Ocean Park sees record HK$241.1 million deficit, announces 13.8pc entrance fee rise

Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has recorded its first deficit since Sars hit the city in 2003 on a sharp drop in mainland China visitors, and announced a 13.8 per cent fee rise.

The HK$241.1 million deficit was the largest since the park ceased to be a Hong Kong Jockey Club subsidiary in 1987, as visitor numbers to the park were down 18.8 per cent to 6 million and revenue shrank 17.8 per cent to HK$1.61 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30. The deficit stood in contrast with a HK$45.2 million surplus the previous fiscal year.

The park said entrance fees would be raised 13.8 per cent to HK$438 for adults and HK$219 for children from January 1.

“We are not immune to the industry-wide problem of having fewer mainland tourists,” Ocean Park chairman Leo Kung Lin-cheng said on Wednesday. “Any turnaround will depend on mainland visitors, whom I don’t think will come back in droves in the coming year.”