Big wheel keeps on turning: Hong Kong Observation Wheel to stay put another year

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The Hong Kong Observation Wheel, which opened to the public in December 2014, lit up at night. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 7:00am, 26 Aug 2015Updated: 9:09am, 26 Aug 2015

The Hong Kong Observation Wheel by Victoria Harbour might be able to stay on the Central harbourfront for one more year as the government proposed to extend the site’s tenancy beyond June next year.

Swiss AEX, the wheel’s operator, said it “warmly welcomes” the proposal from the Development Bureau presented in a document to the Central and Western District Council for a meeting discussion slated for late next month.

“Our sincere gratitude goes to the Hong Kong community and visitors from around the world for their continuous support for the Hong Kong Observation Wheel,” the company’s spokesman Timothy J. Peirson-Smith said.

The attraction, located near the Central ferry piers, opened on December 5 last year. As of the middle of this month, it has drawn more than 650,000 visitors. The company said it was confident that its target of notching one million visitors annually in its first year could be reached.

Swiss AEX was awarded a three-year lease by the Lands Department at a monthly rent of HK$850,000 from June 2013.

If the proposal is adopted, the tenancy will end on June 30, 2017, but the company said it might still be able to apply for a renewal every three months thereafter.

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