[AN] Un second parc pour Hong Kong Disneyland
HONG KONG — Disney chairman George Mitchell has promised a second Hong Kong theme park, just one day after the opening of the first US$3.5 billion ($5.8 billion) theme park, news reports said yesterday.
Mr Mitchell, in a speech to businessmen, said there were plans for "an entire new theme park adjacent to the current park". The addition of the second park would "transform the site into a true multi-day destination resort", he was quoted as saying in the Hong Kong Standard newspaper.
The remarks by the 71-year-old Disney chairman follow repeated criticisms that the Hong Kong theme park is too small and does not offer enough rides and entertainment for a full day.
Disney has always held out the option of building a second phase to its Hong Kong park and land is being reclaimed for an extension of the theme park.
However, Mr Mitchell's remarks were seen as a commitment by Disney to build a second, separate theme park in the former British colony.
The model would be similar to Tokyo which has a Magic Kingdom and a separate Disney Sea World. The Disneyland in Florida has four theme parks.
Meanwhile controversy continues to dog the mega theme park after its opening.
Green groups have said that the daily fireworks at the park pollutes the environment and was a noise problem.
Miss Mei Ng, director of Friends of Earth Hong Kong told Channel NewsAsia (CNA): "The dumping of pollutants from the fireworks shows will have a knock-on effect on the air pollution problem."
Disney has refused to use the same green technology and special fireworks with less gunpowder, as they do in the US.
"So far the behaviour of Disney is disappointing, with regards to the fireworks display issue. They've refused to explain why they are not using the latest environmentally friendly fireworks," Hong Kong legislator Audrey Eu told CNA.
Source : TodayOnline