， 最 快 明 年 動 工 興 建 。 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 包 括 一 幢 樓 高 四 層 的 展 區 ， 設 有 多 個 探 索 區 及 探 險 徑 ， 更 有 適 合 一 家 大 少 的 機 動 遊 戲 ， 例 如 近 年 大 熱 的 激 流 旅 程 及 電 影 特 技 表 演 等 ， 遊 人 將 有 機 會 親 歷 荷 里 活 電 影 《 奪 寶 奇 兵 》 式 的 刺 激 探 險 之 旅 。

海 洋 公 園 的 擴 建 工 程 正 進 行 得 如 火 如 荼 ， 山 下 的 原 來 公 園 命 名 為 「 海 濱 樂 園 」 ； 山 上 的 公 園 則 命 名 為 「 高 峰 樂 園 」 ， 分 四 個 主 題 ， 重 要 景 點 之 一 為 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 ， 該 景 點 將 包 括 一 幢 樓 高 四 層 的 建 築 物 ， 佔 地 二 千 二 百 八 十 九 平 方 米 ， 內 設 一 個 世 界 級 的 動 物 展 館 。

此 外 ， 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 另 設 有 多 個 探 索 區 及 探 險 徑 ， 探 索 區 將 塑 造 成 亞 馬 遜 熱 帶 雨 林 的 模 樣 ， 除 會 栽 種 色 彩 斑 斕 、 幾 近 人 體 大 小 的 熱 帶 花 卉 及 參 天 樹 木 外 ， 亦 有 食 人 魚 及 鱷 魚 等 動 物 ， 讓 遊 人 可 一 嘗 歷 險 的 旅 程 。

區 內 亦 會 闢 建 樹 頂 觀 鳥 徑 ， 讓 遊 人 欣 賞 生 物 的 多 樣 性 ； 更 會 有 激 流 之 旅 等 機 動 遊 戲 ， 讓 遊 人 樂 而 忘 返 。

海 洋 公 園 發 言 人 表 示 ， 為 了 貫 徹 保 育 的 宗 旨 ， 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 園 內 將 設 立 一 個 類 似 課 室 的 育 中 心 ， 育 旅 客 認 識 熱 帶 雨 林 、 熱 帶 雨 林 面 對 的 威 脅 及 如 何 保 育 僅 存 的 雨 林 區 。

另 外 ， 屋 宇 署 同 時 批 出 了 海 洋 公 園 加 建 動 物 展 區 、 小 食 亭 、 小 屋 及 零 售 設 施 等 的 圖 則 ， 佔 地 合 共 三 百 八 十 平 方 米 。

董 耀 中 ： 助 吸 引 遊 客
旅 遊 業 議 會 總 幹 事 董 耀 中 表 示 ， 海 洋 公 園 近 期 正 進 行 擴 建 工 程 ， 增 加 不 少 旅 遊 景 點 ， 令 公 園 的 吸 引 力 大 增 。 他 認 為 「 熱 帶 雨 林 天 地 」 有 噱 頭 ， 因 為 愈 來 愈 多 市 民 喜 歡 親 近 大 自 然 ， 關 注 生 態 環 境 ， 新 景 點 有 助 吸 引 遊 客 。 他 又 指 ， 香 港 仔 不 少 旅 遊 發 展 項 目 即 將 招 標 ， 他 相 信 可 配 合 海 洋 公 園 的 擴 建 發 展 。

From news.gov.hk:
Ocean Park to rebuild panda bases (http://news.gov.hk/en/category/environment/080610/html/080610en04002.htm)

Ocean Park is no longer an "Ocean" Park~~

Pandas seem to be have a bigger role in the park than the dolphins, sharks, fish and other marine life these days.

海洋公園貫通 登山列車隧道


(星島) 06月 13日 星期五 05:30AM





(星島日報 報道)海洋公園人流旺場，為紓緩旅客排隊等坐吊車問題而擴建的登山鐵路「高峰列車」，隧道爆破工程已完成，昨日舉行貫通儀式。隧道全長一點二公里，車程只需三分鐘，每小時載客量達一萬人次，稍後即鋪設路軌，預計明年中落成。

　　貫通山下海濱樂園和山上高峰樂園的登山纜索鐵路「高峰列車」，去年九月動土以來，花了一百九十三日完成隧道爆破工程，昨日由財政司 司長曾俊華 和旅遊事務專員 區璟智等主持隧道貫通儀式。海洋公園主席盛智文表示，現時在繁忙時間等候吊車可能最長要等近兩小時，日後遊客可選擇坐吊車或高峰列車，縮短輪候時間。

　　登山頂只需三分鐘

　　這條全長一點二公里的隧道，橫跨南朗山，總長度相等於二十四個奧運 標準泳池，車程只需三分鐘，總車軌長二千九百米。昨日所見，隧道已完成開鑿，但仍要進行內部工程，海洋公園工程項目發展總監梁皓芹表示，高峰列車運作似山頂纜車，列車雙向行駛，隧道中間有交匯處讓上山和落山的列車可以轉軌。而列車每小時有十三班次，可以無人駕駛或由車長駕駛，未定方案。

　　她說，海洋公園已購入四架列車，稍後由瑞士 運抵本港組裝，而列車時速三十六公里，稍慢於山頂纜車。列車由兩卡車廂組成，每架可坐三百二十人，較山頂纜車可坐一百二十人，足足多逾一倍。梁皓芹指，雖然登山隧道的傾斜度為百分之九，乘客未必感受得到，因為求遊客坐得舒適，每卡車廂的地台特別呈四個梯級狀，以抵銷遊客在座位上會稍為仰上或俯衝的感覺。

　　她又說，隧道有足夠的安全措施，上方有空氣槽，旁邊有緊急隧道，「根據消防安全條例，隧道內每隔四十八米就有一個疏散門，必要時用來逃生。」而稍後即鋪設路軌和訊號系統，再要試運和等候機電署發牌，預計○九年中落成。

海洋公園「炮」製登山列車 明年通車 每小時載一萬人

(明報) 06月 13日 星期五 05:10AM

【明報專訊】遊客到訪海洋公園，要登山只可搭纜車。但明年會有一個新選擇，就是穿越南朗山的「高峰列車」。海洋公園在南朗山開鑿長1.2公里的穿山隧道，從瑞士 訂購的4架列車，明年中將會接載遊客，來往熊貓館旁的「海濱樂園」至南朗山頂的「高峰樂園」，每小時最多可載1萬人。

疏導纜車人潮

09年中開始連接海洋公園兩個樂園的高峰列車，路線與現時的登山纜車相若。高峰列車主要為客運用途，3分鐘的車程內，遊客可在車廂欣賞多媒體介紹海洋動物、保育等資訊。4架列車將於明年由瑞士訂購來港，每架列車將會有兩個車廂，一程能載客約320人，會以每秒10米的速度跨越南朗山。

列車隧道自去年9月起開始動工，昨日正式貫通起點（即海濱樂園，熊貓館旁的車站）至終點（南朗山頂車站），終點站是正發展的「高峰樂園」，將會增加不同的遊樂設施。

海洋公園主席盛智文昨日出席貫通儀式時表示，高峰列車可紓緩平日登山纜車的壓力，「假日人多，登山纜車的人龍要排兩至三小時；有時天氣惡劣，遊人未能乘搭纜車，要坐巴士在樂園以外行駛。」盛智文說，高峰列車補足了纜車的不足，相信會吸引更多旅客。

昨日舉行的隧道貫通儀式，記者有機會走進隧道。地盤目前仍在施工階段，完成外部粉飾、安裝路軌後，列車就可以投入服務。海洋公園工程項目發展總監梁皓芹表示，南朗山隧道以爆破方法開鑿，由於南朗山的石頭堅硬，較為容易開鑿。不過，鑿至最後的120米，由於泥土較鬆軟，才改為用機器挖掘。

高峰列車是海洋公園全新發展計劃的其中一個工程，計劃還包括興建酒店。盛智文指，計劃中的酒店會改為8層設計，明年會進行招標及大型設計比賽，為酒店尋找最出色的設計。盛智文說，全新發展計劃為獨特的大型設計，相信能為香港增添吸引力，雖然旅遊業面對兩岸三通威脅，但他相信香港仍能保持優勢，確保旅客不會流失。

Park human cannonball has tunnel vision on track
Hong Kong Standard
Friday, June 13, 2008

Ocean Park's expansion program received a psychological boost with a "breakthrough" in the 1.2-kilometer tunnel that will link its lowland and headland to redefine the movement of five million visitors a year.

Conducting the symbolic breakthrough yesterday with typical showmanship, park chairman Allan Zeman was blasted through a mock wall by cannon in front of Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, Commissioner for Tourism Au King-chi, the park's directors and the media.

Requiring 70 tonnes of explosives and taking 193 days to build, the all- weather tunnel will displace 73,608 cubic meters of granite, rising 110 meters to exit at the park's headland.

"With our HK$5.5 billion six-year master redevelopment project stated to double the park's attractions from the current 35 to over 70, we envisage an incremental rise in guest visitation as the new attractions unfold between now and 2012 to 2013," Zeman said.

The tunnel, due to open next year, will house the Ocean Express attraction, a train journey set to immerse riders in a multimedia and interactive environment, embracing marine, animal and wildlife conservation themes for its three-minute duration.

The tunnel will have a capacity of 10,000 visitors an hour.

The park's lowland attractions will include Aqua City, housing an underwater restaurant and an aquarium four times the size of the park's biggest marine viewing tank, along with bird of prey shows and a Panda Cafe for visitors eager to grab a bite while viewing the park's popular cuddly creatures.

The expansion at the park's headland will include a new Marine World inhabited by killer whales, a rainforest land with stunts, rides and an aviary, Thrill Mountain with more games and rides and a Polar Adventure area with an ice palace, polar bears and walruses.

Alterations to the park's proposed hotels to address Southern District Council's concern over height have been completed and will be submitted to the government shortly, said Zeman, adding that the construction of the three projects should be open to tender by the end of the year.

國寶中華鱘遭海狼咬死

(星島) 06月 24日 星期二 05:30AM
(綜合報道)



(星島日報 報道)北京 奧運 五福娃 之一的海洋國寶，五條中華鱘上周五才來港入住海洋公園海洋館，未及開放給公眾，體形最細小的中華鱘「五號」，翌日已遭館內極具攻擊性的海狼猛噬致傷痕纍纍，經搶救在昨日凌晨壽終正寢。主席盛智文昨公布哀號，感到哀痛，表示已獲國家體恤，再贈另一條中華鱘。有海洋專家狠批海洋公園失職，將中華鱘與其他攻擊性魚類一起飼養，就如將熊貓與獅子困在一起，漠視國寶性命，立法會 議員批評事件傷害中國人民感情。

　　記者：張一華

　　五條國寶中華鱘由全國水生野生動物保護分會贈送，海洋公園昨晚發聲明指出，死亡的國寶為體形最細小一條，名為「五號中華鱘」。

　　上周六，員工發現「五號」滿身傷痕，即時通知首席獸醫及將「五號」取出治理，並放到療養缸觀察，當時並無異樣。惜事隔一天多，即至周一凌晨十二時半，「五號」被發現死去。

　　八條「疑兇」被隔離

　　海洋公園獸醫為「五號」剖屍後，證實其身上曾遭咬傷，傷痕與海狼牙印合，海洋公園強調，海狼與中華鱘一般會在同一野生環境中生活，並即時將四條中華鱘移離水族館，另將館內八條「疑兇」海狼一併取出，隔離至另一飼養缸內，海洋公園已向漁護署呈報事件。

　　海洋公園主席盛智文對中華鱘遭咬死，表示哀痛，並稱已與內地單位聯絡，而全國水生野生動物保護分會將再贈送另一條中華鱘給海洋公園，盛智文深表感激，並預料四條中華鱘可於下月初重現海洋館；送贈國寶的保護分會會長李彥亮，以及中國水產科學研究院長江水產研究所危起偉對中華鱘被咬死事件，均感傷痛，但兩人卻認同這是動物世界中會發生的自然現象。

　　專家：儼如熊貓獅子同穴

　　海洋生物學家洪家耀狠批，海洋公園將海洋國寶，放到水族館內與其他攻擊性魚類一起養殖，是漠視風險評估，「就似將熊貓放到與獅子一齊一樣，明知會受到攻擊，就將牠們混在一起，對海洋公園養魚實在無信心。」他指，中華鱘是在長江生活的淡水魚類，屬珍稀品種及國家一級保護及瀕危動物，在長江早已受威脅。

　　他質疑海洋公園為貪方便及要搞噱頭，罔顧中華鱘安危而一併放入水族館內，不設獨立的水館飼養，海洋公園應要好好檢討。

　　議員抨兒戲鹵莽

　　多名立法會議員批評海洋公園做法兒戲鹵莽，公民黨 湯家驊 批評，一般人買魚也會擔心細魚被大魚咬，都會分開來養，質疑海洋公園缺乏普通常識；社民連陳偉業 促政府向海洋公園追究，「一條國寶白白被其他魚咬死，就如傷害中國人民感情一樣。」

　　五條國寶全由中央送贈給海洋公園，更是首次將鱘魚送贈給其他地方，五條國寶年齡介乎三至十歲，更代表奧運五環。

　　全國野生中華鱘少於一千條，經廈門繁殖後，現在淡水生活的中華鱘也只有三千條。

兇殘掠食者 海狼受滋擾必反擊

(明報) 06月 24日 星期二 05:10AM

【明報專訊】香港大學 太古海洋科學研究所研究員杜偉倫表示，海狼性格兇殘，屬肉食性魚類，活動範圍較接近海面；中華鱘性格溫馴，不會主動攻擊魚類，靠近海底活動；估計這兩種魚在大自然未必有


機會相遇，不排除海狼在水族館不習慣與新訪客相處，於是發動攻擊。

他認為，中華鱘在海洋的珍貴程度達國寶級，有如陸地上的熊貓，早前知道海洋公園會引入中華鱘，一直以為會放進另一個水族館供市民觀賞。經過昨日事件，他認為應將餘下4條中華鱘隔離，不應再放回海洋館。

海狼又名梭子魚，取其體型與織布機的梭子相似，是海洋常見魚類，最長可達2米。杜偉倫說，由於海狼性格兇殘，潛水員在海中遇到牠們都不敢貿然接近，只要這些魚稍受滋擾，幾乎必會反擊。相反中華鱘性格溫馴，平時進食魚蝦等甲殼類動物，不會主動攻擊魚類，因此相信是海狼主動攻擊。對於中華鱘被咬後兩日逝世，他估計與抵港前經長時間運送，未完全適應新環境下再被攻擊，引致身心受創，最後死亡。

海狼屬肉食魚類，但杜偉倫估計海狼並非在飢餓的情下發動攻擊，因為海洋館充斥大量體型懸殊的魚類，不愁衣食，毋須冒險攻擊較自己體型大的魚類去獲取食物。

根據資料，送出其中3條小中華鱘的北京 海洋館，設有中華鱘專館，但不確定該館的中華鱘是否同樣與其他魚類一起飼養。

What a sad story....

It was so stupid...

...by the way, an aquarium somewhere not in HK decided to put sharks and an octopus together. The end result was... that a bunch of sharks were killed by the octopus!

What's a sea wolf?

^^ it is Barracuda not sea wolf

"Sea wolf" is the nickname of the Barracuda in Chinese.

No one at fault in sturgeon death says Ocean Park





Ocean Park plans to release the four surviving Chinese sturgeons back into the main tank of its aquarium in early July despite the death of a fifth fish bitten by a barracuda.
The park's executives, veterinarians and oceanologists insisted yesterday the attack was an accident.

The necropsy on the sturgeon indicated the bite was not aggressive but a reflex action induced by contact between the fish.

"No one is at fault, and no one is getting fired," executive director of zoological operations and education Suzanne Gendron said.

She said it is the first time in the world for both species to be kept in the same saltwater environment and that the two species do co-exist in the South China Sea.

Director of the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association Li Yanliang said sturgeons should be able to get along with other fish, but barracudas may have attacked the sturgeons because they were newcomers.

Sturgeons are separately kept in the Beijing Aquarium, but experts from the Ministry of Agriculture said barracudas are not particularly fierce species and interpreted the attack as an accident.

Chinese sturgeons are an endangered species native to China.

Five were presented to the park last month and went on display at Ocean Park's Atoll Reef main tank last Thursday. Gendron said the eight barracudas have been with the park for almost 10 years and never showed any signs of aggression.

They will be relocated to another holding facility in the
next few days until a new aquarium opens.

Chief veterinarian Paolo Martelli said the sturgeon was bitten two days after it went on display. A 16-centimeter-long wound along with two smaller wounds were found on the fish's right flank. The fish showed signs of recovery after an operation but its condition deteriorated. It died Monday.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman said the incident showed Chinese sturgeons and barracudas should not have been kept together, but it was impossible for the park to know when the barracudas would attack.

The NAWCA has promised to send the park another Chinese sturgeon, but arrangements are on hold until one is selected.

The five sturgeons represent the five Olympic rings. The central government will replace the dead fish with a new one to complete the five rings.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen cautioned against rushing to blame Ocean Park, saying it was the first time for the park to handle the fish.

He added the park must ensure the sturgeons will be well protected in the future.

He also thanked the central government for the replacement.

海洋公園遊客破500萬人次

http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20080630/large/30lp2p4.jpg


(明報) 06月 30日 星期一 05:10AM

【明報專訊】海洋公園入場人次連續第5年上升，昨日首次衝破500萬。海洋公園主席盛智文表示，大熊貓盈盈、樂樂於去年7、8月已經吸引超過100萬旅客，多項全新景點亦會在09年落成「吸客」。資料

顯示，公園2003/04年度入場人次為368萬，其後入場人次每年持續上升，更趕及在6月30日年度結算前首次衝破500萬。

另一方面，「勁敵」迪士尼 樂園雖然今年首季入場人數有雙位數字增長，但因上年度入場人數下跌至只有逾400萬，相信較難追上海 洋公園。立法會 議員李華明 認為，海洋公園較適合一家大小，又新增水母館、中華鱘等吸引遊客，相反迪士尼樂園 較適合小朋友，加上在港歷史不及海洋公園悠久，他對其入場人數增幅不太樂觀。

香港入境旅遊接待協會會長梁耀霖認為，由於海洋公開入場門票較迪士尼樂園便宜，內地團通常會選擇將海洋公園列入行程內，迪士尼樂園則屬於自費項目，變相令海洋公園入場人數較多，同時海洋公園亦非常進取籌備萬聖節等不同活動。 他強調，任何樂園都必須不停更新園內活動吸引遊客。

Sharks lose Ocean Park home as Beijing gives five new sturgeon
Hong Kong Standard
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Ocean Park will have nine Chinese sturgeon by the end of this month, three weeks after one of the original five died from a barracuda bite.

"Five, not one, five Chinese sturgeon," park chairman Allan Zeman said yesterday, referring to the additional gifts from Beijing.

"We all know that in Chinese, nine is a very lucky number."

The number nine is linked to longevity in a Cantonese idiom.

The National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association earlier only pledged to replace the dead sturgeon to complete the five Olympic rings which the original fish symbolized.

The new arrivals will have to be "quarantined" from the surviving four - they have now moved from freshwater to seawater.

In order to have five sturgeon displayed at the opening of the Beijing Olympics next month, the association will select five new fish, aged between seven and nine, and about two meters in length, from the Xiamen Songhao Chinese Sturgeon Breeding Centre.

They will be delivered to Ocean Park by the end of this month.

Deputy chief executive Matthias Li Sing-chung said the park will try its best to minimize any danger to the protected national treasures.

Contrary to the announcement made immediately after the death of the smallest sturgeon among the original batch, the nine sturgeon will be separated from other fish.

The park will convert the shark aquarium to house the new sturgeon starting on August 8 - the opening day of the Olympics.

The four surviving original sturgeon wil
l be back on display and join the new fish at the Chinese sturgeon aquarium once the new arrivals complete salination in one to two months.

Fifteen sharks from the original aquarium will be relocated to the nearby Atoll Reef, their former home.

The 11 other sharks will be housed at special pools until a grand aquarium is completed in two years.

Ocean Park aims for `fair' share of Disney CEPA deal
Hong Kong Standard
Thursday, July 31, 2008

Plans are afoot to include Ocean Park in a controversial deal that will allow non-Guangdong residents working in Shenzhen to tour Disneyland using special passes.

The deal, with tours to be conducted by authorized agencies, is part of a new package under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement signed on Tuesday.

It immediately drew fire from Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman and critics who suggested the government is siding with the underperforming theme park.

"It wouldn't be great to have only one attraction," Zeman told The Standard. "I wouldn't want Ocean Park to be the only attraction either. It wouldn't be fair. I just hope that there's a level playing field."

Zeman said he did not know the rationale behind the scheme, which came as both a surprise and disappointment to him. Neither the Hong Kong nor mainland governments discussed such an arrangement with the marine theme park before the deal was announced, he said.

The park has contacted the Tourism Commission to pursue the inclusion of Ocean Park into the scheme. Zeman said other attractions such as Ngong Ping 360 should also be included as they are all government owned. He said the deal in its present form will not affect Ocean Park attendance since it is not clear how many nonlocal workers in Shenzhen can afford to join such tours.

A Tourism Commission spokeswoman said it is in discussions with Ocean Park.

Wang Fugang, assistant general manager of state-owned China Travel Service (Hong Kong) said it will consider adding Ocean Park and other attractions into a three-day, two-night itinerary, which is still in the planning stage.

But a source said Disneyland will be the exclusive theme park in the initial stage of implementation.

China Travel said visitors will enter and leave Hong Kong as a group through specified immigration control points. Only a handful of groups will be allowed at the outset but the list will be expanded gradually.

Tour prices and other details have yet to be confirmed.

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah defended the deal, saying it was a pilot scheme that may be expanded to cover other destinations.

Executive Council convener Leung Chun-ying said Disneyland enjoys a good reputation in the mainland and has spare capacity to host more visitors. Its location also makes group management easy.

Ocean Park ranked favourite HK brand
1 August 2008
South China Morning Post

Hongkongers' favourite local brand - the one they would recommend to overseas and mainland visitors - is not a fashion chain or a designer label, but a theme park.

In a city renowned for its devotion to brand-name goods, respondents to a survey chose Ocean Park as their most popular "brand", ahead of electronics appliance chain Broadway and listed fashion chain I.T.

Ocean Park and Broadway also scored highly for innovative design in the City University survey, coming second and third behind the MTR.

A brand-management expert said the results showed branding did not have to be expensive.

Commissioned by the Hong Kong Design Centre, the university's researchers interviewed 2,520 Hong Kong residents, aged 15 to 70, in May.

Fifty-two per cent were female, 41 per cent had a monthly income of between HK$10,000 and HK$20,000 and 43 per cent earned less than HK$10,000.

The survey covered categories including groceries, catering, jewellery/accessories, telecommunications, shopping malls, fashion apparel, and leisure/entertainment.

Interviewees were asked to rate the relative importance of various factors affecting their choice of brand. The top three were quality (46.2 per cent), price (43.4 per cent) and brand image (31.7 per cent).

Sherriff Luk Ting-kwong, director of the Asian Centre for Brand Management at Polytechnic University, said the survey findings confirmed branding was a crucial factor in consumption decision-making in developed economies.

Dr Luk noted there was a widespread misconception that branding could be expensive, referring to the comparatively low advertising budget of fashion chain I.T. compared to those of its competitors.

The survey was conducted as part of Hong Kong Brands Week, a fund-raising campaign to be launched by the Hong Kong Design Centre and Community Chest in December.

Participating local brands will have to make a donation to the Community Chest to be included in a local brands shopping brochure.

再超越迪士尼 入場人次逾500萬
海洋公園業績連續五年破紀錄
04/12/2008

【本報訊】海洋公園的表現再一次超越香港迪士尼樂園。海洋公園公布業績連續五年打破紀錄，○七至○八年度入場人次超越五百萬大關，全年收入達九億二千四百多萬元，較上年度增百分之九。

海洋公園昨日向立法會提交○七至○八年度的業績報告，上年度公園的入場人次連續第五年打破紀錄，達至五百零三萬，較對上年度四百九十萬人次微升。園內收益和門票收益分別錄得二億四千萬元以及六億八千萬元，較去年同期增加百分之七及百分之十。此外，海洋公園錄得二億零四百七十萬元盈餘，較○六至○七年度上升達百分之十九，同時創下新高。相比之下，香港迪士尼開幕第三年，錄得四百六十萬入場人次，較海洋公園少百分之八點六。

高峰列車明年中有得玩
此外，迪士尼與政府商討擴建大計一年多未有進展，反而海洋公園的新景點將如期逐一落成。海洋公園董事局成員兼立法會議員劉秀成說，高峰列車將於明年中正式投入服務，亞洲動物天地亦預定明春落成。

海洋公園主席盛智文對公園業務持續增長感鼓舞，對來年抱樂觀審慎態度。他說，環球金融危機下社會經濟潛在隱憂將逐步浮現。他預期消費者及企業開始減省開支，預期各地旅遊業將受影響，不過暫未有畺象顯示海洋公園的業務會受直接影響。除了內地，公園計劃拓展多個海外市場，包括印度、菲律賓、馬來西亞、印尼、韓國、日本及台灣等。他期待海洋酒店、漁人碼頭酒店及高峰水療度假酒店將來陸續落成，有助鞏固香港作為旅遊首選的地位。http://the-sun.on.cc/channels/img/endmarker.gif

國寶娃娃魚贈海洋公園
3億年活化石 兩尾將來港

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2009年1月15日






【明報專訊】中央贈港的中華鱘十死其三，但內地決定再送另一種國寶、有活化石之稱的大鯢(俗稱娃娃魚)給海洋公園。昨日有報道指出，國家農業部已批准全國水生野生動物保護分會，於短期內送娃娃魚給本港作科普宣傳和科學研究。有兩棲類專家指出，海洋公園自2001年已養了兩條娃娃魚，有飼養經驗，加上飼養這種古生物的難度低於中華鱘，相信不會重演「客死異鄉」事件。

公園先稱「高興」 後指未有消息

海洋公園昨日表現低調，最初回覆查詢時僅表示正與內地商討娃娃魚來港安排，對獲贈國寶表示高興，海洋公園會繼續與內地專家合作，保護水生動物。發言人後來澄清，指與內地正商討長遠「保育方案」，對娃娃魚贈港一事，發言人指「未有消息」公布，又強調與早前中華鱘死亡事件無關。

叫聲似嬰兒哭 國家二級保護

娃娃魚在地球存活了3億年，較恐龍早1億年已出現，曾與恐龍並存，結果恐龍滅絕，娃娃魚卻活到今天，是現存最大體型的兩棲類動物之一，其頭部寬扁，眼小口大，尾長而扁，四肢短小，因叫聲像嬰兒啼哭，故名「娃娃魚」，過去由於大量被捕殺食用，致數量銳減，目前是中國二級野生保護動物。

現存兩尾 嘉道理農場引入

翻查資料，海洋公園早於2001年已構思從內地引入娃娃魚，後來不了了之，另外，海洋公園曾從嘉道理農場引入兩條娃娃魚，並安置於「恐龍足跡」展館，同場展出的珍貴動物包括瀕危的揚子鱷。海洋公園表示，06年改建展館，娃娃魚移往公園內的後勤設施，至今仍在園內，未確定會否與新來港的娃娃魚混養。

現於海洋公園內的兩條娃娃魚，是漁護署1990年代尾在一次行動中搜出，屬非法偷運入境，及後交由嘉道理農場照料。海洋公園2001年表示，該兩條娃娃魚只有兩歲，換言之，牠們現約9歲，由於娃娃魚有50至60年壽命，因此仍算年輕。

不難飼養 肉食動物不宜摸

昨日有傳媒報道，全國水生野生動物保護分會表示，贈港娃娃魚由張家界大鯢自然保護區提供，目前加緊做篩選工作，力爭盡快運來香港。該會專家稱，娃娃魚來港，可了解其在不同生活環境中的生存狀，對保育工作有積極作用。本港專家指出，娃娃魚活動空間不大，動作不甚靈活，飼養不算困難，但不能讓遊客觸摸，因為娃娃魚是肉食動物，可能會咬人，因此須密封飼養。

有 瀑 布 真 雪 　 如 回 歸 自 然
盈 盈 、 樂 樂 搬 愛 巢 開 枝 散 葉

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【 本 報 訊 】 大 熊 貓 盈 盈 、 樂 樂 將 於 下 月 搬 到 新 愛 巢 ， 努 力 繁 殖 下 一 代 。 海 洋 公 園 斥 資 55 億 元 擴 建 計 劃 中 的 「 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 」 及 「 海 洋 列 車 」 分 別 於 下 月 底 和 今 年 第 三 季 啓 用 ， 屆 時 盈 盈 、 樂 樂 會 搬 至 設 有 瀑 布 、 真 雪 、 斜 坡 及 河 流 等 景 色 的 2,000 平 方 米 「 豪 宅 」 ， 與 小 熊 貓 及 娃 娃 魚 等 新 來 港 動 物 做 鄰 居 ， 新 居 更 有 特 別 為 兩 口 子 而 設 的 產 房 和 育 嬰 室 。


海 洋 公 園 新 增 共 2.5 萬 平 方 米 的 「 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 」 ， 是 全 球 首 個 集 合 多 種 亞 洲 動 物 品 種 的 室 內 外 綜 合 展 館 。 設 計 仿 照 自 然 環 境 建 築 而 成 ， 外 牆 採 用 北 京 國 家 游 泳 中 心 「 水 立 方 」 建 造 物 料 ETFE （ 乙 烯 一 四 氟 乙 烯 共 聚 物 ） 而 建 ， 透 光 度 極 高 ， 可 引 入 天 然 陽 光 。


亞 洲 動 物 天 地 下 月 啓 用
公 園 主 席 盛 智 文 表 示 ， 「 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 」 及 「 海 洋 列 車 」 分 別 於 下 月 底 和 今 年 第 三 季 啓 用 。 盈 盈 、 樂 樂 的 新 居 「 大 熊 貓 之 旅 」 設 於 展 館 內 ， 面 積 超 過 2,000 平 方 米 ， 設 有 斜 坡 和 瀑 布 、 真 雪 及 河 流 三 個 展 區 ， 全 部 模 仿 大 熊 貓 在 大 自 然 的 生 活 環 境 設 計 ， 室 溫 調 節 在 攝 氏 18 至 22 度 。


他 指 ， 展 館 幕 後 區 是 大 熊 貓 休 息 區 ， 設 有 多 個 休 息 室 供 大 熊 貓 往 返 展 區 ， 更 設 產 房 及 育 嬰 室 ， 為 盈 盈 、 樂 樂 預 備 較 舒 適 的 地 方 ， 讓 牠 們 日 後 繁 殖 下 一 代 作 好 準 備 。 他 稱 ， 一 對 成 年 的 大 熊 貓 安 安 及 佳 佳 因 年 事 已 高 ， 故 此 會 繼 續 居 於 舊 熊 貓 館 內 ： 「 安 安 、 佳 佳 年 紀 已 經 好 大 ， 好 似 老 人 家 一 樣 唔 鍾 意 搬 屋 ， 可 能 會 令 佢 哋 不 安 。 我 相 信 盈 盈 、 樂 樂 年 紀 較 細 ， 對 搬 新 屋 應 該 會 好 開 心 。 」

昨 晚 自 成 都 大 熊 貓 繁 育 研 究 基 地 來 港 的 四 隻 小 熊 貓 ， 也 是 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 的 新 成 員 ， 牠 們 將 與 瀕 危 品 種 大 鯢 （ 娃 娃 魚 ） 、 擁 有 「 大 地 之 龍 」 之 稱 的 揚 子 鱷 一 同 於 館 內 居 住 。

展 館 旁 將 有 展 出 多 種 罕 有 及 受 保 護 的 雀 鳥 及 龜 等 動 物 的 「 熊 貓 山 莊 」 ； 「 金 魚 寶 殿 」 展 出 逾 300 尾 金 魚 ， 魚 缸 設 計 靈 感 參 照 百 子 櫃 ； 「 自 然 大 揭 秘 」 設 有 步 行 徑 及 瀑 布 等 大 自 然 景 色 。 新 設 備 還 包 括 「 大 熊 貓 禮 品 店 」 和 「 大 熊 貓 餐 廳 」 。

園 方 亦 將 於 本 年 第 3 季 加 設 「 海 洋 列 車 」 ， 它 是 全 球 首 個 建 於 主 題 公 園 內 並 在 隧 道 行 走 的 雙 向 登 山 鐵 路 系 統 ， 列 車 設 計 取 材 19 世 紀 的 潛 水 艇 ， 上 山 或 下 山 各 需 3 分 鐘 ， 每 小 時 載 客 量 達 一 萬 人 次 。 盛 智 文 希 望 新 景 點 可 讓 更 多 人 認 識 保 育 的 重 要 ， 相 信 園 內 專 家 會 好 好 飼 養 各 種 動 物 ， 又 希 望 中 華 鱘 館 可 在 今 年 夏 季 重 新 開 放 。



海 洋 公 園 新 設 施 簡 介
《 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 》
‧ 總 面 積 2.5 萬 平 方 米 ， 將 於 4 月 下 旬 啓 用
‧ 全 球 首 個 於 室 內 外 並 集 合 海 、 陸 、 空 動 物 的 綜 合 展 館
‧ 大 熊 貓 之 旅 的 外 牆 物 料 採 用 水 立 方 半 透 明 物 料 ETFE ， 可 引 入 天 然 陽 光 ， 室 溫 維 持 攝 氏 18 至 22 度
‧ 樂 樂 、 盈 盈 新 居 分 斜 坡 和 瀑 布 、 真 雪 與 河 流 3 區
‧ 展 出 小 熊 貓 、 娃 娃 魚 及 揚 子 鱷 等 稀 有 動 物
‧ 熊 貓 山 莊 展 出 多 種 罕 有 動 物 及 受 保 護 雀 鳥 及 龜 等
‧ 金 魚 寶 殿 展 出 100 種 金 魚
‧ 雀 鳥 劇 場 有 全 新 露 天 劇 場
‧ 自 然 大 揭 秘 有 步 行 徑 、 吊 橋 、 瀑 布 等 景 色
‧ 大 熊 貓 餐 廳 供 應 亞 洲 美 食 ， 禮 品 店 提 供 5,000 款 精 品

《 海 洋 列 車 》
‧ 全 球 首 個 於 主 題 公 園 內 在 隧 道 行 走 的 雙 向 登 山 鐵 路 系 統 ， 今 年 第 3 季 啓 用
‧ 遊 客 穿 越 全 長 1,300 米 隧 道 時 可 體 驗 置 身 深 海 探 秘 旅 程
‧ 列 車 設 計 取 材 自 19 世 紀 潛 水 艇
‧ 每 小 時 載 客 量 一 萬 人 ， 上 下 山 車 程 各 需 3 分 鐘

資 料 來 源 ： 海 洋 公 園

嶄新海洋列車變身潛水艇

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23/03/2009




【 本 報 訊 】 海 洋 公 園 完 成 新 發 展 工 程 後 ， 全 園 將 分 為 山 下 的 海 濱 樂 園 及 山 上 的 高 峰 樂 園 。 全 球 首 個 主 題 公 園 內 於 隧 道 中 操 作 的 雙 向 登 山 鐵 路 系 統 「 海 洋 列 車 」 ， 今 年 第 三 季 將 在 海 洋 公 園 啟 用 ， 屆 時 的 纜 車 搖 身 一 變 成 為 潛 水 艇 ， 以 帶 領 遊 客 遊 歷 海 底 世 界 的 構 念 ， 三 分 鐘 內 極 速 穿 梭 兩 區 ， 是 登 山 纜 車 以 外 連 接 山 上 及 山 下 兩 區 的 另 一 運 輸 工 具 。

每 列 載 400 人 每 程 行 車 三 分 鐘
「 海 洋 列 車 」 外 貌 設 計 取 材 於 十 九 世 紀 探 險 家 潛 水 艇 ， 艇 身 呈 古 銅 色 ， 上 面 一 字 排 開 裝 有 多 個 藍 色 窗 戶 ， 車 廂 內 則 設 有 多 媒 體 系 統 ； 當 乘 客 登 入 列 車 後 ， 在 全 程 一 千 三 百 米 的 旅 程 中 ， 將 可 從 頭 頂 及 左 右 的 氣 窗 ， 面 對 突 如 其 來 的 巨 型 八 爪 魚 偷 襲 ， 又 會 見 證 水 母 的 美 態 及 小 魚 群 擦 身 而 過 ， 猶 如 親 身 經 歷 一 次 穿 梭 深 海 的 探 秘 旅 程 。

該 列 車 全 由 電 腦 控 制 ， 單 程 行 車 時 間 只 需 三 分 鐘 ， 每 列 載 客 量 可 達 四 百 人 ， 最 高 車 速 每 秒 十 米 。

「 海 洋 列 車 」 系 統 啟 用 後 ， 海 洋 公 園 將 成 為 全 球 唯 一 擁 有 三 組 同 時 並 行 運 作 的 登 山 索 道 系 統 ， 包 括 兩 組 現 有 架 空 運 行 的 登 山 纜 車 ， 以 及 一 組 於 隧 道 行 駛 的 海 洋 列 車 。

亞洲動物天地冠全球

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23/03/2009




海 洋 公 園 五 十 五 億 元 發 展 計 劃 中 ， 號 稱 全 球 首 個 融 合 室 內 外 環 境 的 亞 洲 動 物 綜 合 展 館 — — 「 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 」 將 於 四 月 底 開 幕 。 展 館 以 半 透 明 巨 型 天 幕 作 賣 點 ， 內 齊 集 海 陸 空 「 住 客 」 ， 包 括 在 海 中 靜 止 的 娃 娃 魚 、 愛 扮 滾 地 葫 蘆 的 大 熊 貓 與 小 熊 貓 ， 以 及 翱 翔 空 中 的 珍 貴 雀 鳥 ， 再 融 合 綠 山 流 水 ， 向 遊 客 展 示 大 自 然 面 貌 。 四 隻 動 物 「 新 星 」 小 熊 貓 昨 已 由 四 川 成 都 運 抵 香 港 ， 經 一 個 月 隔 離 後 ， 可 趕 及 在 「 新 居 」 開 幕 時 與 市 民 會 面 。

水 立 方 建 材 採 自 然 光
總 面 積 達 二 萬 五 千 平 方 米 的 「 亞 洲 動 物 天 地 」 ， 坐 落 於 發 展 工 程 的 海 濱 樂 園 ， 即 現 時 的 山 下 區 。 主 樓 半 透 明 天 幕 採 用 北 京 「 水 立 方 」 建 造 物 料 — ETFE （ 乙 烯 一 四 氟 夕 烯 共 聚 物 ） 建 成 ， 引 入 天 然 陽 光 ， 營 造 大 自 然 氣 息 。

未 進 入 天 幕 前 ， 旅 客 先 碰 上 四 尾 揚 子 鱷 在 水 陸 穿 梭 ； 室 內 首 站 是 大 熊 貓 數 千 平 方 呎 的 豪 華 棲 息 地 ， 分 有 山 坡 、 流 水 及 爬 樹 區 、 雪 地 區 ， 更 有 魚 兒 暢 泳 的 小 溪 區 。 三 區 「 打 通 」 ， 室 溫 訂 在 攝 氏 十 八 至 二 十 二 度 ， 讓 盈 盈 及 樂 樂 舒 適 生 活 ， 專 心 孕 育 小 生 命 。

大 熊 貓 鄰 居 是 初 來 甫 到 的 四 隻 小 熊 貓 及 從 後 勤 設 施 遷 入 新 居 的 娃 娃 魚 ， 公 園 已 預 留 位 置 給 內 地 即 將 贈 港 的 娃 娃 魚 ， 但 承 認 仍 在 商 討 娃 娃 魚 的 移 居 安 排 。

客 量 破 紀 錄 未 擬 加 價
穿 過 熊 貓 山 莊 會 遇 到 巨 龜 、 小 爪 水 獺 及 雀 鳥 ， 同 場 更 有 大 熊 貓 戶 外 區 ， 隨 時 可 一 睹 大 熊 貓 在 地 上 玩 耍 ， 珍 貴 的 黃 喉 噪 　 在 空 中 飛 翔 的 自 然 情 景 。 最 後 是 以 傳 統 百 子 櫃 展 現 的 金 魚 寶 殿 ， 約 三 百 尾 不 同 品 種 的 金 魚 輪 流 展 出 ， 而 佔 地 一 千 二 百 米 的 露 天 雀 鳥 劇 場 ， 亦 將 展 現 全 新 表 演 活 動 。

海 洋 公 園 主 席 盛 智 文 昨 指 ， 入 場 人 次 未 受 經 濟 影 響 ， 今 年 一 月 客 量 更 打 破 開 幕 三 十 二 年 以 來 紀 錄 ， 二 月 及 三 月 亦 錄 得 第 二 高 紀 錄 ； 單 是 一 及 二 月 春 節 期 間 ， 入 場 人 次 已 較 去 年 升 百 分 之 五 至 八 ， 相 信 兩 個 新 景 點 開 幕 後 ， 五 ‧ 一 黃 金 周 將 再 創 入 場 人 數 高 峰 。

他 說 ， 未 打 算 在 逆 市 加 票 價 ， 但 不 排 除 在 更 多 新 景 點 落 成 後 會 有 加 價 壓 力 。 至 於 能 否 確 保 不 再 「 養 死 」 動 物 ， 他 指 動 物 本 身 有 生 有 死 ， 呼 籲 大 家 不 要 太 擔 心 ， 海 洋 公 園 有 一 流 專 家 照 料 。

亞 洲 動 物 天 地 內 之 動 物
1. 亞 洲 小 爪 水 獺

2. 雀 鳥

a. 黑 枕 黃 鸝

b. 白 頭 鵯

c. 灰 斑 鳩

d. 鵰 鶚

e. 雉 鳩

f. 紅 耳 鵯

g. 珠 頸 斑 鳩

h. 黃 喉 噪 眉 鳥

3. 揚 子 鱷

4. 大 鯢 （ 娃 娃 魚 ）

5. 大 熊 貓

6. 金 魚

a. 水 墨 花 蘭 壽

b. 斑 馬 水 晶 蘭 壽

7. 小 熊 貓

8. 龜

a. 齒 緣 龜

b. 馬 來 閉 殼 龜

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/photo/20090323/new/0323nhko09b2.jpg

http://forum7.hkgolden.com/faces/love.gif

http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p1new.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p2new.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p3new.jpg

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http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p1new.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p2new.jpg
http://appledaily.atnext.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20090417/large/17la3p3new.jpg

I want to have one as a pet.

Ocean Park to raise entry price, citing swine flu and cost of new attractions
24 June 2009
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park plans to raise its ticket price "shortly" in light of the drop in tourism due to swine flu and an increase in expenses arising from new attractions, the park's chairman said yesterday.

But Allan Zeman did not say by how much ticket prices would increase, only that admission had suffered a "serious hit" over the past two months despite robust growth up to April. He said the opening of new attractions, such as Amazing Asian Animals, was also behind the need for the increase.

"At some point this year, quite shortly, we will have to raise the price to meet our budget," Mr Zeman said.

"It would be after June, for sure. We're just waiting to see how the month finishes. When the price rise comes, it'll be value for money. It'll still be a lot cheaper than Disney."

The park yesterday gave the media a preview of its Summer Splash event, which debuts next Wednesday.

The park last raised ticket prices in October 2007, when the adult price was increased by 12 per cent to HK$208.

An adult ticket at Disney is HK$350. It raised its fares by 20 per cent in February.

Mr Zeman said Ocean Park attendance in May and June had fallen by up to one-third, and the number of local visitors had fallen by about 10 per cent. He anticipated that overall attendance this year would shrink by 5 per cent, though it would still possibly be the park's third-best year.

Figures released by the Tourism Board showed a 13.4 per cent drop in visitor arrivals last month. The decrease for the first five months was about 1.4 per cent.

Simon Hau Suk-kei, chairman of the Inbound Tour Operators Association, questioned whether this was the right time for the park to increase prices. He urged it to announce the details of the increase, including the time and extent, as soon as possible.

"If there are fewer visitors now, is this a good time to increase the ticket fares?" he said. "I fear this is a move only welcomed by the rival Disneyland."

He said that unlike Disney, which aims to make a profit, Ocean Park, as a non-profit-making statutory body, should have less pressure and urgency to increase its prices.

But an Ocean Park spokeswoman said it had to pay its operating expenses and be managed prudently because it did not rely on taxpayers' support. She said the park also had to repay the HK$5.5 billon syndicated loan for its redevelopment plans.

海洋公園新機動遊戲表演曝光

3年內陸續建成 延長開放時間

http://news.mingpao.com/20090803/03gc101.gif


【明報專訊】迪士尼樂園擴建計劃剛獲通過，另邊廂的海洋公園，翻新工程亦屆尾聲，第二個項目「海洋列車」下月7日將啟用；海洋公園主席盛智文更向本報逐一披露未來3年相繼建成的新景點，包括「5環吊腳過山車」等七大機動遊戲，另有極光表演及每晚在湖上上演名為「幻海奇觀」的水與火表演，公園因此會延長開放時間至晚上9、10時。


海洋列車下月7日啟用


海洋公園的55.5億元翻新工程，計劃將現時的35個景點增至70個。除已建成的亞洲動物天地等外，盛智文首次披露未來3年陸續建成的各個景點詳情（見圖），頭炮是下月試行、連接山上及山下的海洋列車。


盛智文說，雖然旅程只有3分鐘，但車廂頂部會播放一段有關海洋的片段，乘客儼如置身海底。列車預計9月7日正式投入服務，每小時可載客1萬人次，大大紓緩每小時載客3500人次的纜車壓力，旅客亦有更多時間在園內遊玩。


明年中起，旅客可由全新的海濱廣場進入樂園，廣場日後會設有「香港街」，兩旁都是舊式建築及商店，另有以海洋生物為題材的旋轉木馬。


最近廣場的主題區「夢幻水都」則於2010年啟用；盛智文說，旅客在全新水族館內沿螺旋形通道走，像置身海底世界，看各種深海魚在頭上暢泳；外面則有個大湖，每晚會上演10至12分鐘的幻海奇觀表演，湖上將有360度水幕，會出現噴水及噴火等效果。


幻海奇觀表演 水火交融


現時海洋公園開放時間為早上10時至晚上8時。不過，盛智文表示，翻新後公園會延長營業時間至晚上9至10時，幻海奇觀表演將成為公園每晚的壓軸活動。事實上，美國奧蘭多迪士尼世界每晚亦有類似表演。


盛智文指出，以機動遊戲為主題的「動感天地」，會增加5個大型機動遊戲，其中最刺激的肯定要數「5環吊腳過山車」，相信能吸引年輕人，其餘4個分別是天旋地轉、超速旋風、雷霆節拍及碰碰車。


公園行政總裁苗樂文透露，現時的機動遊戲，除越礦飛車於日後興建水療酒店時會被拆走外，其餘暫時會悉數保留。


冰極天地可看極光擲雪球


「熱帶雨林天地」亦設激流機動遊戲，旅客可登上小船在激流中漂浮，與其他遊人進行水槍大戰，激流的盡頭是一間樹屋，內裏會展示各種特色昆蟲。


公園最後一個新增主題區是「冰極天地」，當中除了有一個會穿過冰層底部的過山車外，盛智文說，內裏將分成南北極，「南極」會有企鵝館，遊人除可近距離欣賞企鵝，館內地板還是透明的，讓大家可清楚看到企鵝在水中的泳姿。「北極」則主打極光匯演，並會展示多種極地動物，不過他暫未透露包括哪些動物，而兩極中間則留有地方予遊客擲雪球、打雪仗。


明報記者 張岳弢

吊腳過山車!!!!!! finally!!! I've been waiting for a better roller coaster for years, what took them so long?????

too bad the 越礦飛車 wont survive, i thought its the best 機動遊戲 in Ocean park, the original roller coaster is nothing.

吊腳過山車!!!!!! finally!!! I've been waiting for a better roller coaster for years, what took them so long?????

too bad the 越礦飛車 wont survive, i thought its the best 機動遊戲 in Ocean park, the original roller coaster is nothing.


Yup it's so disappointing that the 越礦飛車 will be demolished very soon, I found it the most exciting game @ Ocean Park and I think the original coaster was mainly designed for primary students.

55.5億擴建　增夢幻水都　冰極天地
海洋公園要變身世界級


2009年08月15日


【本報訊】海洋公園正擴建中，主席盛智文透露今次因擴建加價後，來年暫無再加價壓力，新設食肆商店帶來的收入，也可紓緩加費壓力。海洋列車下月通車後，夢幻水都明年也開放，會有湖上煙火滙演，樂園會延長開放至晚上 10時，或推晚間門票，又會有酒店樂園兩、三天套票；盛智文說想建一個世界級的港人樂園。


耗資 55.5億元的海洋公園擴建計劃，景點由 35個增至 70個，公園要加價付貸款利息，盛智文日前透露，加價雖押後至 10月，但無影響工程進度，並承諾今次加價約兩成，即成人票價 250元、小童 125元後，「未來一年暫看不到再有加價需要。」

他又說將新設逾 10間餐廳、小食亭，及逾 10間商店，如海濱禮品廊將有 7間相連店舖售賣全園精品，會令餐飲商品收入佔總收益比例，由 30%增至 50%，加上新酒店收入，可減低加票價壓力：「今次加價後也較迪士尼平百多元呢。」
擴建計劃中，繼亞洲動物天地後，通過隧道貫穿公園的海洋列車將在下月 7日開放，上下山各只需 3分鐘，較纜車及行人電梯的 15分鐘快，載客量又達 400人，慳時間玩更多新遊戲。列車內會播放 3D海洋影片，並隨節日轉換新裝，變身為萬聖節猛鬼列車或聖誕北極快車。
公園正門明年會變身海洋廣場，放滿七彩雕像，與日後港島南線車站由只有 20米天橋接駁，入園便可踏進夢幻水都，其中海洋奇觀會有鯊魚全接觸，及新的全景海洋館，全玻璃設計讓人如與魚同游。館外偌大人工湖，每晚上演 15分鐘的幻海奇觀，即水上煙火滙演。盛智文透露，屆時公園會由現時開放至下午 6至 8時，延至 8至 10時，更考慮推較平的晚間門票。酒店落成後，又會有酒店公園兩三日套票，延長遊客留港時間。

其他主題區也在 3年內落成，冰極天地除有企鵝，並會讓人鑽進池底探頭出玻璃罩，近距離欣賞海象，極光表演也不可錯過。企鵝餐廳及海龍王餐廳等都設大玻璃，食客邊吃邊欣賞海魚或企鵝，提供海鮮菜餚也會來自養殖場，不會破壞海洋生態。樂園擴建後人手會由現時 1,500人倍增至 3,000人。
盛智文又說，現不時會有入場優惠，故 80%入場人士都非付全票：「加價只是不得已，我們想建世界級的港人樂園。」


海洋公園擴建設施
－海濱樂園（低地）－
主題區或建設：海洋列車
景點：上山或下山只需 3分鐘
機動遊戲等：－
最快開放時間： 9月 7日

主題區或建設：夢幻水都
景點：海洋奇觀、大湖每晚表演幻海奇觀
機動遊戲等：環迴水世界
最快開放時間： 2010年

主題區或建設：威威天地
景點：生日會會場、表演場地
機動遊戲等：與動物接觸的兒童遊戲
最快開放時間： 2011年

－高峰樂園（高地）－
主題區或建設：熱帶雨林天地
景點：露天市集、禮品店
機動遊戲等：熱帶激流、熱帶雨林探險徑
最快開放時間： 2010年

主題區或建設：動感天地
景點：動感美食坊、禮品速遞
機動遊戲等：雷霆節拍、動感快車、超速旋風、天旋地轉、瘋狂碰碰車
最快開放時間： 2011年

主題區或建設：冰極天地
景點：北極之旅、南極奇觀、極光表演、雪玩場、企鵝餐廳、北極購物村
機動遊戲等：極地時速
最快開放時間： 2011年

Erm, which roller coaster are you guys talking about?

Erm, which roller coaster are you guys talking about?

http://www.chinapicturespub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2c020ef2fe623c49342acc67.jpg
Source:http://www.chinapicturespub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2c020ef2fe623c49342acc67.jpg

versus

http://gardkarlsen.com/china/mine_train_ocean_park.jpg
Soruce: http://gardkarlsen.com/china/mine_train_ocean_park.jpg

The above one is the original one, and the below one is the latter one.
The first one does look more scary, but if you have ridden both, the latter one is much more intense than the original one. Especially, it's like you were going off the mountain down the sea on the second one.

But the second one has been taken down.

Park hoping price rise won't spook visitors
14 August 2009
South China Morning Post

Improving economic conditions have Ocean Park management in a cheerful mood as the park gears up for its scariest month of the year.

Park chairman Allan Zeman, who dressed up as King of the Underworld yesterday to promote its Halloween attractions, said visitor numbers were expected to rise in October, with the brighter economic outlook more than offsetting any impact from a 20 per cent rise in admission prices, starting from October 5.

"There were 500,000 visitors in October last year, and we are expecting a breakthrough this year," he said. "I understand some people would like to not have a price rise; I wish we could make it free but we cannot."

The 9th Ocean Park Halloween Bash will be held from September 25 to November 1, with adult tickets priced from HK$235 up to HK$825 for special party tickets.

The park is spending a seven-figure sum on this year's Halloween event, and plans to make it the scariest ever.

"There will be eight new haunted houses, 13 new shows and 80 daily performances and 404 wandering ghosts," Mr Zeman said.

New attractions include Hong Kong's first movie-themed haunted house, where visitors could encounter ghoulish characters from horror stories, such as "Ms Single Braid" and the "Vampire Catcher".

The park will also feature a haunted house designed by members of the public for the first time. Winston Li Ho-yin and Michelle Chau Man-yin, from Polytechnic University, beat 70 other competitors in April and will bring their haunted train station "Purgatory Express" to the event.

"We were often told ghost stories about railways when we were young, especially a story about the last train heading to hell," Mr Li said. "I would warn all the visitors not to hold the handrails as you never know what might happen,"

The park had planned to raise admission prices from HK$208 to HK$250 for adults and from HK$103 to HK$125 for children on August 1, but its board postponed the rise.

Here is a ride through video for the original roller coaster.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/ad-ocean.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/asiaglobe/hongkong/ad-ocean2.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg255/ly6540/IMG_2577.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg255/ly6540/IMG_2578.jpg
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg255/ly6540/IMG_2570.jpg
http://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/viewthread.php?tid=422103&extra=page%3D2

Ocean Express 海洋列車 頭班車

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海洋列車埋站
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HK's Ocean Park Eyes Possible Overseas Expansion - Report
11 October 2009

HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Ocean Park is preparing to argue its case for a more flexible interpretation of a 22-year-old ordinance governing its operations, with an eye on expanding overseas, the Standard reported Monday, citing an unnamed source.

Ocean Park's bid to expand comes in response to invitations over the years from countries including North Korea and India to establish joint ventures with overseas attractions, the newspaper reported.

A local-level official in mainland China has also offered land on which the theme park could duplicate its successful operations in Hong Kong, the newspaper reported.

The report said the ordinance governing the theme park limits the definition of Ocean Park to the 'public recreational and educational park called by the name and situated at Brick Hill.'

Brick Hill is on Hong Kong Island.

The newer coaster isn't there anymore? Why?

Dragon had some pretty intense turns, I felt light-headed after which is rare for me. I agree the newer coaster was more intense.

I think overseas expansion is a bit too ambitious, ocean park is good enough for a small city like HK, but its far from being a world class theme park, at least not until they finished the expansion.

海洋公園將有2隻樹熊

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(16:34)
財政司長曾俊華今日歡迎南澳洲政府送贈兩隻樹熊予香港，將委託海洋公園代為照顧。
南澳洲省省長雷恩今日在阿德萊德香港駐悉尼經濟貿易辦事處舉行的新春酒會上公布這決定。


曾俊華說：「我由衷感謝南澳洲市民和政府送贈兩隻樹熊給香港，以及委託海洋公園照顧這兩隻作為澳洲標誌的動物。今次餽贈是香港與南澳洲友好的見證。」


曾俊華表示，憑藉海洋公園對海洋和陸地生物的豐富經驗和專長，海洋公園定必能提供健康和悉心照料的居住環境，讓樹熊安居於香港。


(即時新聞)

We have Pandas and Koala Bears. Who is next?
Polar bear or black?

We have Pandas and Koala Bears. Who is next?
Polar bear or black?

may be Kangaroo.



樹熊移民海洋公園

兩年內起行 後代永留港

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【明報專訊】港人將毋須再到澳洲看樹熊，因為南澳洲政府決定贈送一對年幼、具生育能力的樹熊予香港，牠們兩年內將入住海洋公園。由於兩隻樹熊屬澳洲贈港禮物，故牠們將在港落地生根，日後誕下的愛情結晶品更會永留香港。


澳官08年訪財爺結「樹熊緣」


有樹熊「落戶」香江其實源於2008年，財政司長曾俊華一次南澳訪問行程，認識了南澳的副省長，其後該名副省長應邀來港訪問，還到了財政司長位於南區的官邸作客。當曾俊華帶他逛官邸，看見不遠處的海洋公園時，曾氏便問客人到過沒有，副省長稱去過了，還指那裏有很多動物，卻沒有樹熊，於是反問曾俊華，香港想不想要對樹熊？曾自然說好，於是種下這段「樹熊緣」。


年幼雌雄各一具生育能力


海洋公園發言人表示，初步得悉南澳洲政府將送出雌雄各一、具生育能力的年幼樹熊予香港，預計牠們在2年內抵港，並進駐海洋公園，加入動物保育大使行列。發言人解釋，樹熊要2年內才能抵港，主要是要符合澳洲動物出口的要求，同時公園亦需時為牠們準備合適居所及找充足尤加利葉食糧供應，另一方面，公園亦要派員到當地受訓，學習照顧樹熊。


開枝散葉須克服氣候差異


不過，生長於南半球的樹熊在港能否開枝散葉，要視乎能否克服南北半球不同的氣候，因為樹熊的交配期為每年9月至翌年3月，即澳洲的夏季，但這段時間卻是香港的秋冬氣候，不過雌性樹熊的生殖能力長達12年（見表）。


南澳洲省省長雷恩昨在阿德萊德香港駐悉尼經濟貿易辦事處舉行的新春酒會上公布消息。海洋公園主席盛智文感謝南澳洲政府，會與南澳洲政府及香港特區政府緊密連繫，為迎接一對樹熊做完善準備。海洋公園獲南澳政府相中，獲成為指定樹熊護理單位，源於去年11月底，南澳政府代表曾到訪公園，對其設施、保育教育等留下深刻印象。

Government welcomes koala gift from South Australia
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Government Press Release

The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, today (February 10) welcomed the gift to Hong Kong of two koalas from the South Australian Government.

The Premier of South Australia, Mr Mike Rann, made the announcement at a Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Sydney) in Adelaide today.

"I wish to express my sincere thanks to the people and Government of South Australia for presenting two koalas to us and entrusting Ocean Park to take care of these animals which are the national icon of Australia. The gift signifies the friendship between Hong Kong and South Australia," Mr Tsang said.

Mr Tsang said that with its extensive experience and expertise in handling both marine and land animals, Ocean Park would be able to provide a healthy habitat and suitable attention for the koalas.

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海洋公園夢幻水都平頂

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【本報訊】海洋公園全新景點主題區夢幻水都昨日進行平頂儀式，工程預計今年底完成，水都的焦點景點為海洋奇觀，有全世界最大的水族館圓頂天窗，讓遊人近距離「接觸」逾四百種魚類。

海洋公園行政總裁苗樂文指，平頂儀式標誌夢幻水都建築工程踏入最後階段，為耗資五十五億五千萬元的海洋公園全新發展計劃奠下里程碑。苗樂文及主禮嘉賓將八十八條珊瑚魚放進大魚池中，象徵來自世界各地不同種類的海洋生物將進駐海洋奇觀。

全球最大圓頂天窗夢幻水都佔地約二萬平方米，將成為海洋公園全新正門入口海洋廣場的第一個主題區，水都內設有三個主要景點，包括全東南亞最大的水族館海洋奇觀、人工湖和環迴水世界。
海洋奇觀水族館樓高三層，擁有全世界最大、直徑五點五米的水族館圓頂天窗，及一個十三米闊的巨型觀賞屏，讓遊人可從多角度觀賞逾四百種不同的魚類，恍如漫步海底。館內還設有海洋教室及珊瑚教室等設施，宣揚保護海洋及維持海洋生態訊息。

人工湖是夢幻水都的中心地標，有全球首個三百六十度環迴水屏幕，日間有噴泉表演，晚上則有集視聽及煙火效果的幻海奇觀水上大匯演。

Ocean Park eyes deal to import dolphins
17 April 2010
South China Morning Post

In a move that is angering conservationists, Ocean Park will fund research by the government of the Solomon Islands into dolphin numbers as part of an arrangement that may lead to up to 30 bottlenose dolphins being imported to the theme park.

Representatives from Ocean Park have been in talks with the government of the country, east of Papua New Guinea, to pay for a survey seen as critical to allowing the controversial trade in dolphins to continue.

In return, the theme park is expected to get an option to buy dolphins to bring to Hong Kong.

A Solomon Islands government adviser told the South China Morning Post yesterday the representatives met two government ministers and are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding under which "between 24 and 30" dolphins would be sent to Hong Kong.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman insisted last night the talks were at a "very preliminary stage" and no dolphins would be imported to Hong Kong unless it was clear that the marine mammals' population in the Solomon Islands was not at risk.

"If the dolphins there are not sustainable, we would go somewhere else," he said. "There are a lot of dolphins around, of different species."

Zeman said no decision had been taken as to how many dolphins Ocean Park should import. The park currently has 16.

The theme park keeps a stock of bottlenose dolphins for performances as well as interactive programmes that allow limited touching of the animals by visitors.

The park used to buy fresh stocks of dolphins as needed. The last time it did so is believed to have been in 1998, when some were bought from Indonesia.

In 2001, it became the world's first aquarium to breed the dolphins by artificial insemination, and more than half its present stock came from captive-breeding programmes and artificial insemination, thus reducing the need for capture in the wild.

To improve genetic diversity and avoid inbreeding that might result in genetic weaknesses in the marine mammals, the park has also exchanged dolphin semen with overseas aquariums.

A spokeswoman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it had not received any applications from Ocean Park for dolphin imports.

As dolphins are a listed species under the protection of endangered-species provisions in the Animals and Plants Ordinance, imports require both an export permit issued by the country of origin and a licence issued by the department in advance.

Any arrangement with the Solomon Islands is likely to stir controversy, with some conservationists claiming the country's dolphin stocks may not be sustainable and arguing that all dolphin exports from it should be halted.

Dr Suzanne Gendron and Grant Abel from Ocean Park visited the country late last month.

Dr Baddley Anita, an adviser to the minister of fisheries in the Solomon Islands, said the pair met the fisheries and environment ministers.

Ocean Park had agreed to fund an "abundance survey" of dolphins - which Anita described as a way of getting overseas parties interested in importing dolphins to give something to the Solomon Islands in return.

"I have heard that Hong Kong wants between 24 and 30 animals to improve their genetic stocks {hellip}" Anita said.

"They are in the stages of having an MOU done between Ocean Park and scientific and management authorities here in the Solomon Islands.

"The Solomon Islands does not have the money to carry out scientific research, so we have asked people who want to import to put their money where their mouth is."

The research would "give us an idea of the dolphin stocks and abundance in this area", he said, pointing out that the sea area around the Solomon Islands was about the size of Europe, with the case study area alone covering 20,000 to 30,000 square kilometres.

Arguing in favour of a continuation of the overseas trade in dolphins, Anita said it would help stop the killing of the animals by dolphin harvesting communities in the Solomon Islands for food and to meet school fees and buy fishing gear.

"You can sell 50 animals and have the quota divided between the dolphin harvesting communities rather than have them kill a total of 2,000 to 3,000 animals a year," he said.

A report last year by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) raised concerns over the dolphin population in the Solomon Islands, which is currently able to sell 50 of the animals a year overseas, and said the trade should be halted pending a detailed survey.

The Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society criticised Ocean Park for funding a government survey that it argued would not be impartial and would seek to continue the lucrative trade in dolphins.

In 2003, 28 live dolphins were sold to Mexico by the island country for HK$585,000 each, according to the IUCN report, which said such exports should be stopped unless the population was properly assessed and shown to be sustainable.

It said that if the international standard, under which only 1-2 per cent of a population of a species should be removed, was applied to the Solomon Islands, the population of bottlenose dolphins would need to be at least 5,000.

"Ocean Park has a population of resident dolphins, and they claim they breed them quite well and maintain the population, so why do they need to capture more wild dolphins?" Dolphin Conservation Society chairman Samuel Hung Ka-yiu said.

"To go to the Solomon Islands is quite controversial. The Solomon Islands have exported dolphins to facilities all over the world, including Dubai, Mexico and Singapore.

"The conclusion of the IUCN report was that the bottlenose population in the Solomon Island wasquite small and that this catch was unsustainable. Basically, it recommended no further catch until a proper population assessment."

Hung said funding research by the Solomon Islands government was just "buying by another name and in a way that makes Ocean Park look good. If Ocean Park wants to fund a study on dolphins, it should be giving the money to independent scientists, not the government of the Solomon Islands. Any report by the Solomon Islands government is bound to come out in a way that is favourable to the government's view."

But Zeman said he did not believe the survey findings would be biased.

"I find it hard to believe they would slant something like that," he said. Ocean Park would accept nothing other than a fair, impartial study.

According to the IUCN report, each dolphin exported earns the Solomon Islands government about US$7,500, or 10 per cent of the selling price, in taxes.

No statistics exist on the current population, but conservation groups say populations of bottlenose dolphins tend to be small, often only in the hundreds, except in areas off the western coast of Australia and the Arabian Gulf.

Park entrance to close
19 April 2010
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park will soon have only one entrance when it closes the Tai Shue Wan entrance, which is little used.

Chief executive Tom Mehrmann was coy about the future of the Tai Shue Wan entrance but said it might house a new attraction or only be used for special events, such as the annual Halloween festivities. Between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of visitors use the entrance, he said.

About 4.8 million people visited Ocean Park in the year to June 30, 2009. The park expects 5.8 million visitors by 2012-13.

It is vastly expanding its main entrance as part of an ambitious HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan that will more than double the number of attractions to about 70 by 2012.

So far, a new Amazing Asian Animals exhibit has opened, and a tunnel train system, Ocean Express, has started shuttling visitors between the park's lowland and headland areas.

Mehrmann said the new main entrance would be more than capable of handling the visitor flow.

Animal groups urge HK to reject dolphin imports
23 April 2010
SCMP

Eight international animal conservation groups are pressing Hong Kong to reject and even confiscate any live dolphin imports from the Solomon Islands for Ocean Park, warning that allowing such imports will damage the city's international reputation.

A petition letter jointly signed by the groups has been written to Alan Wong Chi-kong, director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, which implements international rules of wildlife trade. The letter has been copied to the Chief Executive's Office.

The groups are the Animal Welfare Institute, Cetacean Society, Earth Island Institutes Pacific Islands and US, Humane Society International, Marine Connection, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, World Society for the Protection of Animals, and the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.

They have also written to the secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) and asked it to reject any export permits issued by the Solomons Islands.

The call comes after it was disclosed last week that Ocean Park was assisting the Solomon Islands in assessing the population of bottlenose dolphins and in return might be given an option to source dolphins from the islands.

Some dolphin conservationists said park employees had been to the Solomons and were involved in dolphin capture operations, a claim denied by the park.

The groups are stepping up pressure, lobbying against any capture and import of the bottlenose dolphin. Cites says dolphin trade must come with an official export permit issued by the country of origin.

The groups said Hong Kong should learn from the experience of Mexico, where a senior congressman had expressed regret over the imports of 28 dolphins from the Solomons in 2003 for an aquarium in Cancun. Twelve of them have died.

"Given Hong Kong's ongoing commitment to Cites, any failure to intervene in this case may damage its reputation internationally and raise serious concerns over its implementation of the convention," the groups said in the letter.

Apart from an export permit, there should also be proof of a "non-detriment finding" showing the capture will not harm the survival of the species. But such proof is still absent so far, the groups say.

"If any attempt is made to import Solomon Islands dolphins to Hong Kong we trust you will review the documentation provided and consider this evidence with regard to Hong Kong's Cites obligations ... If the dolphins arrive in Hong Kong, we ask that you, in co-operation with appropriate law enforcement authorities, confiscate the animals and return them to the Solomon Islands because it has failed to comply with Cites," the groups said.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it noted the groups' concern. It would follow the rules of Cites, but had so far not received an import application.

全新香港海洋公園 It's TIME to NEW OCEAN PARK
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Park entrance to close
19 April 2010
South China Morning Post

Ocean Park will soon have only one entrance when it closes the Tai Shue Wan entrance, which is little used.

Chief executive Tom Mehrmann was coy about the future of the Tai Shue Wan entrance but said it might house a new attraction or only be used for special events, such as the annual Halloween festivities. Between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of visitors use the entrance, he said.

About 4.8 million people visited Ocean Park in the year to June 30, 2009. The park expects 5.8 million visitors by 2012-13.

It is vastly expanding its main entrance as part of an ambitious HK$5.5 billion redevelopment plan that will more than double the number of attractions to about 70 by 2012.

So far, a new Amazing Asian Animals exhibit has opened, and a tunnel train system, Ocean Express, has started shuttling visitors between the park's lowland and headland areas.

Mehrmann said the new main entrance would be more than capable of handling the visitor flow.

Where is this located? Is it in the main part of the park or the upper park where the rollercoasters are?

I never even knew Ocean Park had 2 entrances...

And to the animal groups : blah blah blah, Ocean Park is a world class marine animal park.

Where is this located? Is it in the main part of the park or the upper park where the rollercoasters are?

I never even knew Ocean Park had 2 entrances...

And to the animal groups : blah blah blah, Ocean Park is a world class marine animal park.

It is the entrance directly connected to the upper park, but at the low elevation on the other side of the hill near Shum Wan.

雙龍奇緣

足足有五千平方米面積嘅人工湖，日頭人工湖係活潑跳躍嘅音樂噴泉，夜晚即化身做變幻萬千嘅舞台—噔！噔！噔！噔！全球首座360度，高達9米嘅環迴水幕表演雙龍奇緣隆重登場！！五光十色嘅光柱投射半空之中，四方八面嘅水炮同噴火槍好似巨龍咁飛躍翻騰！主角水龍同火龍會演出由互相激鬥到化敵為友的精彩故事，細訴人同大自然互相依賴嘅關係。


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「雙館」齊下迎戰滬星


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新加坡聖淘沙及金沙兩個大型賭場及度假設施先後開幕，上海迪士尼數年後亦將殺到，面對海外競爭，海洋公園多個新景點在未來兩年將陸續落成，其中一個大型項目「夢幻水都」最快今年十二月開幕，全新水族館「海洋奇觀」飼養魚類數量倍增至三千條共四百五十品種。海洋公園主席盛智文有信心，新水族館將是全球最大，加上舊有的海洋館將大翻新，以全新形象示人，實行以兩個水族館作招徠。


盛智文接受專訪時表示，公園下一個開幕的大型景點是由人工湖及「海洋奇觀」組成的「夢幻水都」，他充滿期待地說，日後市民從全新入口「海洋廣場」進入公園，首先會看見一系列正在歐洲趕製的動物造型雕塑，再經過偌大的人工湖，湖上每晚將進行「幻海奇觀」表演，歷時十二至十五分鐘，包含音樂、燈光、煙火及三百六十度水幕效果等。

或引入港版「保羅」
他形容「夢幻水都」主角「海洋奇觀」面積是現時海洋館的三倍，是全球最大型水族館之一。「海洋奇觀」有三層，其中一層設一塊直徑五點五米的圓頂天窗，另有一幅高十三米、闊九米、貫穿兩層樓的巨型玻璃幕牆，市民可像置身深海般近距離欣賞魚群。盛智文指「海洋奇觀」近完工，稍後會引入海水並測試溫度及水質，部分魚類將率先搬入新居，觀察是否適應環境，預計可於十二月開幕。

「海洋奇觀」飼養四百五十品種共多達三千條魚類，較現時海洋館多一倍，新品種包括因過度捕捉而數量劇降的藍鰭吞拿魚、還有黃鰭吞拿魚、及罕有的魔鬼魚品種豹鯆等。他更打趣說，世界盃舉行期間德國八爪魚「保羅」人氣急升，日後也可考慮引入港版「保羅」。

盛智文透露，公園開幕至今已有近卅五年歷史的海洋館，在全球也算數一數二，故不打算清拆，待所有魚都遷往新居後，海洋館將大翻新，預計約半年後再以全新面貌開放，「到時我們就會有兩個水族館，試想想，世界上有多少主題公園可以這樣？海洋館翻新後如何運作，我們有很多構思。」

公園發言人稱「海洋奇觀」大部分為現有海洋館生物，新品種有來自日本、美國及台灣等地。另「夢幻水都」開幕後因應每晚加入表演，會延長開放時間至晚上八至十時，較現時延長兩小時，屆時會視乎人流及季節等因素決定開放時間。


「海洋奇觀」將展出的部分魚類
錘頭鯊

牛鼻鯆

鷹鯆

圓犁頭鯆

日本杜仲

豹紋鯊

白點六琴鯆*

金帶花鮫*

黃鰭吞拿魚*

藍鰭吞拿魚*

豹鯆*

*為全新引入品種

記者林靜儀

一園遊盡 冰極雨林

【本報訊】海洋公園新景點一浪接一浪，進度快過香港迪士尼。盛智文形容明年也是公園極重要的一年，因為「熱帶雨林天地」將於明年初開幕，擁有最新機動遊戲的「動感天地」也會於明年啟用。至於展現南北極風光的「冰極天地」估計二○一二年完工。「冰極天地」料有圈養繁殖的企鵝及斑海豹，不過公園擬引進瀕危的白鯨及海象一度惹起爭議，公園稱仍在考慮引入動物種類，未作最後決定。



盛智文表示，海洋公園每年暑假舉行夏水禮，均令他想起已經拆卸的水上樂園。他說，明白港人對水上樂園念念不忘，但戶外水上樂園只能在夏季開放，打風落雨也無法招待遊客，難以營運。他承認現有擴建藍圖下難以加入水上樂園，但是「隨着科技發展，誰知將來是否不可能？」他又賣關子說：「其實我已有一些意念」，並指如果可行的話，終有一天會將水上樂園帶回海洋公園。

至於香港迪士尼樂園擴建三個新園區，首個園區「反斗奇兵歷奇地帶」正進行基建工程，料最快明年底落成，整個擴建計劃估計二○一四年完成。

http://programme.rthk.hk/assets/images/rthk/tv/blueprint/originals/新水族館02_resize(1).jpg
http://programme.rthk.hk/assets/images/rthk/tv/blueprint/originals/高峰樂園_resize.jpg
http://programme.rthk.hk/assets/images/rthk/tv/blueprint/originals/summit%20hard%20model_resize.jpg

世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 1 of 3

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世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 2 of 3
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世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 3 of 3
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世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 1 of 3

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世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 2 of 3
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世紀籃圖 - 香港海洋公園擴建計劃 Part 3 of 3
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very nice programme!
cant wait till all of the attraction are opened!

very nice programme!
cant wait till all of the attraction are opened!

All of them are scheduled for completion in 2012.

全城哈囉喂 10年慶　 444隻嘩鬼將現身海洋公園供遊客打喪屍


http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/images/apple-photos/apple/20100902/large/02ls3p4n.jpg
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【本報訊】海洋公園的「十月全城哈囉喂」踏入 10周年，公園搞搞新意思，玩家不但會被鬼嚇，更可反客為主，在鬼屋內打喪屍、拯救寃魂及在黑暗中玩迷宮。今年 444隻嘩鬼將現身哈囉喂，園方指製作費增至逾千萬元，需加價幫補，加幅最高達 6.4%。記者：張文傑



今年哈囉喂於 9月 23日至 10月 31日期間舉行，場數由去年的 21晚增至 23晚，共有逾 25個猛鬼項目，包括八間鬼屋、大量嘩鬼騷及多個搞鬼比賽。為達到公園「十周年十倍驚嚇」目標，嘩鬼數目比去年增加一成，景點及參與職員也是 10年前的 10倍。為提出互動，今年鬼屋內新增多個遊戲，「喪屍反擊戰」內特設雷射槍戰場，玩家在 4,000呎場地裏，需與朋友們鬥快殲滅埋伏的喪屍；「幽靈遊樂園」要求玩家戴上儀器，透過最新無線射頻辨識技術，拯救孤魂野鬼儲分數，夠分即可取得守護者證書；「熱舞吸血城」是一個迷宮，有大批吸血殭屍在開舞會，玩家須在黑暗中想辦法走出迷宮。由於越來越多廣東等內地客參加哈囉喂，園方今年特設以廣東經典鬼古的主題鬼屋，廣州猛鬼湖、和平路兇殺案故事內的驚嚇人物均會現身，令廣東玩家更有親切感。哈囉喂的忠實擁躉亦可到「哈囉喂十年回魂館」內，欣賞嘩鬼展，重溫各經典驚嚇人物造型。園方期望今年內地玩家比去年增加兩成，總入場人數可望比去年的 50萬多 5%至 10%。


智文出席記者會作孟婆打扮，指海洋公園不怕迪士尼的哈囉喂節目搶生意。

主席盛智文說，因製作成本上升，今年哈囉喂需加價 0.4%至 0.64%不等，加幅最大是周六的成人至尊門票，加至 498元；非周六的日子，成人夜場門票由 235元加至 250元，至尊門票則由 405元加至 430元。昨日孟婆現身請記者飲「孟婆湯」，眾人竟不察覺是由盛智文花三小時化妝反串，待他與一班嘩鬼行完騷後才由司儀揭穿身份。被問到會否擔心在迪士尼的萬聖節搶生意，盛智文指對方的客人比海洋公園年輕得多，不存在搶客問題，並信心爆棚：「兩個地方都去一下，再作比較哪一處比較好，我不擔心。」

10周年哈囉喂鬼屋簡介
喪屍反擊戰以雷射槍殲滅埋伏的喪屍，斬妖越多，得分越高「粵」夜驚魂廣東鬼古為主題，廣州猛鬼湖及和平路兇殺案寃魂現身巫術高校展示獵頭族驚嚇實錄及東南亞巫術一人火葬場躺在棺材內親身感受火葬儀式熱舞吸血城滿佈喪屍的黑迷宮哈囉喂十年回魂館過去 10年哈囉喂經典嘩鬼展幽靈遊樂園扮演守護者透過最新無線射頻辨識技術，拯救孤魂野鬼儲分數彭氏兄弟之童眼置身彭氏兄弟新電影《 3D童眼》場景，與恐怖主角相遇資料來源：海洋公園

入場費
夜場門票成人：$250（$298）小童（ 3至 11歲）：$125（$149）＊至尊門票成人：$430（$498）小童（ 3至 11歲）：$215（$249）開放日期： 23/9-31/10期間部份日子（共 23晚）開放時間：下午 5時 30分至凌晨零時註：（）為周六票價； 25/9及 30/9門票已售罄；＊可從快線進入各項目場地

海洋公園翻天覆地

360度凌空迴旋 遊戲機今啟用

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101124/photo/1124-00176-066b1.jpg?t=1290577636361
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101124/photo/1124-00176-066b2.jpg?t=1290577643361

【明報專訊】面對迪士尼樂園和新加坡環球片場等景點的競爭，「本地薑」海洋公園不敢怠慢。360度凌空迴旋的全新機動遊戲「翻天覆地」，今起開放予公園遊客，但陪伴樂園成長33年的「海洋館」明年1月起「稍事休息」維修，至明年尾才再開放。


「翻天覆地」由荷蘭製造，最多可同時容納24人。在一分半鐘內，遊客可嘗試360度凌空迴旋，更會有3次180度反地心吸力倒轉。海洋公園主席盛智文昨親身試玩，大呼「過癮」﹕「像過山車般刺激，又可欣賞園內景色，簡直是難以置信。」


海洋館1月起閉館維修


盛智文說﹕「海洋館已運作多年，部分設施有滲漏，因此海洋館明年1月2日起會閉館維修至年尾，但未決定新用途。」遊客可由12月15日起至閉館前到「海洋館」，屆時會有機會在館內過夜。新設施「熱帶雨林」和新過山車分別於明年4月及第四季落成，整個擴建計劃預計於2012年完成。


新水族館較現時大逾倍


另外，海洋公園把原來水上樂園改建成「夢幻水都」，明年1月尾開幕。新水族館「海洋奇觀」的外形為高30米、直徑21米，是由244塊玻璃製成的巨蛋，又有如八爪魚的裝飾環繞，晚間更會變成藍色。「海洋奇觀」內有5200立方米魚池，比現時2200立方米的「海洋館」大一倍多，會飼養逾4500條魚。盛智文表示，遊客可在「海洋奇觀」餐廳欣賞魚群游弋，亦可在館內的私人房靜觀。


「海洋奇觀」外挖掘了人工湖，每晚會在環迴水屏幕上演大匯演，訴說人類與大自然的故事，並有燈光和煙火特技效果，最多予4000人欣賞。因應新增景點，樂園會由現時6時關園，延長至7時30分。


盛智文又透露，今年7月至10月有超過200萬人次進園，單計10月「哈囉喂月」更錄得破紀錄的55萬人次，比去年上升10%。他認為因更多新景點落成，對聖誕遊客數字感樂觀，相信會有15％至20%人次增長。

海洋公園　企鵝 2012年亮相
51隻暫居冷庫房　待「冰極天地」落成

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【本報訊】海洋公園引入 51隻來自日本和美國的企鵝，現暫居於冷庫房， 2012年將進駐新落成的「冰極天地」，屆時市民可親睹企鵝的日常生活和游泳姿態。海洋公園希望透過外形討好的企鵝，喚起市民關注全球暖化，令企鵝棲息地逐漸消失的問題。　記者：林潔華

海洋公園由去年至今，原本在日本和美國共引入 53隻企鵝，其中兩隻分別因腎衰竭和接受麻醉藥後死去，餘下 51隻企鵝除了跳岩企鵝外，還有分別屬第二大和第三大品種的皇帝企鵝和巴布亞企鵝。海洋公園陸新動物部高級館長祝效忠指，企鵝外形討好，市民可透過不同特徵輕易辨認，「皇帝企鵝心口同頸有黃色毛，巴布亞企鵝頭頂好似戴咗白色 headphone（耳罩式耳筒）咁，跳岩企鵝好似有對黃色眼眉咁」。


以真雪環境佈置
目前這批企鵝暫居佔地 100平方米的冷庫房，工作人員日常利用閉路電視觀察並紀錄企鵝行為。祝效忠指，冷庫房模仿自然生態環境，維持攝氏 5至 8度，「我哋需要提供一個真雪環境畀佢，喺陸地休息、繁殖，甚至搵嘢食」。冷庫房同時設有泳池供企鵝暢泳，也有石頭讓牠們各自「築巢」，未來展館也會以同樣模式佈置。他指場地空間充足，加上企鵝本身攻擊性不強，不同品種共處問題不大。


可親睹企鵝覓食
「冰極天地」暫定於 2012年開幕，屆時市民可以親睹企鵝的日常生活，「我哋飼養員會將啲魚拋落水，大家可以睇到企鵝喺水底嘅覓食動作」。他預料，遊客有機會在地下水道欣賞企鵝的游泳姿態，但提醒市民參觀時應保持安靜，拍攝時不要使用閃光燈，避免造成干擾。
企鵝平均壽命 20歲，而這批企鵝年齡介乎 3歲至 14歲，海洋公園正研究繁殖計劃，目前已有三對巴布亞企鵝成功生蛋，待 34至 37天孵育期，預計下月有首隻企鵝誕生。

海洋公園2000魚搬新居

海洋館閉館 新水族館27日開幕


http://news.mingpao.com/20110103/gw__03GT003_.jpg

【明報專訊】陪伴港人34個年頭的海洋公園地標景點「海洋館」今日正式「榮休」，館內超過2000多條魚將會大搬家，分批於未來3周遷到新居。新居「海洋奇觀」於1月27日開幕，容量會較舊海洋館大一倍，每小時參觀人數亦可增加6倍。新成員包括藍鰭吞拿魚、杜仲及角鵬等亦會遷入新居，屆時水族館海洋生物品種將增至超過400種，共5000多條魚。


隨潛水員於水底餵飼魚兒吃過「最後一餐」，海洋館大門正式關上暫別市民。在閉幕儀式上，海洋公園副行政總裁李繩宗表示，「海洋館」已經完成任務，希望全新的「海洋奇觀」可延續其讓人欣賞到海洋世界，又能傳遞保育信息的使命。他指海洋館會首先進行復修工程，並考慮日後引進新主題水族館：「海洋公園可能會成為唯一一個有兩個超級水族館的主題公園。」


搬遷3周 舊館復修


至於館內2000條魚將於今日起，分批由位於山上「高峰樂園」區內的海洋館遷到山下夢幻水都園區內的海洋奇觀，水族部館長黎耀南表示，路途遙遠令今次海洋生物大搬家極富挑戰性。運送次序方面，他指大型魚類，包括鯊魚及鯆魚會率先搬家，體型較小的珊瑚魚會緊隨其後，而最後才輪到石斑及蘇眉，整個遷徙過程需時約3星期。黎耀南表示，其中以運送細小的珊瑚魚最困難，或會使用輕微麻醉：「牠們體積較小，屬敏感魚類，不可受刺激」，他說：「搬魚不是搬家俬，要非常小心。」


容量大逾倍 魚增3000條


另外，同時遷入新居的還有一批新成員，包括藍鰭吞拿魚、杜仲、角鵬及鎚頭鯊等，黎耀南指運送過程亦要相當小心，過程動用多種工具如特製水袋、水箱、起重機等，避免直接用手觸摸魚身：「尤其是藍鰭吞拿魚無鱗，容易受傷。」現已有80條藍鰭吞拿魚及200條杜仲送抵園區，不過，其中10條藍鰭吞拿魚因不適應新環境而死亡。


市民可於1月27日起到海洋公園的海洋奇觀與水族館新舊住客見面。新館總容量將增加一倍至524.4萬公升，每小時人流可達3600人次。海洋館昨日延長開放至晚上8時，門口大排長龍，不少人專程到場參觀。

海洋公園翻天覆地

360度凌空迴旋 遊戲機今啟用

http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101124/photo/1124-00176-066b1.jpg?t=1290577636361
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20101124/photo/1124-00176-066b2.jpg?t=1290577643361

【明報專訊】面對迪士尼樂園和新加坡環球片場等景點的競爭，「本地薑」海洋公園不敢怠慢。360度凌空迴旋的全新機動遊戲「翻天覆地」，今起開放予公園遊客，但陪伴樂園成長33年的「海洋館」明年1月起「稍事休息」維修，至明年尾才再開放。


「翻天覆地」由荷蘭製造，最多可同時容納24人。在一分半鐘內，遊客可嘗試360度凌空迴旋，更會有3次180度反地心吸力倒轉。海洋公園主席盛智文昨親身試玩，大呼「過癮」﹕「像過山車般刺激，又可欣賞園內景色，簡直是難以置信。」


海洋館1月起閉館維修


盛智文說﹕「海洋館已運作多年，部分設施有滲漏，因此海洋館明年1月2日起會閉館維修至年尾，但未決定新用途。」遊客可由12月15日起至閉館前到「海洋館」，屆時會有機會在館內過夜。新設施「熱帶雨林」和新過山車分別於明年4月及第四季落成，整個擴建計劃預計於2012年完成。


新水族館較現時大逾倍


另外，海洋公園把原來水上樂園改建成「夢幻水都」，明年1月尾開幕。新水族館「海洋奇觀」的外形為高30米、直徑21米，是由244塊玻璃製成的巨蛋，又有如八爪魚的裝飾環繞，晚間更會變成藍色。「海洋奇觀」內有5200立方米魚池，比現時2200立方米的「海洋館」大一倍多，會飼養逾4500條魚。盛智文表示，遊客可在「海洋奇觀」餐廳欣賞魚群游弋，亦可在館內的私人房靜觀。


「海洋奇觀」外挖掘了人工湖，每晚會在環迴水屏幕上演大匯演，訴說人類與大自然的故事，並有燈光和煙火特技效果，最多予4000人欣賞。因應新增景點，樂園會由現時6時關園，延長至7時30分。


盛智文又透露，今年7月至10月有超過200萬人次進園，單計10月「哈囉喂月」更錄得破紀錄的55萬人次，比去年上升10%。他認為因更多新景點落成，對聖誕遊客數字感樂觀，相信會有15％至20%人次增長。

Wow!!! This project is amazing:banana::banana:

16 01 2011大魚小魚要搬家Part 1 of 2
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16 01 2011大魚小魚要搬家Part 2 of 2
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[ 網上首播 ] 海洋公園夢幻水都電視廣告
Happy Fish ! Many Happy Fish ! 走進深海 GO GO GO !!
Happy Fish ! Many Happy Fish ! 玩到天黑 YO YO YO !!

夢幻水都 1 月27日隆重開幕啦

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（罕見畫面）海洋公園魚類運送過程實拍

全新夢幻水都嘅「海洋奇觀」水族館將會喺1月27日隆重揭幕! 大家好熟悉嘅吞拿魚原來都喺「海洋奇觀」嘅「居民」，而家就率先睇吓我哋點樣運送佢哋嚟到香港海洋公園，準備1月27日同大家見*面！
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雙龍奇緣預覽版 Symbio Show Preview
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夢幻水都噴泉(預覽日版本) Auqa City PreviewDay
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夢幻水都4000奇魚迎客

海洋公園新園區「夢幻水都」昨日開幕，今日正式開放公眾參觀，市民可於全球容量第九大水族館「海洋奇觀」內欣賞四千多條魚，晚上觀賞特備煙火及水幕匯演。海洋公園主席盛智文預計新景點啟用後，整體入場人次將較現時增加百分之十五直逼六百萬，公園雖未計劃加票價，但會繼續留意門票、零售及餐飲業務表現，他指「一個主題公園不能只靠入場門票維持收入。」



全球第九大水族館
「夢幻水都」位於海洋公園黃竹坑新入口旁邊，面積達二十萬平方呎。「海洋奇觀水族館」的海水容量達五千二百多公噸，水深十一米，是全球容量第九大的水族館，飼養四百種共四千多條魚，包括藍鰭吞拿魚及鎚頭鯊等；至於戶外人工湖每日於特定時間有噴泉表演，晚上約七時更安排水上煙火特技效果大匯演《雙龍奇緣》。另外景區設有三間餐廳及一萬五千平方呎購物區，但公園已決定不售賣奶粉，只會賣防曬霜及洗頭水等小量個人護理用品。

盛智文形容「夢幻水都」揭幕是海洋公園自一九七七年成立以來第二個最重大里程碑，有信心入場人次可增加百分之十五。若以上年度約五百一十萬人次計算，即估計可增至五百八十六萬。公園行政總裁苗樂文估計下月春節期間入場人次較去年同期增長一成。

盛智文續說，海洋公園暫不計劃加價，但會密切留意門票、零售及餐飲的表現。他重申海洋公園乃非牟利團體，售賣奶粉等商品只是回應旅客需求及減輕加票價壓力，並非藉此牟利。「一個主題公園不能只靠入場門票維持收入。」他更指如公園錄得虧損，可能需要納稅人補貼，不過因考慮到售賣奶粉惹來爭議，已決定不上架發售。公園副行政總裁李繩宗補充，餐飲及紀念品銷售生意額只佔整體業務三成左右，比例遠低於其他主題公園。

另外，海洋公園新景點「熱帶雨林」料於四至五月開幕，「動感天地」則約於十至十一月開幕，香港迪士尼樂園新主題區「反斗奇兵大本營」亦預計十一月啟用。盛智文認為，新加坡、內地及澳門近年有愈來愈多新景點與香港競爭，本地亦需要更多旅遊點吸客，兩個主題公園應該一同吸客而非互相比較。

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瀕危動物招徠 被轟假保育


海洋公園翻新後設施陸續開幕，其中今日開放的「海洋奇觀」及明年開放的「冰極天地」均以藍鰭吞拿魚、企鵝及白鯨等瀕危稀有動物作招徠。多個環保團體昨批評公園以保育為名，引進野生動物時卻欠缺透明度，未有遵守承諾公布獨立研究結果，間接鼓勵濫捕行為。

藍鰭吞拿魚乏活動空間
有團體更引述園內員工消息指，由於環境適應不良，已有十條藍鰭吞拿魚及逾廿條鎚頭鯊相繼死亡，他們亦擔心具攻擊的魚類「困獸鬥」，隨時令海狼咬死中華鱘事件重演。海洋公園強調沒有以不妥當手法對待動物，但並無披露有關魚類死亡的數目。

世界自然基金會香港分會最近向海洋公園查證，發現園方未有遵從其「引進動物政策」，未能證實其引進的藍鰭吞拿魚是否具可持續性。海豚保育學會會長洪家耀昨指出，藍鰭吞拿魚本性需不停游弋，而且速度很快，活動範圍可達數百公里，水族館根本不能提供足夠的活動空間。至於鎚頭鯊則屬兇猛性鯊魚，需不停餵飼，洪擔心兩者在同一個水族館內「困獸鬥」，最終會出現傷亡情況。

洪家耀又表示，據悉海洋公園將於今年三、四月引入白鯨來港，隔離後將放入明年開幕的「冰極天地」，由於人工馴養的白鯨無論存活率及繁殖率皆偏低，故幾可肯定園方將引入野生白鯨，相信引入地是俄羅斯。洪早前已聯絡國際人道協會及鯨豚保育協會等國際機構，冀引起國際關注。他亦擔心早前已來港的企鵝被困在擠迫及衞生情況惡劣的雪房內，要求園方交代。

「冰極天地」增加碳排放
環保觸覺高級項目主任孫可昕則指，「冰極天地」需耗用大量能源營造極地環境供動物居住，反增加碳排放加劇全球暖化。園方還聲稱希望藉「冰極天地」引起市民關注及認識全球氣候反常影響，根本是自打嘴巴。

海洋公園主席盛智文昨強調，園方飼養海洋生物已有卅多年經驗，他們與環保團體一樣以保育動物為目標，強調並無以不適當手法對待動物。公園發言人其後補充指，有關指控屬失實，但她並無進一步披露動物死亡的數據。

Aqua City deaths make splash
27 January 2011
The Standard

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Aqua City, part of the HK$5.55 billion expansion plan of Ocean Park that took five years to build, was inaugurated in a grand ceremony last night.

Its egg-shaped Grand Aquarium, one of the world's largest tanks, has about 5,000 fish representing 400 species and covers an area twice the size of the original display.

However, the attraction will open today amid accusations by conservationists that a lot of its newly acquired fish have died.

Many hammerhead sharks and Pacific bluefin tuna, described by the park as ``new animal ambassadors'' to greet guests over the Lunar New Year, died before the aquarium opened owing to mistreatment, an Ocean Park source revealed.

Green Sense and Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society quoted the source as saying that the park imported 40 hammerhead sharks from Japan but more than two-thirds died after they were crowded in a quarantine pool.

And 10 of the 80 bluefin tuna, also imported from Japan, died after being placed in a pool with a water filtration system and quality control system that were not yet ready.

``The park ignored the well-being of the animals and concealed the death toll from the public,'' dolphin conservation group chairman Samuel Hung Ka- yiu said.

Some bluefin tuna died several weeks ago due to ``inadaptability in the new pool,'' a park spokeswoman said, quoting autopsy reports.

Both species imported for the park are not on the endangered list and were acquired in ``rescue operations'' in Japan.

Chairman Allan Zeman said:``It wasn't because of mistreatment. It's not because of the way they were brought in. We have the highest standard.

``It's like human beings. Some people die and babies are born every second...We have many, many fish born in Ocean Park.''

Management expect the opening to help boost visitor numbers by 15 percent this year.

A nighttime water and fire special effects extravaganza, Symbio is featured in the The Lagoon, with colorful dragons dancing on the world's only 360-degree water screen.

There are also more than 1,600 square meters of retail space and three new food outlets in the flagship theme zone. But a new plan to sell milk powder to tourists, mainly from the mainland, was shelved following public controversy.

Ocean Park Offers Brand New Retail and Dining Options to Complement Opening of Aqua City 15,000 Sq-ft Themed Retail Space, Exclusive Merchandise Collections and Aquarium-side Dining Complete New Ocean Park Experience
13-01-2011
Press Release

(Hong Kong – 13 January 2011) Ocean Park today unveiled a series of brand new retail and dining offerings specially launched to complement the widely-anticipated 27 January opening of its new flagship theme zone Aqua City. Guests can choose from over 20,000 merchandise items, in the comfort of 15,000 square feet of shopper-friendly, themed retail environment. To appeal to wider customer segments, Ocean Park has developed new exclusive product lines, including jewellery and items bearing conservation messages, and created with Chocolate Rain a unique collection available only at Ocean Park. Aqua City will also feature Ocean Park’s first personal health and beauty store to meet guests’ needs. Catering for the diverse dining needs and tastes of guests, Aqua City will have three distinctive outlets, including Hong Kong’s first and only fine dining location within an aquarium. With the opening of Aqua City, a day at Ocean Park promises to offer fresh experiences in all aspects of theme park enjoyment.

Integral to the iconic and whimsical design of Aqua City are two buildings positioned like a pair of stretched arms to greet all guests when they enter and leave the Park. On one side is the East Retail Building, home to four shopping outlets including Waterfront Gifts (apparels and accessories), Celebrity Store (decorative gifts , hard goods, plush toys and kids’ corner), Ocean’s Charms (jewellery) and Aqua City Crafts (premium gifts). The seven product categories are presented in distinctive theme zones that guests can conveniently traverse without leaving the building.

The West Retail Building, on the other side of the main entrance, houses two unique retail outlets. Ocean Potions is Ocean Park’s very first personal health and beauty product store, offering guests a variety of products for their daily needs. For guests who want to create beautiful images of their wonderful time at the Park, there is Shutters, Ocean Park’s first dedicated photography studio.

Shirley Louie, Senior Retail Manager of Ocean Park, said, “Ocean Park has greatly expanded its retail offerings to satisfy the diverse needs and tastes of our guests. For instance, we have introduced a line of premium goods that ranges from neckties, home decorations to jewellery accessories. There are also beautiful new items for weddings, baby showers and more. To further enhance product variety and enable guests from the Mainland to shop for daily necessities, we have created our first-ever personal health and beauty store. Guests visiting the new flagship theme zone Aqua City will not only come away with wonderful memories, they will also be able to take home fantastic new gifts and souvenirs for themselves or for families and friends.”

Education and conservation are two important elements of Ocean Park. The Park therefore also offers retail items like games, books and puzzles that nurture the mind, and donates a percentage of proceeds from panda related products to Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, to support panda habitat rebuilding efforts and conservation.

As Hong Kong’s People’s Park, Ocean Park has always been supportive of local creative talents. On the occasion of the opening of Aqua City, Ocean Park is unveiling a new collection of products developed in collaboration of Chocolate Rain, the internationally renowned homegrown design brand, whose works have been exhibited at some of the most prestigious museums in Europe and the United States. Exclusively available at Aqua City, this new collection includes tote bags, coin purses, key holders and tee shirts.

Prudence Mak, one of the founders and designers of Chocolate Rain, said, “We are thrilled to work with Ocean Park as Chocolate Rain is inspired by childhood dreams and wonderland adventure, two themes that the people of Hong Kong have been associating with Ocean Park. The collaboration will not only increase our brand exposure to the millions of tourists that visit Ocean Park, it will also encourage local design talents in their creative work.”

The opening of Aqua City will also mark a new chapter in culinary experience at Ocean Park as the new Grand Aquarium will feature the 210-seat Neptune’s Restaurant, Hong Kong’s first and only aquarium exhibit-side restaurant. Guests will be able to savour the finest gastronomic offerings while enjoying panoramic views of a majestic underwater world. Among the Chinese, Japanese and Western delectable items on the menu are a series of Healthy Stone Cook items such as Australian Wagyu Sirloin, Kagoshima Pork Loin and New Zealand Lamb Rack, as well as Japanese Bento Boxes. To support and promote the conservation of endangered marine species, Ocean Park not only made available a number of sustainable seafood dishes as menu options for diners, items red-listed in WWF’s sustainable seafood guide have also been removed from all menus.

Aqua City will also feature Ocean Park’s first-ever bakery. Aqua City Bakery, located at the West Retail Building, offers guests a relaxing moment of rest and reflection during a day of festive fun to enjoy a wide variety of homemade baked goods, such as cookies and quiches, as well as Hong Kong’s world-famous egg tart and sago pudding. Visitors to Hong Kong thus will not have to leave Ocean Park in order to sample truly authentic local foods. Those who take delight in alfresco dining would be glad to know that they can take in spectacular fountain shows while seated under the marquee of the Lagoon Lakeside Snacks Kiosk.

Stephen Chow, Food & Beverage Operations Manager of Ocean Park, said, “The opening of Neptune’s Restaurant marks a new chapter in the culinary landscape of Hong Kong as guests will certainly be carried away by the stunning view of our underwater marine world, just as the launch of Aqua City will take marine-based theme park experiences to new heights. Local guests and overseas visitors celebrating special occasions will soon have one more great reason to visit Ocean Park!”

Bumper catch of tourists at Aqua City opening
28 January 2011
The Standard

Lions, celebrities and thousands of excited tourists were on hand to celebrate the opening of Aqua City.

The latest Ocean Park attraction features a massive three-story aquarium containing rare fish such as Pacific bluefin tuna and the endangered Napoleon fish.

The dome-shaped viewing area is the largest in the world, with a 5.5-meter high and 13m wide viewing panel.

Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman, along with Cantopop stars Gigi Leung Wing-kei and Leo Ku Kui-kei, welcomed the first family to enter the park.

That honor went to Annie Sidley and her family, who had been at the gates since 8.30am. Sidley was accompanied by her three-year-old daughter Maia, as well as her parents.

But following Wednesday's revelation that some hammerhead sharks and Pacific bluefin tuna have died, environmental activists Green Sense tried to stage a protest at the main gates.

But, within minutes, they were told to leave by police.

As guests filed in to view the more than 5,000 fish in the main tank, it seemed like environmental issues were the last thing on their minds.

``It's very natural-looking and impressive,'' said Surinder Sethi, a tourist from India. ``I especially like the manta ray because it is very rare that you get to see such a fine specimen up close.''

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Watch fish swim by as you snack on seafood
27 January 2011
South China Morning Post

It's the newest attraction at Ocean Park - sit watching fish and then point out to the waiter what you'd like for your seafood dinner.

Don't worry, says chief executive Tom Mehrmann, green groups helped design the menu of Neptune's Restaurant - where marine life circles the diners behind a 13-metre-wide viewing panel - and the food comes from sustainable species (not the aquarium).

Park chairman Allan Zeman is proud of the restaurant, part of its new Aqua City zone. "It's the first one in the world that I see. You can watch the fish while dining. You don't have to go deep sea diving."

The Grand Aquarium, one of the highlights of the new Aqua City zone that was officially launched yesterday, features milk fish manta rays and endangered species such as scalloped hammerhead sharks and bluefin tuna. They are among the 5,000 fish of more than 400 species in the aquarium containing 5.2 million litres of water.

The park admits 10 of the 80 endangered bluefin tuna died en route from Japan. The Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society accuses the park of lacking in transparency in revealing information about the deaths of some animals.

Society chairman Dr Samuel Hung Ka-yiu, who said he was quoting a park employee, said more than 10 of 40 hammerhead sharks had died too due to overcrowding in a quarantine pool.

But Una Lau, the park's public affairs director, said only just over 10 hammerhead sharks were imported.

Zeman, who denied that hammerhead sharks had died, said the deaths of the bluefin tuna were natural. "It's quite normal {hellip} people die and babies are born every day," he said. "Fish die and are born.

"The aquarium in Japan told us the tuna we got, which were caught by a reputable fisherman, were meant to be sushi. We actually saved them as they would have wound up being sushi in a restaurant."

Hung said importing such fish created demand and led to unnecessary catching of the gravely endangered species. "Why couldn't they import other species of tuna which are not endangered. The public can't differentiate between the species. The park is no longer the Ocean Park we knew from childhood.

"Driven by a business mentality, they aim for the rarest species for gimmicky effect. Bluefin tuna swim very fast and long distances. They can only make circles inside the aquarium. Their policy on animal acquisition, which states that acquisition of animals from the wild is pursued only if the wild population is sustainable, is a joke."

Zeman said green groups always protested at the opening of aquariums. "It's a good time to protest. It's good that green groups keep us on our toes, but we can't always do what they want. Some animal conservationists say we should not have animals in captivity {hellip} [Ocean] pollution is serious [in Hong Kong]. People need to know about conservation. Criticising us is always easy {hellip} if we are just about rides, we will just be Disney."

The aquarium is double the size of the old one named Atoll Reef, which was closed last month for renovation and will house sharks in future.

At the entrance to the aquarium is a man-made blowhole, where ocean waves are simulated, and a touch pool containing starfish. An artificial lagoon in front of the aquarium is another highlight, where a show featuring pyrotechnics, water jets and laser lights will be put on every night.

Zeman points out another benefit of the new aquarium.

"People can get married in the tank if they have diving licence."

It's not just the acquisition of hammerheads and bluefin tuna for Aqua City that greens are criticising. They don't like the park bringing in beluga whales for Polar Adventure, an attraction to open next year.

Hung said: "Due to the big demand for the whales from the mainland, there are fewer numbers of the species in Russian waters. Russia doesn't know much about conservation. You can buy a permit for acquisition easily. The park is soon to be open, but they have yet to make public the research findings."

The theme park earlier confirmed it had been funding Russian research on beluga whales in the Okhotsk Sea since 2007.

Sun Ho-yan, senior project officer with Green Sense, accused the park of causing more global warming by building a simulated polar area that will consume a lot of power to maintain the freezing conditions required.

Zeman said he expected a 15 per cent increase in visitor numbers once the new attraction opened. "The Rainforest will open in May. This is a big year for Ocean Park."

Stunning Aqua City and Symbio Show. I congratulate Ocean Park for all these improvements!!!

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they can stop increasing the fees, stop selling milk powder, facial masks, stick to their core objective of business - to educate & entertain hk people, rather than make super profits

海洋公園迫爆 門票昨午停售

初二10.5萬內地客訪港 創單日新高


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【明報專訊】內地旅客已成為本地旅遊業最大市場，年初二（周五）訪港的客量再創單日新高，達10.5萬人次，打破去年初三有10.3萬人次的紀錄。其中，海洋公園繼續旺爆，於昨午1時亦即公園開門3小時後便停止售票，有早已訂票但無法入場的旅客抱怨公園安排失當，令他們的行程失了預算。


海洋公園發言人說，昨入場人次較去年同期升逾三成，在下午1時便全園停止售票，並表示未來數天仍是內地假期，預計訪客人數繼續高企，呼籲有意入園的賓客可留意公園網站是否有提早停售門票的信息。發言人表示，雖然公園在過去一年增加了多項設施，令可容納客量增至6.9萬，但為了維持旅客的良好體驗，同一時間客量上限目前仍維持3.6萬。


籲購票前留意網站信息


根據入境處數字，初二有近35.2萬旅客人次入境，當中內地客佔10.5萬，不僅比去年初二的9.53萬內地旅客人次高一成，更打破去年初三創下的10.28萬單日客量，預計昨日繼續有大批內地客來港。


開園1小時 金鐘停售票


摘要(07:15)
剛有新景點夢幻水都落成的海洋公園繼續迫爆，在金鐘往海洋公園的巴士站，昨早11時，亦即公園開放1小時後便停止賣票，不少遊客到達巴士站看到豎立的告示牌，方知不能入場。


已訂票未能入場 遊客感失望


來自江西的周太原計劃與兩女兒在港自由行玩3天，早計劃首兩天分別到海洋公園和迪士尼樂園，她在出發前已於網上訂票，對昨日未能入場直言感到失望，「現在要改行程，或者明天上午去海洋公園，下午去迪士尼，但一定會很倉卒」。她認為海洋公園安排失當，應及早通知已訂票人士，她昨日只好改到太空館參觀。


由深圳來港的施太沒有訂票，到達金鐘後才得知不能進場，「我們都很忙，難得有假期來港一天，只想要去海洋公園，現在卻不能去」。為補償一對失望的子女，她改往逛街購物。

they can stop increasing the fees, stop selling milk powder, facial masks, stick to their core objective of business - to educate & entertain hk people, rather than make super profits

Well... they were spending $5.55 billion for a revamp and their surplus was less than $0.1 billion per year though. Not sure whether they really are making what you'd call a "super profit"...

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The long waited Rachmaninov's photos!!!

I don't really like the new entrance. It's really ugly and too cluster on the bus terminus side. And, IMO, a very bad circulation design for buses and coach buses.
OP spent billions of dollars, and couldn't have a good design for bus terminus.
(I stuck in traffic and sat on the bus for 10 minutes to just make that stupid U-turn on th CNY's Saturday back in February.)
But I guess the whole design focused more towards the future MTR station.

樹熊2變8 2014年落戶香港

【明報專訊】南澳洲舊年宣布，會送一對情侶樹熊畀香港，Emily噚日就知道一個好消息同一個壞消息﹕好消息就係，原本只得2隻樹熊，家澳洲決定送夠8隻；壞消息係，佢原本預計2012年左右會香港，家就要遲2年，即係要到2014年先至同大家海洋公園見面。


中國種尤加利樹保糧食


南澳洲省長雷恩噚日話，8隻移居香港樹熊，會南澳挑選，因為佢糧食尤加利樹，會中國種植，要確保樹熊有足夠食物先可以，所以預計2014年成行，雷恩之後會香港同埋內地跟進安排。內地早排送一對大熊貓畀南澳阿德萊德，吸引大批市民去見佢，所以，雷恩話希望送樹熊畀香港，可借此宣傳南澳洲，吸引多港人去旅遊。


海洋公園將建「樹熊館」


海洋公園噚日話歡迎8隻樹熊，話佢會成為公園永久住客，向來自全球各地遊客傳遞保育信息，公園家正為迎接樹熊進行籌備工作，但詳情就要賣關子，話遲先肯講咁話。不過，海洋公園主席盛智文早排就話過，計劃低地興建「樹熊館」，成為樹熊新居，又話設計會模仿澳洲環境，等佢賓至如歸。

iMR58J8K0LQ

JUNE 15, 2011, 3:12 PM HKT
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Unveils Latest Attraction

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Allan Zeman (center), chairman of Ocean Park, makes his entrance during the unveiling of the park’s newest attraction, the Rainforest.

Hong Kong theme parks are locked in a race to build attractions as they compete for visitors.

The latest splash: A 500-square-meter Amazon exhibit, unveiled by Ocean Park on Tuesday, that features a jungle raft ride, an aviary and live animals, including a now-pregnant anaconda and two capybaras, the world’s largest rodent. In perhaps a gesture meant for competing theme parks, Allan Zeman, chairman of Ocean Park, opened the new attraction, called the Rainforest, wearing Amazon war paint along with a blue headdress and a grass skirt.

The Rainforest, part of a 5.6 billion Hong Kong dollar (US$719.3 million) redevelopment plan by Ocean Park, is just the latest move in the battle for Asia’s fun seekers, especially the growing number of mainland Chinese tourists. Last year, the number of mainland Chinese visitors to Hong Kong jumped more than 26% to nearly 23 million, according to Hong Kong government statistics.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which has yet to earn a profit since it opened in 2005 but had record attendance last year, is in the middle of its own HK$3.6 billion expansion, which includes a Toy Story Land attraction slated to open this year.

http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/06/15/hong-kongs-ocean-park-unveils-latest-attraction/

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h5CpqURXTCI

August 15, 2011, 6:00 am
Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Adds New Attractions
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/hong-kongs-ocean-park-adds-new-attractions/

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Aqua Park, one of the newest attractions at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.
Alex Frew McMillan

A scalloped hammerhead cruises the reef above a leopard shark and a huge grouper. A school of yellow-fin tuna rush through their daily circular rounds. The faces of visitors glow with the reflections of digital screens, as they snap photos of each other standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling wall of water.

Welcome to Aqua City, home to one of the newest attractions at Ocean Park. Hong Kong’s homegrown theme park has embarked on a sprawling expansion, costing 5.55 billion Hong Kong dollars (about $710 million), in part to fend off competition from Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as new theme parks on the mainland. Faded portions of Ocean Park, which opened in 1977, have been given a major face lift, and the park now functions as an amusement park and aquarium wrapped into one.

The park has added two new zones this year: Aqua City opened at the end of January and an Amazon-themed Rainforest section opened in June.

At Aqua City, guests arrive via a new entrance, and, at the end of each day, can view a laser and fire show around its fountain park. In the Rainforest section, there’s a water ride, called the Rapids, that wends its way through the heart of the walk-through exhibit overhead. (“You will get wet. You may get soaked!” warns a sign before you board.) When done with that, children can visit a green anaconda, which recently gave birth to 30 young.

There are two phases of the expansion still to come. Thrill Mountain, a roller-coaster ride, is due this December and Polar Adventure is scheduled to open in mid-2012.

Hong Kong drops plan to import rare whales
(AFP) – 16 hours ago

HONG KONG — A Hong Kong theme park has dropped a contentious plan to buy and import rare wild-caught beluga whales, in a decision lauded Friday by conservationists who had protested against the bid.

Activists opposed Ocean Park's plan to import the whales, classified as "near threatened", from Russia, saying they are often injured or killed during capture and mortality rates are high among those in captivity.

The park had wanted to use the belugas, usually found around the Arctic circle, to raise public awareness of climate change through its new Polar Adventure attraction to open next year.

"After due consideration, we have decided not to pursue an acquisition from the wild even though the removal of some beluga whales has been shown to be sustainable," Allan Zeman, Ocean Park's chairman, said in a statement.
The popular 34-year-old theme park and aquarium is owned by the Hong Kong government and has set out ambitious plans to boost visitors. The park recorded five million tourists last year.

The beluga, or white whale, is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) "red list" of "near threatened" species, while the US and Canada have effectively banned the whales' capture from their waters.
"The park did the right thing. We certainly welcome the decision," Samuel Hung, chairman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, told AFP.
"It's not right to confine a large intelligent mammal inside a tank, this is harming their chance of survival and send a wrong message to the public -- that whenever we need them for entertainment purpose, we can go out to catch them."

The park has previously come under the spotlight over its conservation and protection of rare animals.

Last year, Washington-based Animal Welfare Institute has said Ocean Park was trying to capture some 30 dolphins in the Soloman Islands, possibly in breach of animal conservation rules -- a claim which was later rejected by the park.

Any dolphin imports from the cluster of islands near Papua New Guinea would breach the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
In 2009, three rare sturgeon -- which were among a group of 10 sturgeon donated to the theme park to mark China's hosting of the Olympics in 2008 -- died in the park.

The endangered fish died because of different reasons including head injury, blood clotting, infection while one was killed by a bite from barracuda in the aquarium.

Outside the park, conservation groups such as the WWF have consistently appealed to restaurants in Hong Kong -- the largest importer of shark fin globally in 2007 -- to stop using the fins in the popular soup delicacy.
Scientists blame the practice of shark-finning for a worldwide collapse in shark populations.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

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Crash closes train ride at Ocean Park
The Standard
Monday, September 12, 2011

A popular ride at Ocean Park has been suspended indefinitely following a collision between two trains.

None of the 23 passengers was hurt. Police said they received no calls for assistance and no ambulances were dispatched.

According to reports, 23 people enjoying the Mine Train ride were approaching the landing platform at 12.25pm yesterday when their train ran into an empty one that was about to be loaded.

As the platform is two stories high, staff had to use ladders to evacuate passengers.

"It took about six minutes to evacuate everyone," an Ocean Park spokesman said.

The park has launched an investigation into the collision, and notified the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

"The ride has been in operation for 11 years, and this is the first time this has happened," the spokesman said.

He said while staff are present at the ride, the trains are run by an automatic electronic system with various safety measures.

Ocean Park said it is "very concerned" about the incident, even though there were no casualties.

It said the ride will remain closed until the investigation is complete.

Most visitors were unaware of what happened as the park only displayed signs saying the Mine Train service was suspended for "regular maintenance."

The spokesman said the ride is thoroughly checked and tested each day, and received clearance to operate yesterday.

But some visitors expressed disappointment at the suspension of the attraction. A father from Hubei said his family had been looking forward to the ride.

He said there were no signs at the entrance relating to the suspension and they only got to know about it when they arrived at the ride. Nevertheless, he said Ocean Park is worth visiting.

The spokesman said the Mine Train is manufactured in Italy and there are no other facilities in the park from the same company.

All mechanical rides are examined routinely to ensure maximum comfort and safety for guests, he said.

透明天幕　五彩天梯　人工沙灘重建樂園　四季嬉水

【本報訊】闊別港人 12年的水上樂園將重現，海洋公園擬興建包括室內水上樂園的新主題區，全天候設計一年四季可玩水，又可在透明天幕下躺在人工沙灘日光浴，更有比五彩天梯更激的新玩意；還有世界級溜冰場及主題餐廳，最快 2013年動工。記者：翁煜雄、張岳弢、林偉聰



昨公佈的施政報告披露海洋公園正積極研究興建全天候水上樂園大計，公園主席盛智文接受訪問時稱，因調查發現市民和旅客最希望復建水上樂園，而且杜拜水上樂園甚受歡迎，他說新水上樂園設計會配合大樹灣景色，「一邊玩水一邊飽覽南區海景」。

建於 1984年的舊水上樂園雖受歡迎，但一年只開放四個月，入不敷支，終於 1999年關閉。盛智文稱，新水上樂園有室內恒溫設備，全年開放，遊戲也較當年五彩天梯更刺激：「你要跳水、滑水也可以。」他說部份設施如嬉水池老少咸宜，甚至有人工沙灘；據稱更會有透明天幕，室內也可享受陽光。樂園內有表演，供遊人邊玩水邊欣賞。新主題區內也設世界級真雪溜冰場，除供玩樂，也可舉行國際賽事。盛智文透露場內會有特色遊樂設施，「我總喜歡搞些古靈精怪東西，又怎會只是一個溜冰場？」景區內也有配合水上主題的餐廳及商店等，但他強調一切仍在構思階段。海洋公園發言人說正研究計劃的技術及財務可行性，落實後會與政府商討籌備工作。主題區期望 2013年動工。公園耗資 55.5億元的擴建工程還未完成，又再擴建，有業界透露是因公園籌建酒店計劃疑因融資因素押後，故公園為增加酒店計劃吸引力，遂在大樹灣的漁人碼頭酒店附近建水上樂園，期望新主題區帶動入場人數上升，也加強公園還款能力。政府發言人說未決定會否注資。

旅議會望不另收費
海洋公園擬提供土地建三間酒店，由發展商興建及營運，山上的水療度假酒店料 2016年落成，但山下的海洋酒店及漁人碼頭酒店，原擬於 2013及 2015年啟用，卻傳因中標發展商認為補地價過高，開標日期押後六個月至今年底，令酒店啟用時間或要押後。公園現有擴建計劃中，繼亞洲動物天地、夢幻水都及熱帶雨林天地後，以機動遊戲為主的動感天地將在 12月開幕，冰極天地則於明年中開放。舊水上樂園需另收費，發言人說新樂園未知會否效法。旅遊業議會主席胡兆英認為水上樂園可吸引更多旅客，但期望不會另外收費，「全世界好多樂園都係一張門票包晒所有遊戲」。綠色和平資深項目主任古偉牧擔心水上樂園耗用大量水電浪費資源，建議開發生態旅遊， 吸引旅客。

whX-2B7OUYA

香港老大街明開幕 重溫港人昔日情懷
2012年03月14日(三)
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【本報訊】飛機欖、電燈柱掛老鼠箱，還有紅極一時女子歌唱組合的「筷子姊妹花」……不少港人的集體回憶將一一在明日開幕的海洋公園「香港老大街」重現，讓大家回味一番。

佔地三萬六千方呎的「香港老大街」以六十年代為主題，入場旅客可和老街坊、小偷、警察、人力車伕、劇院前的「筷子姊妹花」搭訕，幾乎絕迹本港的人力車在大街穿梭，還有街上的懷舊海報，播放着懷舊歌曲，讓人有時光倒流之感。大街上還有售雞蛋仔、茶葉蛋及涼茶等小食，攤位遊戲經巧妙重新包裝融入街舖內，旅客可在米舖玩擲階磚，獎品是以海綿製的「一大包米」，亦可以贏取「海綿電車」回家。

海洋公園設計及策劃執行總監朱渢指，整個設計經過長時間的資料搜集精心設計而成。大街上更有電車站，海洋公園主席盛智文表示，現時只有三名師傅懂得製懷舊電車，海洋公園特別製造了一架放於街內。另街道入口處還擺放了一架英國鐵皮盒懷舊雙層巴士，令人重拾不少舊日的回憶。

Ocean Park Launches Old Hong Kong to Bring Collective Memories to Life First Attraction to Combine Heritage Education, Culinary Enjoyment and Fun Games With Iconic Architecture, Heritage Transport, Classic Delicacies, Star Ferry Clock Toll
Press Release
14-03-2012

(14 March 2012, Hong Kong) True to its proud heritage as Hong Kong People’s Park, Ocean Park today unveiled Old Hong Kong, a brand new attraction that uniquely combines culture, history, iconic architecture, delicious delicacies and entertainment, offering guests a fun and educational way to make wonderful new memories while celebrating the city of yesteryear. Old Hong Kong brings to life the streetscape and spirit of Hong Kong from half a century ago by creating a friendly old street lined with “tong lau” style apartment buildings and storefronts from a bygone era and presenting a vintage tramcar, a specially preserved heritage bus, classic local delicacies and a dazzling array of nostalgic merchandise. Not only will guests be immersed in the collective memories of Hong Kong people, they will also be invigorated by the enduring spirit that continues to make Hong Kong a world-class city.

Interactive Journey Immerses Guests in Beautiful Memories
Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park, said at today’s launch ceremony, “Hong Kong experienced a golden period between the 1950s and 1970s, which saw the city establish itself as an economic miracle and bastion of creativity. Old Hong Kong offers everyone a chance to immerse themselves in the communal pride of that period and the many small joys that enriched the lives of a previous generation.”

Dr. Zeman added, “Old Hong Kong is the first new attraction to open in 2012; it is the culmination of nearly 2 years of in-depth research and a meticulous design process aimed at creating “edutaining” presentations of diverse aspects of life in the old days, from clothing, food, shelter, transportation, culture to entertainment. By bringing these collective memories to life, Old Hong Kong is at once a giant history classroom and a celebration of Hong Kong People’s indefatigable gung-ho spirit.”

Themed after the streetscape and architectural styles of Hong Kong from the 1950s to the 1970s, Old Hong Kong spans nearly 40,000 square feet in an area adjacent to the cable car station in the Waterfront. Mr. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, joined Dr. Allan Zeman at today’s launch ceremony, which was styled after the traditional grand opening celebration for local businesses. The Chief Executive said, “Ocean Park is widely recognized for its remarkable achievements in education and animal conservation. Now with the opening of Old Hong Kong, the Park will help young people learn about Hong Kong’s cultural history, the everyday life of an earlier generation and a wonderful bygone era. Millions of visitors to Hong Kong can also travel back in time to personally explore the Hong Kong of old.”

Other honourable guests at the launch ceremony of Old Hong Kong included Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBS, JP, Secretary for Development; Ms. Rosanna Law, Acting Commissioner for Tourism; Mr. Kevin Wong, Managing Director of Kee Wah Bakery; Mr. Tom Mehrmann, Chief Executive of Ocean Park; Mr. Matthias Li, Deputy Chief Executive of Ocean Park; and artists Mr. Wu Fung, Mr. Joe Junior, Mr. Eric Tsang, Ms. Jennifer Tse and Ms. Annie Liu. They all helped to celebrate the Hong Kong spirit embodied in Old Hong Kong before enjoying a tour of the new attraction.

Traditional Culture Presented as Hip Entertainment Promises Endless Fun
The nostalgic journey to Old Hong Kong begins with a “Dai Tat Dei”-style garlanded entrance. The design showcases traditional craftsmanship by taking reference from colourful bamboo scaffolds used in Cantonese opera performances. Other highlights in the new attraction include: a “dai pai dong” area offering over 70 classic delicacies; interactive game booths housed inside rows of apartment buildings in the now rare “tong lau” style; a manually retrofitted heritage tramcar (No. 120); a specially preserved vintage KMB bus from the 1960s; a grand cinema where most people in the old days would visit for entertainment; and a nostalgic gift shop inspired by Kee Wah Bakery’s inaugural store in Shanghai in the 1940s.

Savour Nostalgic Delights at Dai Pai Dong
Greeting guests entering Old Hong Kong is a “dai pai dong” area, which fills the air with the smells of nostalgic snacks. With more than 70 types of classic street foods available at one location, guests who cherish variety would save themselves from the hassle of crisscrossing the city. Displayed in front of the “dai pai dong” are a number of iconic objects that best represent Hong Kong from the 1950s to the 1970s: four replica rickshaws, bicycles used for rice delivery, racks for bottled soft drinks, and dried seafood. With tasty treats in hand, guests can leisurely walk down a memory lane of pre-war “tong lau” apartment buildings for more delightful blasts from the past.

Tong Lau Makes Reappearance
The ‘tong lau’ buildings featured in Old Hong Kong are based on an iconic architecture style, commonly found from the 1950s to the 1970s, which fuses eastern and western elements. Residences occupied the upper floors while businesses operated at the ground level, with signage of various dimensions hanging off the side of the buildings. Inside Old Hong Kong, guests will encounter stores that would have been commonly found in every neighbourhood, such as barbershops, rattan ware shops and grocers. These storefronts are used to house different popular booth games, including traditional pinball machines, shooting games, tossing games and more, offering guests a chance to relish in the memory of their carefree childhood days.

The Grand Cinema – Blend of Entertainment and Education
Older guests would not want to miss the Grand Cinema, a place where they can reminisce the golden days of Hong Kong cinema. Old posters displayed on the walls allow guests to look back on the colours and styles of yesteryear. Being an ardent advocate of conservation, Ocean Park has arranged a show about golden monkeys to be launched at the Grand Cinema in early April so guests can learn about this threatened species inside a classic cinema.

Colonial Era Streetscape Stirs Collective Memories
Past the Grand Cinema is an area rich in the styles of colonial era Hong Kong. For instance, guests will encounter a replica of the clock tower of the old Star Ferry Pier, installed with a clock made by the manufacturer of the original Star Ferry clock so that the iconic Star Ferry toll will enliven the city once again.

Another highlight of Old Hong Kong is tramcar No. 201, the one-and-only manually built replica tramcar based on the model used in the 1950s. Not only does it feature rattan seats and camphor wood flooring, many mechanical components are original parts taken from tramcars of that period. To make the experience of Hong Kong from half a century ago more realistic, Old Hong Kong will have on display a vintage double decker bus – one of only three in the world – specially preserved by KMB. Ocean Park has also installed an old British-style red post box and a traffic pagoda, which used to provide shelter for policemen directing the traffic.

Kee Wah Offers Nostalgic Souvenirs to Treat Friends and Family
Guests would not want to end their tour of Old Hong Kong without stopping by Kee Wah Bakery’s nostalgic gift shop – the very first in Hong Kong – where they can take home the tastes of Old Hong Kong. The shop offers four exclusive gift packs, including: Authentic Winter Melon Pastries with fillings made according to an ideal ratio of ingredients; Victoria Harbour Assorted Tea Cookies infused with the fragrances of four different teas; “Dai Tat Dei” Premium Gift Set, a collection of eight styles of classic baked goods, and “I Love HK” Assorted Snacks Suitcase, which comprises eight types of crispy snacks. Kee Wah also offers freshly baked pastries, including century-egg puffs, flaky egg tarts, barbecued pork puffs and crumbly chicken pies, to let Park guests enjoy some of Hong Kong’s signature traditional treats.

Dr. Allan Zeman concluded, “Given the strong public interest in the history and culture of Hong Kong, this latest attraction is set to become a new hotspot for locals and tourists alike. I encourage everyone to plan ahead for a visit to Old Hong Kong for an immersive, fun and inspiring experience of the city’s rich heritage.”

GPuDFxWn7zQ

Ocean Park a splash hit in world rankings
The Standard
Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Ocean Park has become the 12th most popular theme park in the world after recording a 30 percent surge in visitor numbers last year.

The park ranks four places ahead of rival Disneyland Hong Kong, which was placed 16th, according to a report by Themed Entertainment Association and consultancy firm AECOM Economics.

Ocean Park drew 6.95 million visitors last year to become the most visited theme park in the Greater China region and fifth in Asia.

Mickey Mouse and friends, on the other hand, welcomed 5.9 million visitors, enjoying a 13.5 percent rise in annual attendance figures.

"The rise in ranking is a wonderful testimony to our transformation into a world-class marine- based theme park focusing on education, conservation and entertainment," Ocean Park chief executive Tom Mehrmann said.

"Our exceptional attendance last year was spearheaded by the opening of new themed attractions such as Aqua City and the Thrill Mountain, leading to multiple months with record-breaking numbers."

The report said capital expansion boosted the quality of the park in terms of theme, technology and attraction, enabling it to rise two places from the previous year.

Mehrmann said he is confident the attendance figures will continue to impress this year, with the Polar Adventure attraction due to open next month.

Disneyland Hong Kong declined to comment on the report.

The survey assessed various theme parks internationally by attendance, and the world's top five are:

Magic Kingdom in Florida (17.1 million visitors)

Disneyland California (16.1 million)

Tokyo Disneyland (13.9 million)

Tokyo DisneySea (11.9 million)

Disneyland Paris (10.9 million).

"Asia is still adding parks, while North America is not, and the gap will close substantially when Shanghai Disney opens," John Robinett senior vice president of AECOM Economics said. "By adding 5-10 more theme parks, Asia will probably catch up with North America and then surpass it."

Polar parade set for warm welcome
The Standard
Friday, July 13, 2012

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Without having to travel to the ends of the Earth, Hongkongers can now enjoy encounters with polar wildlife.

At Ocean Park's new attraction, Polar Adventure, which opens today, visitors can see penguins from the South Pole and arctic foxes, snowy owls, northern sea lions, spotted seals and Pacific walruses from the North Pole.

It is the first themed area integrating Arctic and Antarctic animals in Asia to educate visitors on the importance of conservation of polar wildlife amid global warming.

Green Sense did protest against the park for using large amounts of energy to keep the attraction cold. But park chairman Allan Zeman said the buildings are "built with the latest technology" and can cut annual electricity consumption by 34 percent. He also expects Polar Adventure to draw 5 percent more visitors to the park annually.

Amazing new attractions. It has been 10yrs since I last was in HK.

By dunk2005 from a Hong Kong photography forum :

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