Hongkongers’ collective memory and the Ocean Park dilemma
- Whether the theme park will survive its financial crisis depends not only on the government’s cash bailout, but whether it has the willpower to live and breathe on its own
Ocean Park has been making waves in the news recently, but for the wrong reasons. The city has been debating whether the park should be saved from imminent closure next month.
The home-grown attraction seems to have fallen out of favour with Hongkongers, many of whom are unsure whether it should be thrown a HK$5.4 billion (US$696.6 million) lifeline from the government. If this had happened several years ago, there wouldn’t be any debate as most Hongkongers would be supporting the park.
It’s surreal to see how so many local residents have fallen out of love with Ocean Park. In 2006, it was even chosen as the most “lovable” site in the city by Hongkongers as part of the “My Heart, My Home” competition organised by the Home Affairs Bureau.
Hongkongers were so proud of the park and had high hopes for it to become one of the world’s leading marine-based theme parks.
Obviously, this love affair has gone sour. Some blame the park for its change of heart – instead of developing and preserving its unique character, the park shifted its focus to serving mainland tourists, and in doing so made its facilities too commercial. As a result, it has become soulless.
Even with the government’s bailout, the park will only last another year as many believe its financial problems are so colossal that it would be like throwing billions of dollars into a bottomless pit with minimal impact.