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Carrie Chan

More animals and rides will bring in tourists and 'complement Disney'

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.

the makeover

The non-profit Ocean Park is owned by the Hong Kong government. It opened in 1977 and has seen over

60 million visitors.

Redevelopment should cost $5.55 billion, begin in 2006 and end by 2010, with the park open throughout.

The work should create 17,700 construction jobs.

Three  hotels with up to 1,500 rooms will be built.

It is hoped visitors will   rise from 4.3 million last year to

5 million by 2010.

The Lowland area will be renamed Waterfront, with three themed zones: Aqua City aquarium, Birds of Paradise aviary and Whiskers Harbour family area.

The Headland becomes the Summit, with four climate-themed zones: Marine World, Rainforest, Thrill Mountain and Polar Adventure.

The cable car between the two will be rebuilt and joined by a funicular railway.



$5.5b plan to revamp Ocean Park is unveiled