Revived Hong Kong amusement park to close after popular season

Having entertained a million visitors since it opened in late June, Hong Kong's revived Lai Yuen Amusement Park has closed after its summer season.

Located at Lai Yuen Park on Hong Kong’s Central harbourfront, the attraction recreated many of the features of the popular amusement park that operated from 1949 to 1997.

Operating for nearly 70 days, the Lai Yuen Amusement Park recreated once highly popular games and exciting rides, with classic entertainment of previous generations enhanced by the application of today’s latest technological advances.

Lai Yuen Amusement Park Limited Chairman Duncan Chiu explained “we set about recreating some of those joyous, happy moments of the past.

 “Widely recognised as an unforgettable entertainment fairground attraction, Lau Yuen was the first ever large-scale amusement park in Hong Kong.

“The entire concept has been about retaining the original flavours, the local favourite delights yet incorporating cutting-edge technology.”

Having spent between HK$70 million and HK$80 million to revive the park, Chiu admits he is not likely to recoup his investment during this first season of operations

While seeking a permanent home for the park, Chiu says Lai Yuen’s future is up in the air, stating “labour costs are higher than we budgeted for and we have, in all, directly or indirectly, hired over 1,000 people.

 “On top of that, hot weather affected people’s spending as average time in the park was short.”

Nevertheless, Chiu said he felt “grateful” for getting the opportunity to reopen the park and fulfil the wish of his late father, entertainment tycoon Deacon Chiu Te-ken.

The elder Chiu, who died in March, bought the park in 1962 as part of an entertainment empire that included a chain of cinemas and, for a time in the 1980s, broadcaster ATV.

Among a range of rides, the attraction also made use of the landmark dinosaur gate from the original attraction.

During its (northern hemisphere) summer season, the parks was free-to-enter, with payment made for individual rides and experiences.

However, the South China Morning Post was critical of the cost.

For more information go to www.laiyuen1949.com/en/

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