The Hong Kong Observation Wheel is a tall Ferris wheel located at the Central Harbourfront, Central, Hong Kong. It has 42 gondolas including one VIP Gondola with leather seats and a clear glass bottom floor. All gondolas are equipped with air conditioners and communication systems. Each ride included two to three spins and takes about 15 minutes. Each gondola can seat a maximum of eight people, other than the VIP Gondola which can seat 5 people. It is currently operated by The Entertainment Corporation Limited. TECL has officially partnered with AIA Group, to present the AIA Vitality Park as part of the attraction.
Background
In May 2013 the Lands Department of Hong Kong leased 9,620 square metres of land between Central Pier No. 9 and Pier No. 10. for the attraction. It is situated on the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation overlooking Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. 90% of the site surrounding the wheel is accessible to the public with food and beverages available for purchase. Also, live entertainments are held at the event plaza throughout the year, which is suitable for all ages. The wheel is designed to suit Hong Kong’s climate and weather. It is built within the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and TUV standards. The wheel has had two owners. The previous owner was Swiss AEX and the current owner is The Entertainment Corporation Limited. In 2014, Swiss AEX expected 1 million riders per annum which is approximately aimed at an average of 2,740 passengers daily. After the ownership transfer in 2017, TECL announced that they have achieved 1 million riders in less than 7 months since the opening.
Ownership
The Ferris wheel was first presented by Swiss AEX, a company who claims their experience in Ferris wheel operations for more than a decade in their proposal contract. Swiss AEX had partnered with Hong Kong Telecom. In 2017, the government awarded the second term of operating contract to The Entertainment Corporation Limited which was set to commence in September 2017. TECL then issued a statement saying it will “offer a substantially lower ticket price per ride”. The wheel closed to the public in August, when the dispute over transfer of its ownership resulted in a deadlock between the original and new operators. The Secretary for Development stated the wheel could be dismantled and closed for 2 years until a replacement is built by TECL. Swiss AEX, the former owner of the wheel, described the company “with no experience of operating observation wheels whatsoever”. On 6 September 2017, a deal was struck between TECL & Swiss AEX which saved the wheel from demolition. In November 2017, TECL announced that the wheel will be re-opened to public on 20 December 2017 as part of the new AIA Vitality Park, with a range of health and wellness-related events, attractions and activities organised nearby.
Controversy
The government's decision to build a Ferris wheel here was controversial. Some questioned the necessity of building such a tourist attraction, considering it seemed useless since the view is easily affected by varying weather conditions. The chairman of the Harbourfront Commission, Nicholas Brooke, showed support of this development project in the interview. However, the Harbourfront Commission has no executive power so the controversy continues. Apart from that, although the contract to operate this sightseeing spot was awarded in 2013, the project was delayed several times. There were many complaints from the public about the lack of promotion and information. Security has also been controversial after the release of a photo taken by one daredevil climber showing himself sitting on the top of the wheel. This picture was taken down before the opening day of the wheel to the public. It has brought the security concerns of wheel into the limelight.
