This aerial view shows various attractions and the Hair Raiser roller coaster (centre R) at the currently closed local theme park Ocean Park in Hong Kong on May 19, 2020. The theme park is currently seeking a huge financial bailout from the government. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government on Monday proposed that Ocean Park should become a resort and leisure destination that capitalizes on its innate advantage on education and conservation work.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, the government said the iconic theme park will focus on providing a leisure experience that highlights the natural beauty and local culture of Hong Kong to tie in with other attractions and developments in the Southern District as well as the Invigorating Island South initiative.

The government said the iconic theme park will focus on providing a leisure experience that highlights the natural beauty and local culture of Hong Kong to tie in with other attractions and developments in the Southern District

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The park should create a non-ticketed retail, dining and entertainment zone for friends and families to visit anytime they wish, it added.

Ocean Park was closed due to coronavirus curbs for 237 days in 2020. The number of visitors was mostly capped at less than half of the park’s capacity on the days of opening.

“We have agreed that the Ocean Park should gradually alter its business mode. Instead of being simply a theme park or a large-scale amusement park, it should try to eliminate those less cost-effective or obsoleted facilities,” Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said in a media briefing.  

The government statement quoted him as saying that, during the transformation, the park should place "greater emphasis on other elements such as its unique natural setting and the synergy with other attractions and developments in the vicinity of Southern District." 

"In mapping out the proposed way forward, we have taken into account the views of the community,” he added.

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Yau said the operation mode of the park will change by outsourcing part of its area or facilities for development in order to become financially sustainable in the long run. However, its transformation will take time and resources.

He said the government needs to provide assistance to the park by offering support for the cost of its conservation and education work for four years; alleviating the its burden of repaying government loans by deferring the start of repayment and extending the repayment period and waiving the interest; and providing a non-recurrent funding to help the park cope with its present financial needs.

"Ocean Park is grateful for the invaluable support from the public and the government. The new model of operation enables us to improve, innovate, and invigorate the Park in the exciting years ahead,” Lau Ming-wai, Chairman of the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“Our renewed direction embodies our vision of advancing Ocean Park into Hong Kong's leading education platform, with a strong mission to promote environmental conservation and protection,” he added.

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Lau also said that by leveraging the theme park’s exceptional location and, with the launch of the Water World, Ocean Park will be able to play a pivotal role in the Invigorating Island South initiative.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving business sustainability and to serving the community of Hong Kong," he said.

According to the statement, the government will consult the LegCo Panel on Economic Development on the Park's proposed way forward on January 25 and, upon the advice of the panel, seek approval from the LegCo Finance Committee for the proposed loan restructuring and non-recurrent funding in due course.