Our Heart, Our Home@Ocean Park

Ocean Park is a place, a tourist spot, and a theme park where you will never get bored. Though Winnie and I had come there twice in a month, we still had lots of fun and every time we go there, unexpected things are discovered.

The new spot, ‘Sea Jelly Spectacular’ is an amazing, which more than 1000 sea jellies around the world is exhibited in Ocean Park, many visitors are attracted here. And ‘Animal Close Encounters’ has already started from 14 April to 7 May, 2006. These two latest attractions in Ocean Park are so fresh to Hong Kong people and to all the tourists. Ocean Park always gives you surprises.

If you would like to ask how many people have been to Ocean Park, I will rather use another way around to ask them who hasn’t been to Ocean Park. Through many chats with different kinds of people like family relatives, friends, tourists, and exchanged students, they all said that go to Ocean Park is a MUST when you are in Hong Kong. It sounds really interesting. For tourists and exchanged students, Ocean Park seems as a mark in Hong Kong, which is unique. There is one Ocean Park around the world and which is in Hong Kong. Others than the theme park in other countries, Ocean Park is different as it is a mixture of entertainment, education and conservation. Wonderful dolphin’s show and exciting headland’s rides give the tourist a remarkable memory in Hong Kong.

For most of the Hong Kong people, I discovered that they have been to Ocean Park for more than once. The enthusiasm of visiting Ocean Park will not diminish though you have gone there for many times. This is because Ocean Park always gives you something new. They keep on broaching news ideas to attract people, like the new spots. A survey did by the government early this year shows Ocean Park in which Hong Kong people like best.

Ocean Park has been opening for almost 30 years in Hong Kong, facing deficit problem and competition with Disney, it is still standing here and being the famous spot. There must be some magic, which Ocean Park holds. What are these? Visiting to Ocean Park for so many times, keeps on observing and finding articles, news about it and also chatting with people, we can conclude like that.

Image of Ocean Park – through representation
Through different kinds of representation, both being represent itself and has been represented by other channels, the image of Ocean Park has been built and which let people know about Ocean Park.

In the part of ‘representation’, we have already talked about the representation of Ocean Park, through media like TV advertisements, newspapers, editorials and film (‘All about Ah Long’, which has not been mentioned) and you can find their promotion in public transports and train’s stations. Whoever you are, you must be heard about ‘Ocean Park’. The image of Ocean Park is very clear represented through lots of channels.

The purposes of most of the promotions are to attract more people to visit to Ocean Park. When the new spot, ‘Sea Jelly Spectacular’ is out, there is TV advertisement. And they use a guessing game competition to promote ‘Animal Close Encounters’, which attracts people to come by not using their ‘brand name’, but the new spots. It is interesting to notice that. Whereas, Disney’s one is very different. At the same time, you can also see the advertisement by Disney selling its magic, happiness and a fairy tale world. In Disney, ‘Brand Name’ takes an essential role in promoting. Compared with Disney, Ocean Park is more than a Brand Name or more than promoting its brand name. The attraction of Ocean Park is not only the image but also the facilities it has.

Moreover, from some newspapers features, there are always articles in comparing Ocean Park with Disney. From the spot sights, customs, food, to toilet, everything is compared. It is obvious to understand, this kind of feature and comparison were not done by both sides, but the media itself. However, recently due to the opening of the new spot, ‘Sea Jelly Spectacular’, more newspaper features are out. It is curious to question, is it done by Ocean Park itself or the media? Since it is not advertisement in newspaper, but rather is a spot description.

news 01

news 02

news 03

In addition, from some promotion Ocean Park does, is to promote itself as a conservation and educational place, which we know that Ocean Park is a mixture of entertainment, education and conservation. However, how many people are really known and notice about the other side of Ocean Park beside entertainment? And how many of them go there are for education purpose? No doubts that, there are some kindergarten and primary school students go there to learn about the marines’ life. But there is only a small amount of total visitors and which is organized by schools. However, for individual purpose, it seldom hears about people visit there for learning and educating. In the interviews with several groups of people, they go to Ocean Park is for fun, not to learn. After the opening of the ‘Sea Jelly Spectacular’, most of the people go there are because of this new spot. Therefore, we need to question, how effective do the promotion work, especially in promoting its conservation and educational aims?

news on Sea Jelly Spectacular

news on Sea Jelly Spectacular -02

Knowing about Ocean Park
Ocean Park opened in 1977, almost 30 years till now. In these 30 years time, Ocean Park has changed a lot. Something cannot be found in Ocean Park anymore, like the ‘Water Park’, it was closed on 3rd October 1999, whereas, more exciting spots were opened, like ‘Mine Train’ in 2000 and ‘Sea Jelly Spectacular’ in 2006. And there is an event called ‘Ocean Park Redevelopment Master Plan’, was held on 18th March 2005, which is to transform Ocean Park into the World’s leading marine-based theme park. Ocean Park really has been transforming a lot.

In its financial, Ocean Park had deficit for four consecutive years before 2005. It lost several ten millions dollars a year. After investing new capital and introducing new spots, Ocean Park earns a profit of more than $100 million in 2005.

No doubt that we are young and we haven’t seen the opening of Ocean Park, but we visit there more than once. However, we seem know nothing of it, only know how to have fun and where to line up. It is quite funny. From the chat with friends, no one know who started the Ocean Park and who is the chairperson of it? And also no one knows it is one of the government properties. It cannot be compared with Disney that, most of the people know who Walt Disney is, since it has much longer histories than Ocean Park, but for the most basic thing, only few of the interviewees notice that Ocean Park is a mixture of conservation, entertainment and education.

Is it due to the promotion problem or any others? But it is sure that, in Ocean Park’s official website, there is nothing mentioned about its history. We were wondering how well people know about Ocean Park?

The encoding and decoding
In the article “Encoding, decoding”, Hall proposes a new concept for the process of communication. The new concept is “the process as a ‘complex structure in dominance’”. In the process, there are four agents – production, circulation, consumption and reproduction. (During, p.91) Under this new concept of process of communication, “discursive form of the message” would have a higher prioritized position during the communication. At the moment of communication exchanging, “the moment of encoding and decoding...are determinate moments.” (During, p.91) As a result of such communication, the matter of encoded and decoded messages will be very different in a single issue.

On 02-05-2006, the editorial of Ming Pao wrote that Ocean Park is the “Hong Kong’s people theme park”. Yet, the Ocean Park does more than that. The encoding and decoding communication can fully be revealed from the above example.

As Raymond William said culture is a way of life, (Edwards, http://www.redpepper.org.uk/cularch/xcult.html), it is important to treasure every single experience. Each and every people would have different way of using a site like different people would have different experiences and memories towards the Ocean Park.

Success of Ocean Park
Facing long time deficit and a great competitor, Disney Hong Kong, Ocean Park stills here for almost 30 years and it changes from deficit to profits in recent years. Ocean Park is having a great success.

The main reason is it never gives up, it has been launching many new attractions during different special festivals, like Halloween and Chinese Lunar New Year. It is familiar with the taste of Hong Kong people. It keeps on improving itself in adversity and proving it’s valuable. In their promotion, it is apparent to notice that Ocean Park is not only selling its brand name, but also the attractions.

Moreover, it cares about Hong Kong people. Being a theme park in Hong Kong, Hong Kong people are the basic group of visitors. Though after the handover, half of the visitors come from China, Ocean Park hasn’t forgotten to take care about Hong Kong people. They provide annual year pass and other special offers to Hong Kong Citizen only. And from some special attractions in festivals, it looks after the needs of Hong Kong people and its culture.

Contribution
It has already mentioned lots of time that Ocean Park is a mixture of entertainment, education and conservation facilities. Besides introducing its entertainment facilities, Ocean Park uses one part of their profits in doing conservation and education work about marines’ life like doing some researches and holding narration. And there are also some special events like ‘Raising Funds for Children in Need, Physics in Motion’ and ‘International Day for Disabled Persons’, show that Ocean Park contributes a lot to the society we live in.

Other than this, Ocean Park is helping to build a good image and reputation of Hong Kong to the visitors; it has a close relationship with Hong Kong Tourism Board, Antiquities and Monuments Office, and Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Ocean Park = Hong Kong people’s Theme Park
How do you think about this? There was a competition of “My heart, My Home” held in 2006, Ocean Park has been selected as the most loveable site in Hong Kong, it implies that Ocean Park has a higher status in Hong Kong people’s heart, which no other place can replace.

Though not many of us have lived for 30 years, we haven’t seen the whole history of Ocean Park. But each of us have our own memories in there, no matter it is good or bad. And it is for sure that Ocean Park has a good image in everyone’s heart as many people keep on visiting again and again.

Ocean Park has situated only in Hong Kong for 30 years, it seems like a man, a mature one who are growing up with most of the people.

Doubt
From the website of Ocean Park, they have only mentioned about their vision and mission, which is to “aspires to the world leader in providing excellent guest experiences in a theme park environment connecting people with nature”, and to “provide all guests with memorable experiences that combine entertainment and education, while inspiring life long learning and conservation involvement”. It is obvious to see that Ocean Park is improving its facilities like introducing new spots in order to achieve to its mission.

From the website and promotion, we don’t know what image Ocean Park would like to build on in everyone and tourists’ heart. It is understandable that image is an abstract thing, it is hard to see and say it clear by words, which rely on how people decode of it. But we believe there is something that Ocean Park does with the image of itself and Hong Kong.

Besides, there are others questions we would like to ask, about the histories, etc, which help us to know more about Ocean Park and how related to Hong Kong people, therefore we sent an inquire letter to Ocean Park in April, sadly that they haven’t replied us. (Refer to appendix)

Conclusion
Though we have been to Ocean Park for many times, we know less about it. It is quite upset. May be people are more concern on having fun in headland rides rather learning outside school.

For us, Winnie and I, it was a great experience. We had many first time within these few months. We know more about Ocean Park is the first thing. We visited there twice a month was another crazy thing. It is not only for fun, but also it gives us chance to have a close distance with some special, rare marines’ life and pandas and goldfishes. And the more important thing is, we are really appreciated what Ocean Park has been doing. From a large scale of conservation and educating works through researches and narrations, to minor things around people, like the rubbish bins, it makes a great effort in promoting the importance of nature environment, whether it is about any kinds of life or pollution. It does a great job.

One more personal feeling is, we cannot live without Ocean Park, which is the truth feeling inside. Ocean Park is a part of our life. Competed with Disney, many people are worried about the destiny of Ocean Park. We are afraid it will closed down like Lai Yuen in 1997. This is because we have so many remarkable memories in Ocean Park. This is also because Ocean Park is our theme park.

Appendix:
An inquire letter to Ocean Park sent on 21st April
Dear Sir/ Madam,

Inquire about the development of Ocean Park

We are writing to enquire about the development of Ocean Park. We are students studying cultural studies in Lingnan University. Now we are doing a project on ‘Investigating a site in Hong Kong’ and we chose Ocean Park as a main theme. The purpose of the project is to discover the role of Ocean Park in Hong Kong and to Hong Kong people. What we would like to look at is how Ocean Park is represented and how Hong Kong people react on it.

We would appreciate it if you could give more information about the development of Ocean Park.

- One of Ocean Park’s promotions launched in 2000, promoted that “Being the leading theme park in Hong Kong, we have responsibility to sustain our effort in improving and enhancing our quality of service, not merely to attract more to our park, but also help to build Hong Kong's image and reputation as a value-for-money destination for visitors to Hong Kong” . In fact, in what way, does Ocean Park help Hong Kong to build such an image and reputation?

- What is the image Ocean Park would like to build on to Hong Kong people in the recent years and is it different from the past?

- Ocean Park is a mixture of entertainment, education and conservation facilities. In the promotion of the new sites recently, Ocean Park would like to emphasize on education. What is the scale of education and conservative does Ocean Park make effort to and is there any difficulties in educating people about the marine’s life?

We were wondering if we could receive your reply before 5th May by email. (pwho@ln.edu.hk). We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,
Alice Ho Pui Wah
Winnie Yuen Sau Man

References:
Hall, Stuart (---), Encoding, decoding, During ed, The Cultural Studies Reader, New York: Routledge, 1999, p.90-103

Red Pepper: Raising the Political Temperature, Culture is a way of life,
Retrieved on May 12, 2006, http://www.redpepper.org.uk/cularch/xcult.html

How is OP representing itself?

Ocean Park is representing itself as a conservational park

Ocean Park provides many opportunities to the visitors to have animal encounters so as to arouse people’s awareness of conservation after having real and closed experiences with animals. From 14 April to 7 May 2006, there was a special activity in the Ocean Park. That was the Ocean Park Animal Close Encounters. Refer to its brochure, there were new attractions and functions opened during that period. Those were Sea Jelly Spectacular, Rainforest Exploration, Be an ‘ACE’ Animal Keeper and Date and Dine with the Wonder Kind. It said that the Ocean Park would have the Asia’s first sea jelly aquarium and “Ocean Park is cooperating with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR to display several rare species of fishes, reptiles and amphibians in HK.” (Ocean Park Animal Close Encounters’ Brochure)

The Ocean Park projects an image of experiencing the close and lived encounter with the animals. In the introduction of its brochure, “Ocean Park is bringing you a personal and close encounter with some of the world’s most exotic animals! Join us for a wide variety of fun, interactive activities, and unforgettable experiences.” The design of the brochure is oceanic and animate which use plenty of pictures of sea jellyfish and reptiles.

Ocean Park is representing itself as an educational park

In the official website of Ocean Park, which is more or less the same like its promotion brochure, humanized animal-typed cartoons are used to promote the park. In the icon of Ocean Park Academy, HK says that it is Hong Kong’s education arm. For the conversation centre, “Not just fun! Hong Kong Ocean Park is about conservation and education too.”

(http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/eng/main/index.html) is highlighted at its icon. The conversation and education sides of Ocean Park are introduced in the web. Ocean Park tries to promote itself more than just an amusement park. It also has its educational perspective inside the park. Yet I am wondering how many visitors of Ocean Park, like my friends and I, would ever notice and pay attention to those conservational and educational purposes of the park.
Ocean Park is representing itself as an entertainment and excitement park

Before the visitors entering into the park, they can have the experience of Ocean Park starting from waiting the shuttle bus provided by the Citybus. It provides the bus service for Ocean Park’s visitors linking Admiralty to the entrance of Ocean Park. “As a major bus operator in Hong Kong, we are proud to provide the bus service linking to the Ocean Park with Admiralty, as well as the single bound bus service from Central Star Ferry to Ocean Park. You can also take some of our franchised services to Ocean Park.”

(Citybus – Ocean Park, http://www.citybus.com.hk/eng/RouSer/OceanPark/ocean_intro.htm) At the bus station of Citybus in Admiralty, the cartoons of Ocean Park are clearly printed and decorated on each and every pole in the station projecting an environment of entertainment and excitement before entering the park. Yet, the cartoons Ocean Park used are animal-typed cartoons such as Sea lion “Wiskers”, Butterfly “Jewel”, Sea turtle “The Professor” and so on. In addition to the decoration of bus stop, the advertisement on the surface of bus carries the message of excitement as well. The two roller-coasters, Mine Train and The Dragon, are shown on the surface of bus.

Ocean Park is representing itself as a Hong Kong people’s park

In the Ocean Park Animal Close Encounters, the promotion during the designed period was to attract mainland tourists during “May 1 Golden Week”, yet according to Ocean Park Animal Close Encounters’ Brochure, “An extra 30% discount for Ocean Park SmartFun Annual Pass Holders & local residents over 65 with HKID.”

The SmartFun Annual Pass is an annual admission ticket which the pass holder can enter the Park unlimitedly within a year. I think only local residents will buy the SmartFun Annual Pass because most of the tourists will only go to the Ocean Park once when they visit Hong Kong at a time. In addition, there are three types of memberships – Gold Pass, Silver Pass and Student Pass. For the Student Pass, people have to show a valid student ID card for the application. When people would like to apply for the membership, Hong Kong Identity card number is needed. Since my other university classmates and I applied the Student Pass early this year, I personally do not think that we went there for educational purpose but would like to have fun and excitement on roller-costar typed of attractions. For this part, I will discuss it later in the part of how Ocean Park is represented.

In the editorial of Ming Pao on 02-05-2006, “Ocean Park...does offer concessions exclusive to Hong Kong citizens. For example, a Hong Kong resident may visit Ocean Park for free on his or her birthday, and its annual passes are offered only to Hong Kong citizens.” (Ming Pao, 02-05-2006)

Ocean Park is representing as a famous tourist spot in Hong Kong

Ocean Park had promotional packages with cheaper admission fee, is called KCRC Valued-added Combo, to visitors. On 28 February 2006, “Ocean Park and Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) today announced that the free shuttle bus service between Ocean Park and KCR stations will be enhanced in response to the overwhelming support of the public for the Value Added Combo promotion...From now until 1 May, visitors can enjoy the Domestic Combo at discounted price.” (Newsletter of KCR, http://www.kcrc.com/upload%20content/news%20centre/press%20release/er/eng/e060228a.htm) I am wondering what types of visitors the Ocean Park means exactly in the above promotion. Yet local residents can also enjoy the above promotion. However, I think since the Ocean Park is a famous tourist spot, this promotional package would be mainly decided for the mainland visitors who arrived in Hong Kong as independent travelers under the individual Visit Scheme (IVS). I believe KCRC is one of the frequently used transportation for the mainland visitors. According to the press release “Preparation for Labour Day Golden Week” of the HKSAR government, the boundary control points such as Lo Wu was highlighted.

“The current indications are that about 420,000 visitors may arrive from the Mainland over the 10-day period (from April 29 to May 8), and it is estimated that about 60% will be Individual Visit Scheme visitors and about 10% will come in tour groups. About 85% of the Mainland visitors will enter Hong Kong via land control points.” (HKSAR government’s press release, http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200604/27/P200604270158.htm)

How is OP represented?

The Ocean Park is represented as a Hong Kong people’s theme park by the local media

From the local newspapers, the editor wrote some “interesting” articles on Ocean Park. On 2 May 2006, Ming Pao, one of the Hong Kong newspapers, wrote

“[Ocean Park] launched a host of new attractions during Easter. Not only have such attractions appealed to mainland visitors, but they have also rekindled local people's interest in visiting it... Ocean Park has revived like a phoenix rising from its own ashes, displaying its courage to improve itself in adversity and showing how valuable its brand name is. Other businesses should learn from Ocean Park... A survey the government did early this year shows Ocean Park is the place Hong Kong people like best...Not only has it survived , but Hong Kong people have come to admire its creativity and vitality . When Ocean Park put forward its $ 5. 5 - billion expansion plan, the Legislative Council exceptionally pledged its full support for the plan...Ocean Park is people - oriented . It perseveres in being "Hong Kong people's theme park”. Its operations are characterized by flexibility and efficiency, supposed to be Hong Kong people's traits... About a half of its visitors come from the mainland. However, Ocean Park has not forgotten Hong Kong people. It does offer concessions exclusive to Hong Kong citizens. For example, a Hong Kong resident may visit Ocean Park for free on his or her birthday, and its annual passes are offered only to Hong Kong citizens. It therefore draws large numbers of visitors even during slack seasons of tourism.
Ocean Park's phoenix story epitomizes the Hong Kong spirit.” (Ming Pao, 02-05-2006)

In this article, the writer stressed on the spirit of Ocean Park saying how it was similar to the situation of Hong Kong. He described Ocean Park as phoenix who has already reborn from death. At the end of this article, he emphasized once again that “Ocean Park's phoenix story epitomizes the Hong Kong spirit.” He also mentioned that Hong Kong people should learn from this good and creative model of business. “It perseveres in being "Hong Kong people's theme park”. Its operations are characterized by flexibility and efficiency, supposed to be Hong Kong people's traits.” (Ming Pao, 02-05-2006)

On the other article of Ming Pao on 27-04-2006, the writer Lam (林超榮 wrote about his family’s and his experience in the Ocean Park during the Easter holiday. He said his wife could not get used to the behavior of mainland visitors in the park. His wife said “Ocean Park has been already occupied, the park was fully packed by the uncivilized mainland visitors and mainland heavy smokers.”

This projects and represents a scene of how mainland visitors occupied the Ocean Park. At the same time, due to this projection of images, people would easily relate to the situation, crowded and messy condition in the park, is definitely caused by those uncivilized mainlanders.

The writer also believed that Ocean Park was the famous local landmark for tourism. However, how come there is lack of traffic signs for the park comparing with the Hong Kong Disneyland. He said that the logo of “sea horse” has not been floated on water yet.

Ocean Park is represented as an educational park

Although visitors of Ocean Park, like my friends and I, went there just for fun, there are still visitors of Ocean Park who go there for educational purpose. For example, on the second field trip to Ocean Park, Alice and I saw a group of kindergarten students following the instructions and introductions of the tour guide of Ocean Park in the Aquarium.

Furthermore, according to the website of “All-rounded Learning activities” (「全方位學習活動」, teachers planned a trip to Ocean Park for a group of Primary 4-6 students. The purpose of the trip to Ocean Park was to provide a variety learning opportunity to students in order to encourage and enhance them to use the knowledge in class and experiences outside classroom. This can enrich students’ learning experiences.

However, these are only the activities held by schools and teachers. I am wondering how many visitors would have the self-initative to know more and take the messages of conservation learnt from the park into their daily lives.

Ocean Park is represented as an entertainment and excitement park

There are 2 blogrings of Xanga . One is called Ocean Park Union and the other one is called Ocean Parkers. For Ocean Park Union, its introduction said “Ocean Park is shinkening everybody pls save save her who love ocean park pls join~~ ya, this is the hong kong ocean park”. (Ocean Park Union – a Xanga Blogring, http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=1711026)

Ocean Parkers introduced its blogrings saying “This Blog is for everyone visiting Ocean park, dayday is Ocean Park Day, Weekweek is Ocean Park week” (Ocean Parkers – A Xanga Blogring, http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=2215775) There are six members of this blogring. The leader of Ocean Parker is called Ocean. Ocean’s Xanga is called Ocean_park. (Ocean_park’s Xanga Site, http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ocean__park) He/she wrote in the first entry on 30 March 2006 saying that this Xanga was for people, who like going to the Ocean Park like them, to express their feeling and exchange in words. He/she went to the Ocean Park on 21 April, 2006 with friends. They went to the roller coaster “Mine Train”, pirate boat “Crazy Galleon”, Fast swinging “Eagle”, “Raging River” and “Sea Jelly Aquarium”.

Reference:

Citybus – Ocean Park, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.citybus.com.hk/eng/RouSer/OceanPark/ocean_intro.htm

HKSAR government’s press release, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200604/27/P200604270158.htm

Newsletter of KCR, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.kcrc.com/upload%20content/news%20centre/press%20release/er/eng/e060228a.htm

Ocean Park, (2006), Ocean Park Animal Close Encounters’ Brochure, Ocean Park, 04-14-2006

Ocean Park, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/eng/main/index.html

Ocean Park Union – a Xanga Blogring, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=1711026

Ocean Parkers – A Xanga Blogring, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.xanga.com/groups/group.aspx?id=2215775

Ocean_park’s Xanga Site, Retrieved May 14, 2006, from http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ocean__park

---, (2006), Ocean Park's success, Ming Pao, Perspectives F03 Editorial, 02-05-2006

---, (---),「全方位學習活動」剪影: 海洋公園, http://wks.hkcampus.net/lessondev/oceanpark.htm

林超榮, (2006), 水母打贏米老鼠, 蒼蠅一聲笑, Ming Pao, D07, 27-04-2006

Experiences in Ocean Park

I dare to say, most people must have been to Ocean Park once for their entire life in Hong Kong. Why? Because Ocean Park is the theme park in Hong Kong and is one of the attractions to tourists. It has already been in Hong Kong for almost 30 years. Below are some interviews, which people in Hong Kong and tourists shared about their experiences and feeling in visiting Ocean Park.

Interview (1) – A Hong Kong People

A 35 years old professor has already been to Ocean Park for three times. Every time he visited to Ocean Park, he had different feelings. When he was 10 years old, he went to Ocean Park with his family and relatives. That was the 3rd year, when Ocean Park has opened. He had a great time though there had not headland rides, but just some exhibition places only. Like his second time of visiting few years later, he enjoyed being there and had lots of fun. He thought Ocean Park is a great and only place to have family gathering and to have fun. The most remarkable things for him were to play the rollercoaster and took the cable car.

When he grew up, he went to Ocean Park again with no expectation with his girlfriend by chance since they got some coupons. They preferred to play the headland rides rather than going to visit the exhibition places since it would be more exciting. They chose to visit the exhibition places only because there were so many people line up for headland rides. However, they did enjoy visiting those places like Atoll Reef, because it gives them a sense of reality and they can observe those marines’ life closely.

Ocean Park gives him the feeling of nature, not only because there are different kinds of marines’ life but also the natural environment. In holiday, Ocean Park would be a paradise for teenagers and families.

Interview (2) – A family with children

Ocean Park is the place which is suitable for family gathering and to have fun. Yes, it is true. My uncle and aunt brought their 7 years old twin daughters visiting Ocean Park in Chinese New Year. My twin cousins were having fun because there are many games to play and walk around, and they won some prizes in the games booth. They would like to go there again because they thought it was an amazing and wonderful place for them to have fun and they didn’t feel bored and tired.

For my uncle and aunt, it was not easy for them to bring two children, since Ocean Park is quite big. Though it was not easy, they liked to bring them there. This is because in Hong Kong, there is no such place where children can have fun all day and can see so many different kinds of marines’ life and animals. For them, they didn’t play any headland rides, since their children are still small. They preferred to visit the exhibition places and they did go to the Shark Aquarium and Atoll Reef. My twin cousins got excited when sharing with me. They liked to see the fishes especially the sharks, because they haven’t seen the real one and in such a close distance. “The shark is so big, it is very interesting.” My cousin said to me.

However, they didn’t look into the narration and descriptive boards since there were so many visitors and they cannot stay long, but they were willing to. Though the observation of the marines’ life was too brief and short, it still gave children ideas of what they are and how they live.

Interview (3) – A tourist

‘I like Ocean Park more than Disney.” My cousin said. He came back from Holland with his girlfriend for holiday this year. He went to both Disney and Ocean Park, he preferred the latter one. Disney gave him not a good impression for his first time visited, he thought it is small and has little things to play; it was not excited at all. He thought Disney is just a place for taking pictures with the characters and buying souvenirs.

As a tourist, he liked visiting Ocean Park, because there is much more fun. He liked playing headland rides, since it was excited. Also, he enjoyed watching the dolphins’ show, as they are very cute. Ocean Park gives him a very warm feeling too, because he used to go there when he was young. And he recalled so many memories from there before he left Hong Kong and settled in Holland. Ocean Park keeps his own history and he keeps the history of Ocean Park too. As he noticed that Ocean Park has changed a lot, like the innovation of some headland rides and the Giant Panda Habitat.

Interview (4) – A foreigner who works in Hong Kong

A visiting scholar in Lingnan University has already been to Ocean Park when she arrived in Hong Kong for only few days. Her friends took her to, because it is one of the attractions in Hong Kong and where they can spend a whole day on. She enjoyed visiting to the exhibition places because she can have a close distance with the marines’ life, which she has never been to. Though she just stayed for half of the day, she enjoyed it very much and she hopes she can visit there again because Ocean Park is a nice place to spend the weekend with friends and family.

Date of submission: 13th March 2006

The changing of Ocean Park
With 28 years of history, Ocean Park has been undergoing a lot of changes physically and psychologically. After observation in Ocean Park and interview with friends, we will focus on describing the changes in six aspects including attractions, special events and visitors’ involvement.

Attractions
On 12th March 2006, some attractions like “Conservation Square”, “Ocean Park Grand Prix” and “Ocean Theatre” were closed for renovation.

According to the official website of Ocean Park, it shows “Timelines for New Attraction” which is from 1994 to 2001. In 1994, Ocean Park had a new attraction called “Dinosaur – Now and Then”. In 1996, “Whiskers’ Wild Ride” was opened. In 1997, “Flying Swing” and “Amazing Amazon” were ready to serve the visitors. In 1999, An An and Jia Jia, two Giant pandas were a special gift from the Central Government to the Hong Kong S.A.R., came and lived in “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat”. In 2000, a new roller coaster “Mine Train” was opened to serve people excitement. In 2001, visitors could enjoy the educational and conservational aspects of Ocean Park – “Pacific Pier” and the entertaining and breathtaking aspects – “The Abyss Turbo Drop”. In 2002, “Raging River” was re-themed and a new Ocean Park movie was broadcasted in “Whiskers’ Wild Ride”.

According to information from friends, the must-remember-but-no-longer-here attraction is “Water Park”. “Water Park” was closed on 3rd October 1999. There are news reported that the former location would be used for “Marine Spectacle” and the construction would be completed in the mid of 2002 . However, the original site is abandoned now. “Ocean Park Square” and McDonald’s Restaurant are on it right- and left-hand sides respectively.

Although I have never been to “Water Park” before it closed, one of my friends said the “Rainbow slides” was thrilling and breathless as well as the news reported . According to the news about the closure of “Water Park”, the comments of people reported were mainly positive. For example, Mr. Lam one of the Hong Kong citizens who had been to “Water Park”, said it was a regrettable thing because Hong Kong would have lessen a place like that .

In the annual financial report 2004-05, an event called Ocean Park Redevelopment Master Plan was held on 18th March 2005. It claimed that “Ocean Park will be transformed into the world’s leading marine-based theme park, doubling the number of attractions by 2010. Offering two major areas – The waterfront and the Summit – as well as seven themed zone – Aqua City, Birds of Paradise, Whiskers Harbor, Marine World, The Rainforest, Thrill Mountain and Polar Adventure, the Park will become a must-see must-visit destination that will further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a premier tourist destination.” (XXX, p.58)

Special events
According to the Ocean Park’s annual financial report of 2004-05, there were quite a number of events held in the Park. For example, Big Splash Summer, Ocean Park Halloween Bash 2004, Ocean Park Christmas Sensation, Ocean Park Pandas and Friends Fun Fest 2005 and so on. In addition to the entertainment, some events had its educational and social value. For instant, Big Splash Summer – Raising Funds for Children in Need, Physics in Motion – A new Educational Program, Ocean Park Academy offers educational programs, International Day for Disabled Persons, Ocean Park Conservation Day and etc.

Changes in visitors’ involvement:
Before visiting to the Ocean Park this time, we have a basic knowledge that it is a mixing of entertainment, education and conservation facilities which we haven’t noticed it in the past. Therefore, this time for the visit, we would like to pay attention on its conservation facilities and education activities.

Ocean Park is a mixture of entertainment and education, we did agree with them. From different shows to exhibition places, this is interesting to notice that they are educational besides entertaining which we neglected it in the past.

There are many shows and narrations in all the attraction points. In Marine Land, for example, when you go to visit the Pacific Pier, 20 sea lions and seals live there. And there are narrations by the trainers regularly each day for visitors. In each narration, they tell you the biography of marines’ life, the body structure and their life. It’s a kind of direct teaching. Also, there are sea lions feeding sessions, visitors can get touch with the marines’ life to understand more.

Far away from the Pacific Pier, there is another show which can bring you more ideas on the sea lions’ life. In Whiskers Theatre, you can meet sea lions on the stage. It is called a “day in the life”, which to show you the preparation for their shows and tell you the biography of marines’ life through entertainment and in a funny way to make you pay attention on.

Beside these kinds of shows, we were seldom visit some features exhibition places and stay for a long time, we just played the headland rides crazily. Even though we had visited, we just had a quick look. You would not discover that there are many introduction and information about the marines’ life. In Atoll Reef, we went into the deep sea, there are 2000 fishes from 250 species and in Shark Aquarium, and there are 70 sharks from 35 species. In the past, we just had a quick look on these marines’ life just like many visitors there that day. But when you observe carefully, you can see there are many descriptions about each marine’s life, there are boards to show you like teaching you bioscience. It doesn’t only provides you visual enjoyment, but also educational. However, I will think how many people really pay attention on?

Narration-1

Narration-2

Away from the Marine land, we went to Lowland Garden where An An and Jia Jia, the Giant Pandas live there and you can also find the extinct animals, dinosaurs. Though real dinosaurs cannot be found in the Dinosaurs Now and Then, by presenting to you their life in the past and the reason of extinction, also by showing you some others Chinese alligator and giant salamander in Yangtze River of China, it tells you the importance of preserving the natural environment.

An An, Jia Jia

An An and Jia Jia has moved from China in 1999 and live in the Giant Pandas Habitat. Most of the people were just appreciating the cuteness of the Giant Pandas, but I guess only few of them know there is a “Panda Conservation Centre” which supporting the research projects and public awareness of wildlife conservation in Asia by donate some entrance fees and souvenirs’ profits.

Panda Conservation-1

Panda Conservation-2

Moreover, it is interesting to find that when we were waiting to enter the 3D world in Amazing Amazon, there is a carved sculpture outside the entrance, at first we just thought it is just a decoration; however, it speaks when you press on the button. It tells you the facts of Amazon Basin and to protect the natural environment. It sounds marvelous.

Visiting Ocean Park this time makes us thinking more, when we buy the toy panda happily, how much do we know the profits go to under the scheme? Or do we just self-satisfied? When we are just appreciating the cuteness of pandas and marines’ life, how much do we know about them? Knowing that pandas are endangering, dinosaurs were already extinct, and how well we know about the reasons and act on this?

It is true that Ocean Park is not only for entertainment, more likely, it is an educational institution for preserving the marines’ life and educating people through entertainment. We did change our perspectives of Ocean Park.

Observation of visitors:
I remember when I was a kid, my parents took me to the Ocean Park once. Though I was little, I still recalled that there were many foreigners visiting in it. Many years later, I visited there again, it was totally different. Place remains, but faces changed. Nowadays, you can see many familiar faces since there were many mainland visitors, most of them were joining the local tours, since I could see many travel flags and the identity representation stickers in their shirts.

Thousands of visitors including us were in everywhere from Marine Land to Giant Panda Habitat, it was crowded because of weekend. You had to line up for a long time to play the Headland rides, you could not stay long when you visited the exhibition places, and people could only get a superficial understanding through quick and casual observation, may be they were willing to. We had an experiences when we were in the Atoll Reef, mainland visitors were prefer to walk quickly, they were just having a quick look and left, they did not read the description of the fishes. Whereas, some oversea visitors, few in numbers, they chose to stay in a place for a long time, concentrated on watching the movement and the species of the fishes.

Moreover, by observing most of the visitors were not young. There were only 30% of teenagers, 20% were kids and the others were adults and parents. Most of the teenagers were in the Headland rides, kids and parents were in the kid’s world and not many teenagers visited the exhibition places and watched the shows.

Appendix:
Panda Conservation Centre
It is under the scheme of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong which was established by the Hong Kong Society fort Panda Conservation and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation.

Their vision aim to advocate, facilitate and take part in the conservation of wildlife and habitats in Asia through education and research projects. In order to ensure the sustainability of wildlife and biodiversity, they do a lot on this.

Ocean Park has contributed administrative and financial support to HKSPC when the two pandas were bestowed by China Government in 1999.

Reference: Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong http://www.opcf.org.hk/eng/about.asp

1.Original text：“海洋公園已向港府借款五億元，將三萬平方米地皮改建成為主題公園‘海洋奇觀’，並預計於二零零二年中完工。” （明報，1999-10-03，港聞A03 ）
2. “Rainbow slides” （五彩天梯）
3. Original text：“全場最高﹐兼且緊張刺激度最高水上設施就係呢條五彩天梯。自從佢開放以來，一直都深受愛好高速同刺激人士歡迎。由梯頂滑落梯腳﹐快到唔駛兩秒。” （新報， 1999-08-07，新焦點C13）
4.Original text：“不少曾經到過水上樂園的市民，昨日亦珍惜這次僅餘可供日後回味的機會。林先生更形容：「香港少呢個地方，係好可惜事！」” （蘋果日報，1999-10-04，本港新聞A11）

Date of submission: 13th February 2006

Background of Ocean Park:
Ocean Park opened in 1977, almost 30 years till now. It’s situated on the southern side of Hong Kong Island with 809,000 square meters large. Mixing of entertainment, education and conservation facilities, it’s one of the popular tourism spots in Hong Kong.

Reasons of Choosing Ocean Park:
First of all, it is a site which is full of our memories. Ocean Park is 29 years old now, it seems growing up with us. Going to Ocean Park with family when we were young has given us so many wonderful memories which are still in our mind. It’s a relaxing and exciting place. It’s not just especially for the tourists, but also for Hong Kong people.

Secondly, it is a site contributing to build and maintain the image of Hong Kong. As one of Ocean Park’s promotions launched in 2000, “Being the leading theme park in Hong Kong, we have responsibility to sustain our effort in improving and enhancing our quality of service, not merely to attract more to our park, but also help to build Hong Kong's image and reputation as a value-for-money destination for visitors to Hong Kong” . Besides making profit and running the business, Ocean Park gives Hong Kong a lot in other ground.

The third reason is that Ocean Park has an important position in the mind of Hong Kong. Recently, in the competition of “My Heart, My Home” , the ocean park has been selected as the most loveable site in Hong Kong.

The fourth reason is that it is the first large scale amusement park mixing with different facilities in Hong Kong. In 2006, Ocean Park is celebrating its approaching 30th anniversary. Ocean Park has been opening in Hong Kong for 30 years. It is a part of Hong Kong History and by the mean time, it’s a proof of time.

Lastly, it is about reflection of Disney. After the opening of Hong Kong Disney, it is important to reflect upon the thing, Ocean Park, we have already had but taken it for granted.

Questions Raised by Ocean Park:
Although Ocean Park has given us many memories, how well do we know about it? What is Ocean Park about?

Facing many problems like deficit, the competition with Disney, Ocean Park is still here. What things make it keep going beside business field?

Since Ocean Park has been representing itself as a park of and for Hong Kong people in recently year but what does it mean actually? How do Hong Kong people agree with that?

Since Disney has opened in 2005, what threats will Disney make to Ocean Park? How Ocean Park is going to position itself?

Reference:
1.Ocean Park Hong Kong, Press release. http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/eng/main/index.asp?pagestr=,61-1-0-0
2.This competition is organized by the Home Affaires Bureau.
3.Ocean Park Hong Kong, Press release on 27 Jan 2006,