The Hong Kong Ocean Park may be closed within three to four years due to its continuous loss in the past four years and is expected to have higher financial deficits this year.
The Hong Kong Ocean Park opened in 1977 and it has been the best theme park in Pacific-Asia. It becomes a "non-profitable organization" since 1997. The running expenses only rely on the tickets' incomes and the credit funds from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Yet, the number of visitors drops tremendously since 1997. The tickets' incomes cannot cover the running costs. The Hong Kong Ocean Park administration predicted the HK$360 milllion credit funds will be used up four years later if the park still cannot gains profits. The destiny of the park can only be closed.
The Hong Kong Ocean Park has already closed the "Middle Kingdom" to limit the expenses and innovated two mechanical games, the "Mine roller-coaster" and the "Bungee Jumping" to attract more visitors. The Hong Kong Ocean Park board committee requested the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to ease the restrictions, so as to allow the new investors such as the overseas famous theme park to ease its financial difficulty.
(Eastday.com.cn 07/31/2001)
