When Hong Kong opened its Wetland Park – the biggest in Asia – in 2006, to chaos, damage, litter and plucked plants
- The wetland park, which cost US$67 million, was built to boost tourism and ‘represent world-class ecology, education and inspiration’
- On its opening day it saw 5,500 visitors, and a number of complaints about chaos and a lack of information
On February 26, 2002, the South China Morning Post reported that a massive HK$476.4 million “expansion of the International Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai has been proposed by the Government to boost tourism”.
On May 17, the Post reported that the planners of the park, which was set to open three years later, “believe the Hong Kong Wetland Park will represent world-class ecology, education and inspiration”.
“Consultants’ documents outlining possible plans envisage [that] in the entrance area, plants, sculptures and water will produce a calming effect. Visitors will then experience what the consultants call the first ‘wow’ experience – a light-filled central atrium with a huge glass wall through which they can see the wetland park and Deep Bay.
“The Government has not committed itself to implementing the plans in detail, but this week used them as a basis in seeking information from companies who might be interested in running the park,” the report said.
On March 5, 2004, the Post reported the search had begun “for a consortium to operate Hong Kong’s new wetland park […] The government hopes to attract organisations with extensive experience in managing eco-tourism and education facilities to manage the site.